dK_C6_LS3

Looking for options for a replacement struts on a 2004 C5 Corvette. It's my dads car, he is the second owner and the car has about 35K on it. Noticed the last year or so that the car has a "floating" feel when going over bumps at highway speeds. Pretty sure the struts are gone at this point. His car has the (Tour/Sport) option for the suspension, so I am assuming it has the magnetic struts. I have read that this can be by-passed if standard struts are used.

1. How can i confirm if the car still has the original struts
2. What are our options for factory/OEM type replacements
3. Options for bypassing the magnetic ride system?
4. general pricing for these options?

I am searching the C5 forum as we speak but would appreciate any suggestions/recommendations from others that have been through this process...

Thanks

Vetteman Jack

If he has the magnetic ride shocks, then the options are very limited if he wants to stay with them. They are available from GM but the price is very high per shock. He could however consider getting the F55 option tuned out (a dealer can do this with a Tech II programmer) and then he could install a regular shock like the C6 Z06 shocks at a very reasonable price.

Pricing for OEM mag ride shocks are about $600+/shock. The C6 Z06 shocks shocks are about $200-250 or so for a set of four.

If you look at the top of the shocks currently on the car, they should have an electrical connector there if they are the factory mag ride shocks.

ssrallyred

I recently replaced my "shocks" with coil overs. I am at 50K on my 03Z and I had not noticed any change in the ride of the stock shocks, but I wanted the adjustability that coil overs provide.

dK_C6_LS3

Just noticed I said struts... I meant shocks... Thank you for correcting!

Sox-Fan

if that is a picture from your actual car it's no surprise it rides bad. See the yellow cord sticking out from under the dust boot? It still has the shipping blocks!

dK_C6_LS3

That is the pic from his car, I heard that was possable that boots were still in there, but didn't know how to confirm, could they be on all four? I am heading to there house now to see if I can get them out.

dK_C6_LS3

10 years and 35K, no one knew the shipping blocks were in there... unreal, heading to my parents house now to see if I can get those blocks out...

dK_C6_LS3

do I just pull the cord until they fall out?

Sox-Fan

Depends upon whether or nor the car is sitting on the blocks. You have to push the dust boot up and out of the way in any case, then if the weight of the car is not on the blocks just grab the yellow cord and pull. You may need to jack the car up some to make it easier.

The shipping block is a U shaped plastic block that should just yank off the shock piston if there is no weight on it and the dust boot is pushed up clear. I found it easier to jack the car and let the suspension hang. Then you don't have to push the dust boot up so far and you can actually see the blocks.

If you have one then you probably have all four.

The car will have a much better ride after that, obviously. Then do go get an alignment. Inspect them for leaks. Who knows what's happened to them if they do indeed have 35k of bumping into the blocks?

dK_C6_LS3

At my parents house, confirmed, the blocks are there for the rear for sure, I will be getting it in the air tomorrow to confirm the rest and will be taking the car to our local corvette shop to inspect shocks and get a 4 wheel alignment... Thanks for the help

Sox-Fan

It made a huge difference on my 2004 coupe. Seattle has roads like PA. concrete... man they ride hard. Moreso when you have no suspension travel. Changing lanes can be a challenge. Getting it aligned afterwards will make a difference. And if it is still on runflats get rid of them. It'll be a whole new car.

When it's time to replace the shocks you can tune out the RPO code with a TechII. they make caps with resisters that can plug in instead of the shocks but I didn't trust them. Shutting the RPO off is the better way. Then the range of options opens up to you, and the expense so much less.

Believe me though, the enjoyement level of a car with a working suspension is going to be much higher

ssrallyred

Lazy *** dealer to not have those removed !! Great catch Sox Fan

Better than Buckners, oh wait lolo

Sox-Fan

It never fails to amaze me how many of these were missed by various dealers and even more that here we are 10 years later and there are still cars floating around with the blocks in.

Buckner was terribly injured and doing the best he had for the team. What's are the Chevy dealer's excuses?

dK_C6_LS3

I'll post an update asap, won't be able to get to this for a week or two, can't wait to get those blocks out and see how the shocks look...

31coupe

[i had the same problem on my 03. Discovered them with 28000 on it, I found them after reading about them on the forum. Felt bad for all the other owners who got a ruff ride. I took mine to the dealer and they pulled mine for nothing. Because of the short stroke, the blocks are about 2 inches thick they are all leaking. Vetteman jack suggested 06 Z06 replacements, non magnetic ride so you will need to fool the system....another thing a dealer can do, unless you know what your doing.



QUOTE=dK_C6_LS3;1588585177]At my parents house, confirmed, the blocks are there for the rear for sure, I will be getting it in the air tomorrow to confirm the rest and will be taking the car to our local corvette shop to inspect shocks and get a 4 wheel alignment... Thanks for the help[/QUOTE]

dK_C6_LS3

Finally had the chance to bring my dads C5 to a friends house who has a 4 post lift. Confirmed it was only the rears that still had the shipping blocks in, and removed them... removing the blocks made a huge difference in how the car rides!!! His car has the F55 option and all four of the shocks are leaking bad/covered in oil at this point... (it's an 04 C5 with 37K on it...). So our next steps will be to figure out what to do next as far as replacements go... See the pics below and thanks again to all who pointed out that the blocks were still in there!!!:

73Corvette

Nice catch...

31coupe

I had the same problem but don't want to spend a ton of money on originals. It has been suggested by folks here that 06 Z 06 shocks work fine but you also need to trick the system to think the originals are installed so a code doesn't keep coming up. There's info on the forum and people will help you through it. Good luck. This is what I plan on doing.

Just realized I had posted this before so sorry for the repeat.