Z51 Shocks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Z51 Shocks
Does anyone have information on shocks for Z51 suspension to include part number and any experience they have with them?
I was told the Z51 shocks would work on my 1995 and are amazing and decent price.
I am assuming they are Bilsteins?
I was told the Z51 shocks would work on my 1995 and are amazing and decent price.
I am assuming they are Bilsteins?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
I have used the shock you speak of. They aren't bad, they are actually valved light in my opinion for the early z51 springs. since the 95 is softer than the 90 z51 i tried them on it would probably be a great match. I just did a google search and found a set new for $289 on this link corvettetraderonline For the price the only shock that is competitive is tokico. Shocks, like everything else get better with cash. If you really want to skimp you can get KYB's, spend a little more and you can get either of the two i mentioned, spend more yet and you can get the wonderful Koni sports which are better but might be a little tight for the more lax 1995 z51 spring rates.
Last edited by Allthrottleandsomebottle; Apr 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
autopartswarehouse
Last edited by Allthrottleandsomebottle; Apr 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Shocks for 1995 with ZO7 Suspension
Nope...not taking to track until I can afford repairs again...single income family for awhile...just good performance shock for cruising. I took the extremes off and put on old FX3's...they are on last leg and to expensive to replace. My actuator gears are chewed up anyhow...not worth money to replace.
Big ten four Badduck..so you think the Sport would be to rough with the ZO7 supsension and the HD's would work better?
Thanks for the links racebum and jrp. I am going to assume the shocks listed on corvettertraderonline are different and not as good as the ones listed on bilstein website?? The trader has whole set of 4 listed for 289.99 and doesn't list and option and bilstein website sells both sport and hd models for $121.00 a piece and shows at least two options (Z51 and Convertible)?
corvettetraderonline
bilstein.
Big ten four Badduck..so you think the Sport would be to rough with the ZO7 supsension and the HD's would work better?
Thanks for the links racebum and jrp. I am going to assume the shocks listed on corvettertraderonline are different and not as good as the ones listed on bilstein website?? The trader has whole set of 4 listed for 289.99 and doesn't list and option and bilstein website sells both sport and hd models for $121.00 a piece and shows at least two options (Z51 and Convertible)?
corvettetraderonline
bilstein.
Last edited by Allthrottleandsomebottle; Apr 14, 2008 at 10:36 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 275
From: Naples FL
I'm a big believer in rebuilding your Bilsteins. You tell them how you drive and they'll do a custom set for your car. It's better than any off the shelf shock and a lot cheaper.
You can use the Bilstein link.
Richard Newton
You can use the Bilstein link.
Richard Newton
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
listen to that guy above me, i know bilstein use to do fx3 custom valves for a little more. at least get prices before you make a choice. as far as the link i posted, i believe they are z51s but call and ask. many of the online retailers will sell under retail. the bilstein z51s i use to have i paid just under 300 shipped for. i sold them a month later as they were too lose for my tastes. much happier with the konis, however, you might not be. i really wish you could go for rides on different shocks before you buy them. in my eyes the stock z51 shocks are lose, others will disagree, that's why it would be nice for you to feel them. the only problem with soft shocks on z07 springs is if they are so soft you get bounce and the car gives you the boat feeling when you drive quickly. i can't personally comment on anything other than the stock bilstein z51s and the koni sports, they are the only ones i have tried on a c4.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Shocks
Racebum, I think I know exactly what you mean when you say "boat feeling" and definitely what I want to avoid. This is same feel I get now with the FX3's...take a long turn at fast speed and get wheel hop...etc. Just not sure if it because FX3's are old and wore out and/or just not good match with ZO7 springs...etc so afraid to rebuild FX3'2 only to get same ride plus having them rebuilt would be I think waste since I dont plan on replacing the expensive actuators that fit on top of them that control dampener to 3 ride settings from inside control. All four of the gears are chewed up like most (plastic gears on metal doesn't last long).
I had Bilstein Extremes on before...they were a dream for handling, but man you paid for it...no give...very rough ride. So I guess I am looking for something between shape my FX3's are in and Extremes.
Is there only one Koni Sport for C4? Are the Z51 springs the same as springs on what is referred to as ZO7 suspension?
Badduck, would you have happened to drove on the HD's with ZO7 springs? If not what experience have you had with the HD's?
I had Bilstein Extremes on before...they were a dream for handling, but man you paid for it...no give...very rough ride. So I guess I am looking for something between shape my FX3's are in and Extremes.
Is there only one Koni Sport for C4? Are the Z51 springs the same as springs on what is referred to as ZO7 suspension?
