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Corvette: Coilover Reviews

There are a multitude of coilover solutions on the market. Figure out which is best for your means with this helpful review.

By Jacob Stumph - February 26, 2015

This article applies to the C5, C6 and C7 Corvette (1997-current).

From the factory, the Corvette is equipped with leaf springs and shocks. For those who want to go beyond a shock-only upgrade, there are coilover conversion kits available. As the name implies, on a coilover the coil is situated over the shock, which helps packaging (less space required) as well as the response and effectiveness of the spring and shock. The big benefit of coilovers is height and shock dampening adjustment.

Coilovers
QA-1 Single Adjustable
Stance
Pfadt Featherlight
LG Motorsports GT2
Price
 $1,200 $1,500 $3,000 $1,900
Ride Quality
 Harsher than OEM Stiffer than OEM Adjustable Adjustable
Warranty
 1 year 1 year; Limited 1,000,001 miles N/A
Lifespan
 30,000+ miles 60,000+ miles 60,000+ miles 60,000+ miles
Best Quality: Pfadt Featherlight

Best Value: QA-1 Single Adjustable

QA-1 Single Adjustable

Price - $1,200

Ride Quality - Harsher than OEM

Warranty - 1 year

Lifespan - 30,000+ miles for shocks

The QA-1 is a newer option in the Corvette market. QA-1 is prominent in the drag and off-road racing arenas, and has been branching out for street car applications. Initially, there were reported issues with shock design, causing rubbing on the mounting brackets, and loud metallic noises; however, this appears to have been rectified later on. The system is intended as a no-frills option with a lower cost of entry than other competitors, with several spring rate options available. The long term durability of these shocks may not be quite as high as other available options, with more reported instances of blown shocks and rebuilds being required. Recommended for those who want a low cost of entry coilover setup.

Stance

Price - $1,500

Ride Quality - Stiffer than OEM

Warranty - 1 year; Limited

Lifespan - 60,000+ miles

Stance coilovers are another new-to-Corvette name throwing their cards into the hat, with their main experience being with Asian makes and models. They are a Japanese brand with American vendors, rebuilders and technicians. Stance has a reputation that is generally favorable when it comes to street use applications, with their main appeal being able to go very low. Stance does have some presence in lower level motorsport, and it is not unusual to hear of owners tracking their cars with Stance products. Stance sits in the middle of our price bracket, offering rebound adjustable dampers and height adjustment. Much like the QA-1 units, the warranty is limited with Stance, and the cost of damper rebuilds is not publicly discussed, compared to a Koni or Bilstein shock. Recommended for those who want a low-riding Corvette and mid-range quality.

Pfadt Featherlight

Price - $3,000

Ride Quality - Adjustable

Warranty - 1,000,001 miles

Lifespan - 60,000+ miles

In the world of Chevrolet performance suspensions, there may be no bigger name that Pfadt. These coilovers are touted as a top of the line solution with one knob of adjustment, which adjusts both rebound and compression to keep them in an optimal performance curve. Pfadt coilovers are universally praised for their quality, customer service and durability. Forum vendors and Pfadt claim a "1,000,001 mile" warranty for defects, as they are confident about their product. It is common place to hear people using Pfadt coilovers for both street and track, with exceptional performance in both arenas. Obviously, they are the most expensive of the bunch by a large margin, but they do offer the largest warranty. The combined rebound/compression knob is an advanced feature only seen in coilovers with a comparable price tag. Recommended for those with a large budget and a desire for the highest quality option.

LG Motorsports GT2

Price - $1,900

Ride Quality - Adjustable

Warranty - N/A

Lifespan - 60,000+ miles

LG Motorsport is prominent in the Corvette world for their racing and track prowess. No other brand in the commercial world of Corvette is going to touch LGM in that regard. Their experiences and philosophies in motorsport have trickled down to their consumer grade options, including their GT2 coilovers. With a track-focused intention, these coilovers will drop your lap times. CorvetteForum is evenly split regarding which is the superior product between these and the Pfadt option. Both can be adjusted for street comfort, and with the turn of the adjustment knob, can be tuned for race ready performance. These are much less expensive than the Pfadt, but don't offer the cushy warranty to put buyers at ease. It should be noted that the lifespan of the Bilstein-based shocks is equal to the Pfadt option. This option is recommended for those who want a top tier, consumer grade coilover with less cost of entry, at the expense of an explicit warranty.

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