New Owner

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by | 1990 ZR-1 |

One question that comes to mind. Is the FX3 suspension any good as far as handling? Is there a real difference between the three settings? I'm not sure if i should leave the front fixed shocks and convert the back to stiff fixed as well.

Yes, there is a significant different between "Tour" and the others. "Sport" to "Perf" is not a big difference, but you can feel it. Considering how these cars crash a bit over rough road, the option to kick it into "Tour" is a nice one.

You can also have the shocks revalved to make the difference more dramatic, or to have shocks that are really race-car stiff on "Perf", but still livable on the street in the other settings (search for "Moracca" valving). In fact, going that route it would make more sense in terms of cost to buy some used shocks and send them to Bilstein for rebuild/revalving.

[| 1990 ZR-1 |]

Originally Posted by voxdeidave

Hey Gary....welcome to the crew!
I think I might be one of the closest members to you...I'm just off of 476 above Allentown, PA. 1991 #384 is in my stable as of August of last year, and as a fellow ZR-1 newbie you could not have picked a better car or club! We'll have to have a greater phily area club meeting some time.

dave

Hi Dave,

That's not far at all from where I am. We should organize a get together at Dr. Simeone's museum in philly, and go cruising afterwards. I've been dying to see that lost Daytona Coupe he has in his collection in person.

[| 1990 ZR-1 |]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Yes, there is a significant different between "Tour" and the others. "Sport" to "Perf" is not a big difference, but you can feel it. Considering how these cars crash a bit over rough road, the option to kick it into "Tour" is a nice one.

You can also have the shocks revalved to make the difference more dramatic, or to have shocks that are really race-car stiff on "Perf", but still livable on the street in the other settings (search for "Moracca" valving). In fact, going that route it would make more sense in terms of cost to buy some used shocks and send them to Bilstein for rebuild/revalving.

That sounds like a great idea. I'll have to research this more. Thanks Bob!

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by | 1990 ZR-1 |

That sounds like a great idea. I'll have to research this more. Thanks Bob!

Heheh, yeah you should certainly at least wait until you get the car and see how it rides! And there are plenty of us in the area with stock FX3 setups if you want to see how those ride.

[tomtom72]

I would only add one thing to what Bob ( Aurora40 ) posted with respect to FX3 shocks.

I bought a new set and the standard valving is different from what came as OEM in my 90. I noticed the difference right away in the Sport & Performance settings. It seems that they are just a bit softer than the OE stuff in the initial stages. The FX3 shocks have six settings within each selector switch setting and the ride control module adjusts up or down using the VSS signal.

Anyway, I just figured you would need this bit of info as I don't know if it matters all that much if you mix valving front to rear. I'll say this much for the new valving, it makes performance a usable ( to me anyway ) option on the road vs just a track use setting. The OE performance settings was all but unusable unless the road was glass smooth, IMHO.

I bought mine at this place:
http://eshocks.com/bil_veh.asp?Model...&Manf=Bilstein


Tom

Oh, forgot this. I kept my OE shocks as someday I may send them to Bilstein for the rebuild. I know a guy that did this and it was north of $450.00 plus shipping and they didn't even put the new decals on or repaint them. Oh, he also went for the groove for coil over spring cup while they were at Bilstein. The OE configuration does not have the groove for a coil over set up.

[Aurora40]

Tom, I always wonder about that, if maybe your OEM shocks were abnormally stiff. I run mine on "Perf" all the time, otherwise it feels really soft.

"Sport" to me feels like the FE1 suspension of my friend's '96 vette (they had a softer front spring). Which rides nice, but always felt a bit soft to me. And "Tour" reminds me of our recently departed Buick Regal.

[| 1990 ZR-1 |]

Originally Posted by tomtom72

I would only add one thing to what Bob ( Aurora40 ) posted with respect to FX3 shocks.

I bought a new set and the standard valving is different from what came as OEM in my 90. I noticed the difference right away in the Sport & Performance settings. It seems that they are just a bit softer than the OE stuff in the initial stages. The FX3 shocks have six settings within each selector switch setting and the ride control module adjusts up or down using the VSS signal.