Badduck, would you have happened to drove on the HD's with ZO7 springs? If not what experience have you had with the HD's?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Toronto(Don Mills) Ontario
Part numbers can be looked up on Bilstein's website: link
They refer to Z51 shocks as "Sport" and base shocks as "Heavy Duty".
They refer to Z51 shocks as "Sport" and base shocks as "Heavy Duty".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Racebum, I think I know exactly what you mean when you say "boat feeling" and definitely what I want to avoid. This is same feel I get now with the FX3's...take a long turn at fast speed and get wheel hop...etc. Just not sure if it because FX3's are old and wore out and/or just not good match with ZO7 springs...etc so afraid to rebuild FX3'2 only to get same ride plus having them rebuilt would be I think waste since I dont plan on replacing the expensive actuators that fit on top of them that control dampener to 3 ride settings from inside control. All four of the gears are chewed up like most (plastic gears on metal doesn't last long).
I had Bilstein Extremes on before...they were a dream for handling, but man you paid for it...no give...very rough ride. So I guess I am looking for something between shape my FX3's are in and Extremes.
Is there only one Koni Sport for C4? Are the Z51 springs the same as springs on what is referred to as ZO7 suspension?
Badduck, would you have happened to drove on the HD's with ZO7 springs? If not what experience have you had with the HD's?
I had Bilstein Extremes on before...they were a dream for handling, but man you paid for it...no give...very rough ride. So I guess I am looking for something between shape my FX3's are in and Extremes.
Is there only one Koni Sport for C4? Are the Z51 springs the same as springs on what is referred to as ZO7 suspension?
Badduck, would you have happened to drove on the HD's with ZO7 springs? If not what experience have you had with the HD's?
Last edited by Allthrottleandsomebottle; Apr 14, 2008 at 10:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
FX3 Settings
Would you happen to know what 3 settings on FX3's are? Since gears are stripped on all mine I wonder if there is that big a difference between the hardest and softest settings. If I spend all that money repairng FX3 system I want lot of benefit. I'm just curious if I may be able to get the HD ride out of one of the thre FX3 settings??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
Likes: 0
From: Littleton CO
I did an application search on this Bilstein site for my Late 86 Coupe(Z51) and they listed their Z51/Sport shocks ONLY for the Fronts - it listed the rear shocks as the HD's? As far as I know, original early C4's with Z51 option need Sport Bilsteins both Front and Rear??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
Likes: 0
From: Littleton CO
Your Z07 springs are a good bit more stiff than the '96 Z51, but not as much so as the earlier Z51.
I have Z51 shocks now and it's just the feel I like even for cruising. My springs are the soft base ones, though, so YMMV. The car was more floaty than my daily driver Altima before the swap.
Last edited by Allthrottleandsomebottle; Apr 14, 2008 at 10:36 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
I wonder what calling bilstein and saying " man i love the feel of the extremes in a corner but they are a little much for my tastes crusing, what can you guys do to keep some of that 'in-control' feeling without killing me? " Also, from what you have said you might enjoy the Koni's set up soft, remember, they are adjustable. The Tire Rack also has pages of customer comments on this shock http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...ck&group=Sport
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,935
Likes: 26
From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
Virginia Events Coordinator
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
NCM Ambassador
Please no links to non-supporting vendors or other non IB vette site............they are da rules.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 275
From: Naples FL
If you're serious about your FX3 package get a different controller from Bilstein. The way the FX3 was set up originally it was almost a useless toy. I even went to far as to suggest the switch wasn't really connected to anything - it was just there to make people think they were doing something.
You can get a really good FX3 suspension if you change the controller and have the original shocks rebuilt. I get into all of this in my C4 book so I won't bore you here.
I've also got charts of several diffferent controllers in the book. If you really want a stiff ride see if you can find an AA208 controller. That was commonly known as the autocross controller in it's day.
Richard Newton
101 Projects for Your Corvette 1984-1996
Ultimate Garage Handbook
You can get a really good FX3 suspension if you change the controller and have the original shocks rebuilt. I get into all of this in my C4 book so I won't bore you here.
I've also got charts of several diffferent controllers in the book. If you really want a stiff ride see if you can find an AA208 controller. That was commonly known as the autocross controller in it's day.
Richard Newton
101 Projects for Your Corvette 1984-1996
Ultimate Garage Handbook
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor WA
Call Jack at Bilstien, He's forgotten 100xs more suspension stuff then we'll ever know.
Tell him your spring rates/sizes and how and where you want to drive and trust him to cover you.
I bought Koni Adjs for big red but never put them on since the Corvette Challenge/ Road America valving he did was PERFECT for Big Red.
Come to think of it, I just sold those Konis like last year and now I could use them in my new (to me) C4.
Well... guess I'm calling Jack too...