I have a 94 z28 m6 and it rides really rough. When I hit bumps it goes all over the place and is just rough in general. I was wondering if new struts etc. would really make it a smooth ride or would it make it rough still for performance wise?

 

Struts will make a difference and the back shocks. you need to make sure all your springs are good too. i would start with struts and shocks. I like the adjustable ones and they don't cost that much more. Then you can tailor your ride for what you like.

 

Our cars do not have struts, they have shocks... both front and rear...

New shocks will make the car ride and perform better, period.

Springs effect the rough/smooth more than shocks, shocks effect the "all-over" bouncyness caused by the springs. (they control and limit this "bouncyness".

 

What wheels and tires are you running? Very low-profile tires ride harshly, and transmit every little twitch from the road right into the axles- I just went back to 16 inch 50 series tires because I like how they ride and feel better than the 17 inch 40 series I put on- yeah, the 17 inchers gripped like crazy, but the car was darty and never drove like it was settled down-

 

The stock suspension on the 4th gens isn't a smooth riding setup. If you want to replace your shocks and springs, there are better choices than OEM replacements.

Call Sam Strano and tell him you want a smoother ride.

http://www.stranoparts.com/

 

As mentioned, the stock shocks *suck*, and as miles pile on they ride more and more harshly, and offer less control too.

The car is never what I consider to be super smooth. It's a solid axle performance car. Touring car it's not, and not supposed to be. That said, better shocks will help in every way. Less impact harshness, more stability, and better control.

 

Not to hijack the thread or anything but my car with 110,000 mi. and factory shocks is exhibiting the same behavior as the OP's. It bucks pretty bad over bumps, feels spongy and bouncy, it also has tons of body roll and there's a shimmy in the steering wheel around 65-70 mph. I know the shimmy isn't directly related to the shocks and springs, but my big question is does a car with over 100k miles need new springs as well as shocks? Do the factory springs wear out over time like the shocks do? What would i gain by replacing the springs as well? Thanks.

 

Actually the shimmy can well be the shocks.... Compression damping controls unsprung weight (your wheels, tires, etc.). Ever see a car on the road where a tire is just bouncing all over, but the car isn't bobbing all over? That's a shock that's trashed on the compression side. The bobbing and such is a lack of rebound. I think you should not be surprised if new shocks help your shimmy.

Springs can wear, but generally don't. Easy to tell... does the car sit lower than it used to? If not, the springs are fine. If there is nothing wrong with the springs, replacing them with like springs won't do anything but cost you money. You need better shocks.

 

stock 4th gen shocks are weak and yours are used up by now. time for some koni yellows you won't regret it. new stock springs if you want to keep the stock height and comfy ride, strano springs if you want a little lower stiffer

 

On the subject of springs... for those of us who are going to have the suspension apart to install newer, better shocks anyway, what is your favorite ride height for a mostly street-driven car? I'd like to go a little lower than stock for looks, but I am concerned about ground clearance and don't want to go too low.

 

Well, that's a personal call. If it were me, and I just wanted to take the edge off the height, but was also worried about clearance then a slight drop is all I'd want. And in fact, I'd not change the springs at all, but still use the Koni's.

The Koni shocks have a provision to get a bit of a drop to get that 4x4 look knocked down (makes stock LS1's look a lot like stock LT1's did), and you get killer shocks which are the key to making the cars work handling and control wise.

 

I just did my shocks hoping it would fix my shimmy. It didn't, but I needed em' anyway. One of my shocks had ripped through the upper mount & dog bone! It's better, but still shimmyin'. I did some shakin' on the front end pieces with a big pry bar, and it looks like it's the lower control arm bushings. I found alot of play in both sides. Anyone know of any stiffer bushings I can use instead of the stock rubber pieces? I always used PST polygraphite bushings in my old Camaros, and they worked great without the squeaks, which are common with hard poly bushings.

 

On my 94 i was wanting to lower it and i was curious how far i could go without rubbing i have 18" in the back they are older vette wheels