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I do about 16-18 HPDE track events a year and am looking to upgrade my sway bars and shocks. It might be a mistake, but I am not looking to spend the $ on coil overs (at least at this time). Can I go with C6 Z06/Z51 sway bars or is it $ well spent to get Hotchkiss, Johnny O'Connel, LG, etc. sway bars? Should I go with the Billstein shocks? All suggestions welcome.
I would put all C5 Z06 parts under it, cheap and very effective.
Springs, shocks(04) and bars.
I like cheap and effective! However, do you think I will give up much performance on the track if I go with C5 Z06 parts rather than Johnny O'connels, LG, DRM Bilsteins, etc? Also, I was told that if I go with Z06 parts, I should go with C6's?
I like cheap and effective! However, do you think I will give up much performance on the track if I go with C5 Z06 parts rather than Johnny O'connels, LG, DRM Bilsteins, etc? Also, I was told that if I go with Z06 parts, I should go with C6's?
I would learn to drive the car IMO. Spend money on a seat and things to make you comfortable in the car.
Mine on a set of race takeoff slicks is damn fast. With limited seat time on slicks I am already running 1:42's at Barber and 1:54's at NOLA.
That's decent considering the experience I have on the tires. When I relax and figure them out I feel like I can get 2 more seconds out of the car(ish).
C6 parts were designed for a C6, not a C5.
Run a square tire setup on the C5 with the C5 Z06 parts.
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; 08-15-2016 at 08:34 PM.
I just put the OConnell bars and shocks on my car. It handles great but it would be way too harsh for street driving for very long.
On my first C5 I was satisfied w/ Bilstein sport shocks and Hotchkis swaybars. Handling was way better than stock and driving on the street was still comfortable. That was back when C5 Z's were fairly new, and I could run w/ them despite being down 60 hp.
I currently run about 10 HPDE events a years, 15 or so autocrosses, and a ton of street driving getting to and from all of these events. I am running Ridetech single adjustable HQ Smoothbody shocks with a 1,000,001 mile warranty (last shocks I will ever have to buy). When driving to events I just soften the rebound for comfortable street driving, and then adjust them to a more firm setting one I get to the track. The car is also running Ridetech front and rear swaybars, and Ridetech delrin bushings. I cannot say enough how great this car drives. Besides running the fastest times at several SCCA events it has also won with the autocross and track portion of Motor State Challenge last year. I don't feel that I would be a good driver in any other car, but RideTech did their homework and these products work. See below for link to Ridetech's C5 product line.
So are you just starting out... or are you already doing 16-18 HPDE events a year?
I personally went with c6 z51 sway bar on my C5, with the upgraded metal end links (I had the plastic ones before). For the money, OE quality, and size improvement, you can't go wrong. Cultrag Performance is a forum sponsor with excellent prices and service. The front bar is the same size between the z06/z51. For the rear, the z51 bar is typically recommended, as the z06 bar was larger and tuned towards the massively wide rear c6z06 tires.
My car also already had bilstein HD shocks on it. Had they been old stock shocks, I probably would have gone with the C6 z06 shocks, which are supposed to be slightly better than the 04 z06 shocks. And again, relatively cheap and still within the realms of OE ride quality.
At some point I'd like to find a set of c5 z06 leaf springs to swap in (mine is a base model c5), as they have a higher spring rate.
For tires I run conti slicks. (race scrubs)
Mine is also a street car. No ride quality complaints with my setup. (it's a sunny day sports car, not a caddy)
Thanks for all the comments. I have about 50 HPDE days under my belt and do about 16-18 days a year. My first 25 were in a 2002 996 911 but I wanted a dedicated track car and was told the 996 engine would not hold up without extensive work. So I got the base C5 and have about 25 days on it, am running RE-11's and drive the car to the track (VIR and Summit Point) and back. I do not use the car as a daily driver and am currently avoiding trailering the car, but suspect that this will eventually happen. I agree that nothing beats seat time and coaching and am trying to get as much of this as I can. I have been told to put in coil-overs but do not feel this makes sense for me at this time. I am looking for the most bang for the buck but will spend the $ if it makes sense.
Speaking of shocks. The Andretti IndyCar team is having a terrible time with shocks this year. They readily admit they can't figure it out.
Given that they have millions of dollars and a bunch of engineers there is no hope for the rest of us. Damper technology is still the black art.
My favorite quote was when a GM Corvette engineer once asked me who did my shocks. After I replied Bilstein he simply replied "You have too much rebound then."
I would put all C5 Z06 parts under it, cheap and very effective.
This is very good advice for someone just starting out.
Because I am not just starting out (50 days), would you still suggest the C5 Z06 parts or moving up to something like the DRM Bilsteins and Johnny O's/LG's?
Because I am not just starting out (50 days), would you still suggest the C5 Z06 parts or moving up to something like the DRM Bilsteins and Johnny O's/LG's?
What he said. Please spend your money on seat time
I completely disagree. Better to look fast than to be fast!
Seriously though, if your have 40K plus on your shocks it wouldn't hurt to replace them with DRMs. Likely cheaper than replacing with stock and good performance.
Last edited by SunnydayDILYSI; 08-16-2016 at 09:47 PM.
St. Jude Vendor Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by vicomel
I do about 16-18 HPDE track events a year and am looking to upgrade my sway bars and shocks. It might be a mistake, but I am not looking to spend the $ on coil overs (at least at this time). Can I go with C6 Z06/Z51 sway bars or is it $ well spent to get Hotchkiss, Johnny O'Connel, LG, etc. sway bars? Should I go with the Billstein shocks? All suggestions welcome.
Hi, Lou Gigliotti here.
I am a little biased but our Sway bars and Bilstein shock package has won more World Challenge Races than any Corvette package in America.
You can not really learn how to race and gain track experience if you are fighting a stock suspension package. It was made for the Street, and when you put it on track, it is lacking so much that you will be constantly be fighting a sloppy street package.
We have some new pricing but regardless, at least the Sway Bar package will gain you so much that you will be amazed.
Track Days come and go but every mile is an education. Tracking your car on a street suspension is like trying to draw a long straight line without a ruler.
Give us a call at LG Motorspsorts , Anthony can help you out.
972-429-1963.
08-15-2016, 01:43 PM
Sway bars and shocks for c5 track car
What he said. Please spend your money on seat time
