Quote:
Originally Posted by jcosta79
I'm not a big fan of leaf spring suspensions. All I can tell you is that when I put coilovers on my car, it transformed the way it handled.
I wonder if there is a big difference in the way the Sport models handle versus the Nismo models? I know the shocks are A LOT stiffer in the Nismos, maybe that with the small aero tweaks make a difference? Not sure.
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I doubt Aero matters at the speeds I am talking. I am willing to bet it's the suspension and the tires that are responsible for our differing opinions.
I really liked the leaf-spring setup. It worked very well. Well enough to set world records around the 'ring. My only complaint was that it managed torque/wheel-hop very poorly compared to coil-overs.
Shocks alone are supposed to do a lot on the corvettes. I kept mine stock so I wouldn't know. The leaf-spring really isn't a bad setup from the technical standpoint. I liked how it performed, as well. It was very progressive regarding how it loaded up. I liked that. Not "bouncy" at all. Like you noted, it felt "floaty" compared to my 370Z, but it was very much in control, much better contact with the road than my 370Z even though it felt like it floated. I loved it.
I think it felt that way because over small bumps that upset my 370Z, the leaf barely flexed, didn't load up much, and the suspension did the work without involving the body of the car so much, so it felt like it floated, but really, I was just more isolated from minor pavement irregularities. My Dad hates that about my 370Z. Says every time we take a cornering bridge the front-end jumps to the side every time we go over an expansion joint. I kindof feel what he means, but it must be worse from the passenger seat. That was actually his first comment about it on a technical level "Your Z06 didn't do that. I do NOT like it."