Shifter6

This would be on a narrow body C6. I am wondering if they are a good option for me. My car is a street car with 1-2 HPDEs a year.

PushinTheLimit

I would say you would be a good candidate for the DRM Bilsteins. Good bang for your buck upgrade and you won't have to fiddle with any shock adjustments... which is good for anyone just getting started in HPDE's.

The ride quality will be a little firmer on the streets, but shouldn't be too bad.

clubracer6

Sent you a pm, I have a set for sale.

05C6GAC

I've got a set on my 05 Z51 HPDE and DD car!!!

Joy of 6

I like em. My car is mainly a track car is gives great balance for street and track

Shifter6

Was there benifits on the street too? Do they help with body control and the suspension skipping over pavement imperfections?

VatorMan

In short-Yes. Love my Bilsteins.

Grabbed_Crow_Mobe

I too have a 05 Z51 and am looking to stiffen up the suspension. Are the Bilsteins the only thing you changed? Seems like there are a few more variables to consider (or not):

Sways
Poly
Leafs
etc…

Wondering how many of these go hand in hand with the shock change or if that is enough. My car is mostly for the track but some DD as well.

SteveC68

The DRM Bilsteins were valved based on a stock C6 Z06. So if you put say T1 springs on the car then you would need to revalve the shocks as spring rates are one of the things that is factored into shock valving. Bushings and sway bars shouldn't change anything as far as the shock is concerned.

Grabbed_Crow_Mobe

So if the DRM Bilsteins were valved based on the C6 Z06 springs, then wouldn't that imply that the springs on a Z51 should be changed to stock Z06 springs to match?

Thanks for the input!

Pfadt Racing

If you're looking at the DRM Bilstiens, be sure to look into our Johnny O'Connell line as well. We built the shocks around a custom sway bar package that's included in the Johnny O'Connell Stage 1, but in practical application they perform very well for cars even without the shocks they were designed around.

For those Corvette owners who are looking to keep excellent daily driving manners, while increasing the overall performance of their Corvettes be sure to check out the Johnny O'Connell line of suspension components.

Shifter6

This is why I started the thread. I was looking for feedback from non wide body users. You will find most shock manufacturers offer one shock for C5s C6s and C6Z06s. For instance if you go with Bilstein sports, its the same number for all applications. I think its the same for the JOC shocks.

I think the spring/sway rates have to do more with the width of the car and the higher leverage the wheel/control arm have over the spring on a wide body car.

The shock tuning seems the same regardless of model.

Shifter6

I have a short list and you guys are on it.

SteveC68

C6 Z06 front spring rate is 531 lbs
C6 Z51 front spring rate is 526 lbs

C6 Z06 rear spring rate is 782 lbs
C6 Z51 rear spring rate is 645 lbs

The fronts are so close that they are probably interchangeable. With production tolerances what they are there are probably some Z06's with softer front springs than some Z51's. The rears are stiffer though by almost 20%. In reality anyone less than national champion level would probably not be able to tell the difference between a Bilstein sport custom valved for the Z06 vs the Z51. I'll put it this way. When the group buy for the DRM Bilsteins starts to get into the 40's I'm buying a set.

PS: If you call someone to have a set of shocks custom valved they are going to ask you for a bunch of information about your car. Motion ratios, spring rates, unsprung weight at each corner, corner weights, total weight, what type of driving, etc. PSI wants something like $200 per shock to do a custom valve job, not including the price of the shock. Bilstein will also custom valve shocks for you. Just buy some Bilstein sports and ship them to Bilstein and I think it's about $50-$80 per shock to get them revalved. That still ends up being more than the DRM set though.

Grabbed_Crow_Mobe

Makes sense. I didn't realize they were so close. Thanks!