Comfortable Riding Shock?
 

I have a 2010 roadster with 42,000 miles. Are the shocks gone at that mileage? It seems to ride rough especially when I hit the bridge expansion joints on the interstate highway. Is there a better riding shock other than the oem ones? I don't really do any spirited driving I just want the best ride I can get without being too spongy.

A set of Fortune 500 coilovers set up on the soft side.

Are you saying I should eliminate the rear coil springs?

I think they do OEM style coilovers

I know it's a small car and a vert so the ride won't be like a Caddy. I'm just trying to keep it simple and improve what I have. The OEM shocks have 42k. Do you think they are worn out?

At 42k they shouldn't be, but that'll depend on how rough of a life they've had up to that point. What are the conditions of the roads the car frequents?

:iagree:

Your shocks are probably fine. Should be able to get 100K miles out of them unless you daily it offroad (some public roads are basically the equivalent of offroad).

Well ok on the life of my shocks. How can I get a better ride or is it not possible? I live in VT the roads get pretty rough here.

Depends on your expectations. You bought a sports car. It will never have a 'soft' ride.

You can get different shocks and springs that will improve the ride for you - my guess is some FAs with softer spring rates would work well for you. Unless you have unrealistic expectations. Unfortunately, you won't get an exact answer on your solution until you find it yourself. Are you willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars to 'try-on' a set?

1) when did you buy the car? new, or used and if so at what mileage
2) has your ride changed from when you bought it
3) if no, then it is not your shocks; if yes, then its time to look at the parts to see if anything is worn or broken

You bought a ******* sports car it's never going to ride like a Lexus. I mean, it's a stock, automatic, convertible Z so its . .. really, not a sports car, but still.

ride quality is determined by spring rate, damping, whether those two things are matched, your tires, your alignment (to an extent), and the roads you're driving

You want a GOOD ride?
Put your Z in the garage and buy a ******* lexus

you want a BETTER ride than now?
get coilovers with soft rates from a reputable place that will match the damping to the rates. Fortune is pretty reliable. And stick to a decent sidewall tire

mainly, sell your car.

Fortune 500 says they offer a softer spring rate that may ride a little better. Not sure if it's going to be worth the money. I would probably go for the Swift springs I read they ride better. Should I go with the TRUE STYLE REAR or SEPARATE STYLE REAR? They're both the same price.

Hold on......if the dampers are "worn", the sensation should be more floaty, opposite of stiffer/rougher?

Unless his dampers are bent, severely restricting compression and rebound. Pretty sure this isn't happening here.

Check your tire inflation? Maybe some of the suspension and subframe bushings are worn?

At 42k miles regular driving, no your shocks shouldn't be "done". Far from it.

When I really notice the bad ride is when I go over the interstate bridge expansion joints at 65mph. It hits them like I have no give anywhere in the suspension. I know it's a little car, but it should ride better than it does or maybe it just a 370Z thing. If it is I can live with it but if I can better it I will.

Either your feeling is accurate (ride quality had deteriorate), or that ride had been the same but you are now more aware of it with the longer ownership (1 yr).

If it's real, I doubt it's the shocks.

Outside shot: What tires do you have, and how worn are they? Your mileage would coincide with either a need for new tires or recently changed tires, I assume.

If you have old Potenzas: My experience is summer Potenzas yield significant increase in impact feel and noise as they wear down. I could feel a big difference even in my G37 sedan with RE-11, let alone in the Z. The increase noise and impact sensations at full tread vs 6-7/32 tread depth vs 4/32 tread depth are very noticeable.

I have brand new Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires. I bought the car 1 year ago and noticed then.