Shock Replacement
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Years ago I went with the HD's with new 550 lb front springs. Just to feel the effects of each change I put in the new springs first which made a good difference over the 30 yr old OEM. Then added the Bilsteins on all 4 corners, very big improvement. Next added a VB&P 360lb fglass rear spring over the 7 leaf origina - again a nice improvement. A huge overall impovement occurred when I added the SharkBar as it stiffened the frame up significantly. This spring I am adding a spreader bar, then the 17" TTII wheels. I know many do all the changes at the same time but I just wanted to feel the difference that each component change added to the overall ride and handling. I opted for the HD's as I wasn't planning on autocrossing and for my needs didn't require the additional stiffnes that the Sport shocks would provide - my wife had 2 spinal fusions so ride comfort is important.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 967
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Years ago I went with the HD's with new 550 lb front springs. Just to feel the effects of each change I put in the new springs first which made a good difference over the 30 yr old OEM. Then added the Bilsteins on all 4 corners, very big improvement. Next added a VB&P 360lb fglass rear spring over the 7 leaf origina - again a nice improvement. A huge overall impovement occurred when I added the SharkBar as it stiffened the frame up significantly. This spring I am adding a spreader bar, then the 17" TTII wheels. I know many do all the changes at the same time but I just wanted to feel the difference that each component change added to the overall ride and handling. I opted for the HD's as I wasn't planning on autocrossing and for my needs didn't require the additional stiffnes that the Sport shocks would provide - my wife had 2 spinal fusions so ride comfort is important.
I always do changes separately for the same reason…360 VBP monospring, Bilstein Sports in the rear only, 550 front springs, Bilstein HD's front only, 255/45/17 ZR tires, Speedirect Spreader bar…Poly upper and Lower control arm bushings front, Competition Heim joint adjustable strut rods, custom blueprinted/rebuilt Gary R OEM steering box etc awesome….
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Newman Lake Wa
Bilstein sports are quite a bit stiffer than stock. No experience with HD's. As stiff as the sports are anything heavier might loosen your teeth. My front springs are Eckler GT 460 lb. springs.
Ray
Ray
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 967
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
The Bilstein Sports are 30% stiffer than the HD's….with my setup described above, my 78 rides better by far than the OEM gymkhana suspension that came on the car when new…it rides really well but also handles and steers like a true sport car…that's the beauty of Bilsteins
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 375
Likes: 21
From: London Ontario
Just installed HD's on my 72 this winter
have only driven the car about 50 miles since (still snow here) but have noticed a firmer more responsive ride than my 20 year old midas shocks.
Great improvement but don't expect C7 handling
have only driven the car about 50 miles since (still snow here) but have noticed a firmer more responsive ride than my 20 year old midas shocks.
Great improvement but don't expect C7 handling
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 967
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
A C3 will never handle/steer like a C5/6/7 but Bilsteins ( a few very select other shocks) are a step in maximizing the C3 handling/steering/ ride potential…for a C3.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I have Heavy Duty Bilsteins all-around. But, it would have been better to put Sports on the rear, as I have a fiberglas monospring (replacement) in the rear. Rear is a little too 'bouncy' for me. Still rides a heckuva lot better than with stock shocks.
