shocks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 122
From: st paul minnesota
Early/late production '84's with Z51 had different shocks. Yellow Bilstein's replaced the standard black shocks like I have sometime in the model run. They supposedly have a better ride than the GM ones. Not sure about their availability today if you want to try that idea. I've still got the originals on mine, but it only has 24,000 miles. The rough ride has been part of it's character since new and I've gotten used to it. I would imagine the various mfgrs. have a specific shock listed for the Z51 equipped cars. In terms of size, perhaps standard shocks would actually 'fit', but may not be compatible with the rest of the suspension setup. Maybe others can offer some input...
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
From: New Haven County CT
St. Jude Donor '15
I have a '96 with the regular, non FE3, shocks. When I got the car it had 128k miles and the shocks looked like they may have been original to the car. They were all completely destroyed and not helping at all. I was buying Monroe Sensatrac struts for my daily driver and they were running a rebate that basically made all 4 shocks for the vette free at rock auto's prices. The cheap Monroe's were a huge improvement. But I did get a chance to drive another LT1 vette that had much nicer, and more expensive, shocks. For the life of me I can't remember what brand it was, but it was a performance brand I've heard of and was not Bilstein. Anyway, the handling difference was night and day.
So my point is, if you want to switch to regular shocks, be careful which ones you choose. It makes a big difference. I'll be replacing those Monroe's soon.
So my point is, if you want to switch to regular shocks, be careful which ones you choose. It makes a big difference. I'll be replacing those Monroe's soon.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,745
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Perfect answer,
Softer springs are the only thing that will make your vette ride better, you will need matched shock absorbers to work correctly with softer springs.
Look for non Z51 springs, the 3 digit code on the spring is the identification you are looking for. 84-87 share the same spring dimensions, they have different spring rates through the years.
Someone may post the base spring codes?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 3
From: Orchard Park NY
The shocks are only 1 part of the total suspension package, and being it's a z51 and not a base, I wouldn't go messing around with the suspension geometry. The z51 are made to ride rough and corner hard. Start tinkering with pieces of the suspension and now you have an unpredictable car that can't do what it was built to do.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
The cheap Monroe's were a huge improvement. But I did get a chance to drive another LT1 vette that had much nicer, and more expensive, shocks. , the handling difference was night and day. So my point is, if you want to switch to regular shocks, be careful which ones you choose. It makes a big difference. I'll be replacing those Monroe's soon.
Go out and buy cheap junk shocks then have your eyes opened.
Remember girls, it's a Corvette, not your Grandmas Buick.
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Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Perfect answer,
Softer springs are the only thing that will make your vette ride better, you will need matched shock absorbers to work correctly with softer springs.
Look for non Z51 springs, the 3 digit code on the spring is the identification you are looking for. 84-87 share the same spring dimensions, they have different spring rates through the years.
Someone may post the base spring codes?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 372
Likes: 23
From: Harper Woods MI
Previous owners on my '84 Z51 car replaced the shocks with standard ones. I did not like the ride. I replaced them with Bilsteins and I am happy with the ride. Sure it's rough, but I'm setting up the car to be an autocross car.