C5 with C6 Z06 Suspension, works well?
09-10-2008, 10:47 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
C5 with C6 Z06 Suspension, works well?
Hey guys, Im looking to upgrade my suspension setup on my C5 coupe for more of a road race feel. Some guys have recommended to upgrade to C6 Z06 shocks and sway bars. Also its a lot cheaper by more than half compared to aftermarket parts. I can have the complete C6 Z06 suspension, except for the springs, for under $500 from GMpartshouse. Anyone here race with that setup or have it? How do you like it? I want to know your opinions. I just wanna haul *** in corners and stay flat and I dont wanna pay $1700 on pfdat shocks and stuff. So, guys with this setup, what do you say? Also, anyone have the sizes on the C6 Z06 sway bars? Thnx.
BTW, I know tires are a big part but lets just talk suspension components here.
BTW, I know tires are a big part but lets just talk suspension components here.
09-10-2008, 12:25 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
I followed your post over in C5 Tech, so what I'll say here will be similar.
IF what you're wanting is a stiff, harsh, ride, then get the biggest, fattest bars with the stiffest shocks you can find. C6 shocks and T1 bars will fill the bill nicely. Then slam the car down as far as possible (pull the front adjusters, go to longer bolts in the back, etc.) The car will drive like garbage, but it'll feel like a sports car should.
If you want to just tighten up your car a bit, and handle better (tires play more of a role than suspension), then I'd suggest a set of Z51/Z06 sways (probably get them used for a song), some Bilstein Sport shocks (work very well on C5s), lower your car no more than 0.5-0.75" from stock ride height settings, and get an alignment.
The shocks will stiffen the ride somewhat, but will still work well with your stock springs (the main purpose of the shock is to control the springs). The sways will really flatten the car in the corner (probably my favorite "feel" mod), but won't make the car less stable on non-smooth corners.
Raising the car back up gets the suspension back towards the middle of its operating range, and usually softens the ride a bit as well (no bottoming out on shock bumpers).
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
IF what you're wanting is a stiff, harsh, ride, then get the biggest, fattest bars with the stiffest shocks you can find. C6 shocks and T1 bars will fill the bill nicely. Then slam the car down as far as possible (pull the front adjusters, go to longer bolts in the back, etc.) The car will drive like garbage, but it'll feel like a sports car should.
If you want to just tighten up your car a bit, and handle better (tires play more of a role than suspension), then I'd suggest a set of Z51/Z06 sways (probably get them used for a song), some Bilstein Sport shocks (work very well on C5s), lower your car no more than 0.5-0.75" from stock ride height settings, and get an alignment.
The shocks will stiffen the ride somewhat, but will still work well with your stock springs (the main purpose of the shock is to control the springs). The sways will really flatten the car in the corner (probably my favorite "feel" mod), but won't make the car less stable on non-smooth corners.
Raising the car back up gets the suspension back towards the middle of its operating range, and usually softens the ride a bit as well (no bottoming out on shock bumpers).
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
09-10-2008, 01:13 PM
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thnx Mike. So, youre recomending the C6 (or C5?) Z51/Z06 sway bars and regular Bilstein Sport shocks (same as C5 Z51 right?) for a tighter ride without it being too harsh, right?
Last edited by C5Natie; 09-10-2008 at 01:15 PM.
09-10-2008, 01:33 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
I got a full C6Z06 suspension (with springs and bars) that was removed from my C6Z with 4500 miles at the time. Springs are going to make the big difference here, not just sway bars. The car will still dive, squat and plow through corners with soft springs, and big bars are just going to mask the problem slighty. How do I know? I ran big bars on a stock Z06 and did not like it and wen't with coil overs. The stiffer spring rate is the key to the package (along with a good set of tires of course).
I would be willing to part, but only as an entire package.
I would be willing to part, but only as an entire package.
09-10-2008, 01:48 PM
#5
Team Owner
Sway bars will hekp in corners but you need to really change the springs for a significant gain and take braking dive out also/. What springs do you have now base or Z51?
09-10-2008, 02:13 PM
#6
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I got a full C6Z06 suspension (with springs and bars) that was removed from my C6Z with 4500 miles at the time. Springs are going to make the big difference here, not just sway bars. The car will still dive, squat and plow through corners with soft springs, and big bars are just going to mask the problem slighty. How do I know? I ran big bars on a stock Z06 and did not like it and wen't with coil overs. The stiffer spring rate is the key to the package (along with a good set of tires of course).
I would be willing to part, but only as an entire package.
I would be willing to part, but only as an entire package.
I might be intrested in the entire package. I will let you know, thank you.
09-10-2008, 02:15 PM
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I have base now so Ive noticed the car isnt as flat on corners as I'd like. For now my plans look like C6Z51 or C6Z bars and C6Z shocks.
09-10-2008, 05:20 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
It depends on what you want for your car (kinda like my first post over in Tech). If you want to optimize the car while accepting the increased harshness that brings on the roads we drive on, then go with the more aggressive parts.
OTOH, if you still want to live with the car on the road (check my sig's mileage), you have to accept some compromises. Right now your car is optimized for ride comfort at the cost of some handling (probably not as much as you think, the C5's suspension is pretty good). Now you want to take away some of that ride comfort to improve the handling.