Anyway, I just figured you would need this bit of info as I don't know if it matters all that much if you mix valving front to rear. I'll say this much for the new valving, it makes performance a usable ( to me anyway ) option on the road vs just a track use setting. The OE performance settings was all but unusable unless the road was glass smooth, IMHO.

I bought mine at this place:
http://eshocks.com/bil_veh.asp?Model...&Manf=Bilstein


Tom

Oh, forgot this. I kept my OE shocks as someday I may send them to Bilstein for the rebuild. I know a guy that did this and it was north of $450.00 plus shipping and they didn't even put the new decals on or repaint them. Oh, he also went for the groove for coil over spring cup while they were at Bilstein. The OE configuration does not have the groove for a coil over set up.

Thanks Tom, this was very helpful, and at that price of $179 is the lowest I've seen for new front fx3 shocks. Really appreciate it.

So it wouldn't matter, as far as handling goes, that fronts will be new fx3's while the rears are original? I'm just speculating that the rears are stock since the dealer didn't say anything. Or should I replace all 4 corners?

[tomtom72]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Tom, I always wonder about that, if maybe your OEM shocks were abnormally stiff. I run mine on "Perf" all the time, otherwise it feels really soft.

"Sport" to me feels like the FE1 suspension of my friend's '96 vette (they had a softer front spring). Which rides nice, but always felt a bit soft to me. And "Tour" reminds me of our recently departed Buick Regal.

Good Q Bob. I never thought of that, maybe my car got the wrong valving. I know for sure the O.O. didn't do any changing of parts, and the GM data base on my car didn't list any warranty work for shocks.

It also could be that the few times I tried the perf setting on the roads around here it just reacted badly due to bad road surfaces? I know that now that setting is much more user friendly on the roads where I travel frequently. I also know that my observation is subjective.... the only C-4 I've ever rode in was mine so my observation is suspect at best? I have observed that before the car starts hopping around over irregularities I have to be going faster now than with the OE shocks on performance. It is soaking up the energy better and not upsetting the chassis as much as the OE stuff. The only other thing I can think that could be amiss is that maybe my springs are shot?

[tomtom72]

Originally Posted by | 1990 ZR-1 |

Thanks Tom, this was very helpful, and at that price of $179 is the lowest I've seen for new front fx3 shocks. Really appreciate it.

So it wouldn't matter, as far as handling goes, that fronts will be new fx3's while the rears are original? I'm just speculating that the rears are stock since the dealer didn't say anything. Or should I replace all 4 corners?

Gary, I'm going to be honest and tell you I do not know the right answer to your question.

The reason I replaced mine with only 22k on them was they were floating more than I thought that they should. Did I do the right thing? I don't know for sure except to say no more floating over undulating roadways at speed. Another Z brother advised me to do all 4 even thou my mileage was low, the shocks were 15 + yrs old & he said just do it!

If it were my car, yes I'd do all four. Yea, the $800 was a big swallow! However, I notice the improvement in the damping ability of the new vs the old stuff.

Something to keep in mind if you do the r&r yourself. Mind the instructions in the FSM. Pay attention to the shock gear installed height specification!


Tom

[| 1990 ZR-1 |]

Originally Posted by tomtom72

Gary, I'm going to be honest and tell you I do not know the right answer to your question.

The reason I replaced mine with only 22k on them was they were floating more than I thought that they should. Did I do the right thing? I don't know for sure except to say no more floating over undulating roadways at speed. Another Z brother advised me to do all 4 even thou my mileage was low, the shocks were 15 + yrs old & he said just do it!

If it were my car, yes I'd do all four. Yea, the $800 was a big swallow! However, I notice the improvement in the damping ability of the new vs the old stuff.

Something to keep in mind if you do the r&r yourself. Mind the instructions in the FSM. Pay attention to the shock gear installed height specification!


Tom

Fair enough Tom. I'll just wait and see what condition the rears are in, and will take it from there. Thanks!