Shock Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Shock Question
Im taking my car to my first HPDE at Texas World Speedway on March 2-3rd and would like input on what shocks to put on my car im going to be running Ccarbotec xp10 fronts and xp8 rears brakes other than that i have a Halltech intake and Corsa catback. The reason i ask is i had a rear shock go out on me when i was living in Virginia and Gary Ballard (GBvette) gave me his take off bilstein sport rear shocks so i could get the car back to Texas. so now i have stock 02 z06 shocks in the front and bilsteins in the rear. What would yall recommend for shocks just replacing the fronts with Bilstein sports or i was thinking about getting the Pfadt Johnny Oconnell shocks and replacing all of them.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: Near Road Atl Ga
Im taking my car to my first HPDE at Texas World Speedway on March 2-3rd and would like input on what shocks to put on my car im going to be running Ccarbotec xp10 fronts and xp8 rears brakes other than that i have a Halltech intake and Corsa catback. The reason i ask is i had a rear shock go out on me when i was living in Virginia and Gary Ballard (GBvette) gave me his take off bilstein sport rear shocks so i could get the car back to Texas. so now i have stock 02 z06 shocks in the front and bilsteins in the rear. What would yall recommend for shocks just replacing the fronts with Bilstein sports or i was thinking about getting the Pfadt Johnny Oconnell shocks and replacing all of them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
You want to keep the shocks matched, so doing the Bilstein sports on the front is good, or the stock 04 z Sach's are fine. The Bilsteins last longer so that's what I'd get. Valving is the same, so there is no driving difference.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 198
From: Southern CA
but I don't think your current setup is a problem either since it's your first time. You should not be pushing the limits of your shock package on your first time.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 3
From: Farmington MI
Are you sure? A couple of years ago someone posted a dyno plot of several dampers. Bilsteins were almost the same on compression but offered more dampening on rebound (according to the graph...). I've searched and searched for that post but no luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html
The 04 Z fronts and Bilstein sports are very close. In the range up to 3 inches per second (which is where most of the effects on handling are noticed) there is essentially no difference. The Bilsteins are a bit softer at high speed jounce, but for practical purposes where they effect handling they are very close.
The Bilstein sport rear's are stiffer at high speed than the 04Z shocks in rebound, but the stock shocks roll off in stiffness at high speed where the Bilsteins keep getting stiffer. The stock shocks are tuned to eliminate any chance of harshness on small high speed bumps, which isn't as important to us. In jounce the Sports are softer than the Z shocks, so they will tend to ride better.
Bottom line is that if you already have the rears I'd just buy the fronts and be done with it. You could use the 04 Sach's, but they don't last as long as the Bilsteins (which last forever) so the few bucks extra for the sports are probably worth it.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 275
From: Naples FL
I usually have Bilstein do my shocks. I give them weight, spring rates, etc and they calibrate them.
You really have 4 different settings: 1. Low speed compression, 2. High speed compression, 3. Low speed rebound 4, High speed rebound.
Speed refers to the velocity of the shaft not the speed of the car. You can go 120 mph and have slow speeds. On the other hand when I run Sebring everything is high speed. You can't believe how rough the track is.
Richard Newton
Track Day Blog
You really have 4 different settings: 1. Low speed compression, 2. High speed compression, 3. Low speed rebound 4, High speed rebound.
Speed refers to the velocity of the shaft not the speed of the car. You can go 120 mph and have slow speeds. On the other hand when I run Sebring everything is high speed. You can't believe how rough the track is.
Richard Newton
Track Day Blog
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
I concur!!! An alternate would be to buy two new Bilstein FRINT shocks to match the rears that you currently run.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
Normally true, BUT, this is TWS where turn 1 and turn last are onto and off of the banking which really slams the suspension. You do want good rebound control there, which the stock 02 shocks are notably deficient in.