Another thought is to go with some C5 Z51/Z06 springs, which are stiffer than base, but won't be as much as the C6 Z06 hardware.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
09-10-2008, 06:39 PM
#9
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2007
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I have C5Z springs for sale....
09-10-2008, 07:30 PM
#10
Team Owner
base springs to Z51 C5 or C5Z springs is what you need. Then get some new Bilstein Sport shocks and T-1 bars or even a set of used Z51 or C5Z bars and it will be cheap and better than leaving you base springs in the car. Not sure if all the C6 hardware / suspension is a direct swap. I don't think the springs are. I guess you would spend less than 750 for the whole swap in parts.
used springs 300 front & rear
used Z51 or Z sways 150 used t-1 about double or 300-350
new Bilstein shocks 300
New poly bushings for sway bars 5 or less is my guess. check VBP site
used springs 300 front & rear
used Z51 or Z sways 150 used t-1 about double or 300-350
new Bilstein shocks 300
New poly bushings for sway bars 5 or less is my guess. check VBP site
Last edited by John Shiels; 09-10-2008 at 07:37 PM.
09-12-2008, 09:19 AM
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thnx for all the advice guys. I should have my setup complete around the end of Nov. I def let you guys know what I went with and how it feels. Thnx again.
09-12-2008, 11:51 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Probably the best thing to do is install the C5Z stuff as a package.
That is use the springs and bars from the C5z and the z shocks, or the bilstein shocks. That way you will have a balanced package that you won't have a big bunch of oversteer or understeer with and it will work right out of the box. Changing to this bar and that spring is fine if you know exactly what you want and are willing to do a bunch of work, as well as going out and buying more parts that may or may not match and doing all two or three times until you get it right.
Some folks go about it like building an engine... A cam here and heads there... And it works after a fashion, but it won't perform anywhere like a package that a good builder that has matched his heads to the cam to what the driver wants...
I have seen and driven countless cars that were really terrible that sombody who showed up a local event and wanted somebody who "knew what they were doing" to drive their car and give them some feedback on their modifications. Unless you know exactly what you want to get from a given mod, you are better off with a package that was engineered and will give you balanced handling. Otherwise you can end up with a car that pushes like a pig or makes your eyes wide every time you go briskly around a corner, or will rattle your kidneys every time you drive around the block.
I think that everybody on this page will tell you that the base suspension isn't very good for what we like to do and stiffening it up some really can make it a lot more like what we want. Just be advised that with springs and shocks, it's really easy to get a long way from a "streetable" car if you start going to "much better handling" springs and shocks. The stock Z parts, coupled with a good set of shocks are about as stiff as I would care to drive on the street every day...
That is use the springs and bars from the C5z and the z shocks, or the bilstein shocks. That way you will have a balanced package that you won't have a big bunch of oversteer or understeer with and it will work right out of the box. Changing to this bar and that spring is fine if you know exactly what you want and are willing to do a bunch of work, as well as going out and buying more parts that may or may not match and doing all two or three times until you get it right.
Some folks go about it like building an engine... A cam here and heads there... And it works after a fashion, but it won't perform anywhere like a package that a good builder that has matched his heads to the cam to what the driver wants...
I have seen and driven countless cars that were really terrible that sombody who showed up a local event and wanted somebody who "knew what they were doing" to drive their car and give them some feedback on their modifications. Unless you know exactly what you want to get from a given mod, you are better off with a package that was engineered and will give you balanced handling. Otherwise you can end up with a car that pushes like a pig or makes your eyes wide every time you go briskly around a corner, or will rattle your kidneys every time you drive around the block.
I think that everybody on this page will tell you that the base suspension isn't very good for what we like to do and stiffening it up some really can make it a lot more like what we want. Just be advised that with springs and shocks, it's really easy to get a long way from a "streetable" car if you start going to "much better handling" springs and shocks. The stock Z parts, coupled with a good set of shocks are about as stiff as I would care to drive on the street every day...
09-13-2008, 08:54 AM
#13
Team Owner
Right now I am running my factory Z51 springs (rear is same as Z06), C5Z swaybar/links and C6Z shocks. It seems to work well together but I am getting some noise that I think is coming from the shocks. I have not found anyhting that was 100% accurate about this, but it looked like the C6 shocks had a slightly different mouting angle and may be binding. My old shocks had 150,000 miles on them so maybe the rubber ends had molded to the car better. I am goign to take the shocks out this week to check them out. I have a set of C5Z shocks going in as well as the C5z front spring.
09-13-2008, 01:31 PM
#14
I have C6Z shocks with C5Z sways on my FRC with the ride height dropped about an inch in the front a little more in the rear, still has a good rake. The car handles very well although I'm thinking about raising the car a little bit.
I've heard that the late C5Z or Bilstein shocks are better but I got a good deal.
I've heard that the late C5Z or Bilstein shocks are better but I got a good deal.
09-15-2008, 09:42 AM
#15
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Are new metal end links for the sway bars needed? I havent even really studied my suspension. Does the stock setup already have them? Just want to know what I'll have to order with the C6 Z51 sway bars.
09-16-2008, 11:58 AM
#17
Safety Car
Thread Starter
