I got a couple questions for you guys. I'm going to change my suspension mainly for street driving, but I do push it hard sometimes .I have a 2004 MN6 coupe with the performance handing package (stiffer springs and stablizer bars). I'm thinking about changing my shocks and sways. What would you guys do?
1. C6 zo6 shocks (about $200) or Bilsteins ($300)???
2. C5 Z06 sways or ???
Any other suggestions appreciated

 

Bilsteins, Hotchkiss sways and toss on a tunnel plate while you are at it...

Peace
Willfulone

 

QA1, Hotchkiss and tires.

 

No tunnel plate here. But Bilsteins and Hotchkis definitely do wonders for me. My tires are ALmost gone, need new ones. Car would skid and slide even at 15 MPH in 90* turns or any turns for that matter. Even when I stepped on the gas, I would slide sideways. With the new Bilstien sport shocks + Hotchkis sway bars. I feel like I have NEW tires. The car stick all the time, regaining my confidence in the C5's handling. And also turns flatter. I'm outta the country, will get new tires when I get back home. But this set up is awesome.

If you are on a low budget, get the C5 Z06 sway bars (with metal endlinks + poly bushings), and Bilstiens sport shocks... Can't go wrong with that.

Good luck... Raj.

 

Hotchkis, 2004 Z06 shocks , 295 fr 315 rr, 18 " fr & rr

 

For the ultimate grip you could get T1 Sways, a good set of coilovers and a good set of tires. Just my $.02.

 

It really depends on how you drive...what your needs are. My mods are in my sig; however, I would not go that far if it was only for the street.

Stabilizer Bars (for comparison)
Base Suspension: 23mm-front / 19.1mm-rear
Z51 (97-99): 25.4mm-front / 21.7mm-rear
Z51 (00-04): 28.6mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Z06: 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Hotchkis: 31.75mm-front / 25.4mm-rear
T1 (GM Racing): 38.4mm-front / 27.5mm-rear

 

I have ZO6 sway bars, Bilstein shocks and 3/4 ceramic coated tunnel plate. Car handles much better and the tunnel plate has firmed up the body and keeps the tempeture down inside the car do to the ceramic coating.
You can opt for the 2004 ZO6 shocks along with the ZO6 sway bars.

I think I'd stay away from these for a daily driver.
Hotchkis: 31.75mm-front / 25.4mm-rear
T1 (GM Racing): 38.4mm-front / 27.5mm-rear

Good luck
SC5

 

If you opt for the Z06 sways, note that you only need the front (your '04 Z51 rear sway is the same as the Z06).

 

As I said in my post, T1 is somewhat over-kill for the street; however, if you drive agressively and run frequently on back curvy roads, moutain twisties, etc...they are significantly better than Z51 or Z06. However, better tires are needed as well. A firm suspension, without the tires to handle it, is a waste of $$$.

Since I have run Z51, Hotchkis, & T1, if I drove normally, I would not get T1's. Not because of they are harsh, as some people think because that is not true, but it's just not worth the $$$ for daily driving. However, if I wanted to upgrade my suspension, I would not go with Z06, just because it is not much different than Z51. For 'normal' street driving, if you want better stability, Hotchkis or Addco are good options. Both my wife and I love the T1's on the street, but we don't do a lot of 'normal' driving.

Here's an updated Stabilizer Bar list
Base Suspension: 23mm-front / 19.1mm-rear
Z51 (97-99): 25.4mm-front / 21.7mm-rear
Z51 (00-04): 28.6mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Z06: 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Hotchkis: 31.75mm-front / 25.4mm-rear
Addco: 32mm-front / 26mm-rear
Pfadt: 38mm-front / 28.575 mm-rear
T1 (GM Racing): 38.4mm-front / 27.5mm-rear

 

I was going to open a new thread for suspension but I read "spiral04" thread - sorry for the intrusion would the recommendations mentioned in this thread work on my 2001 coupe AT4 vette.
All these products out there its hard to make up ur mind

thanx
Ramez

 

Upgrading stabilizer bars & shocks is applicable to any C5. It just boils down to what your personal needs are. When you look through the list of stabilizer bars, there is quite a range from base suspension to T1. Each level provides better stability, but at a cost in both $$$ and possibly harsher ride, so you need to consider shocks as well. If you want to actually race, then tires and brakes have to be addressed too. Once you start modding, it's a never ending endeavor! The important aspect is to think it through and not waste $$$ by installing something you end up replacing. I know I have!

 

Sully C5 you are right it depends what the intention of usage is. I should have added that, its mainly for street driving with sharp turns involved occasionaly. This what I had in mind again i am open to suggestions.

1.Hotchkis Sway bars with C5 Urethrane Bushing kit and metal repl sway bar end links.
2.Bilstein sport shocks

3. this is the last on my list leaf spring pack Z06 or Z51 debating on this

Boiling down i am looking for better handling and better ride.

What you think?

 

so you already have Z-51 but want to change it for "steet driving?" I feel Z-51 is plenty for regualr driving but if you wanna bump it up, z bars are good i hear and bilsteins are nice but a little overrated and to expensive. go with c6 Z06 shocks

 

Which Bilsteins???

Thanks

 

save some money

C5 Z06 sways with C6 Z06 shocks. you will love it and it is a good setup for most street drivers.

hotchkis, T1 and Bilsteins are too expensive for just the street and most people will never come to the potential of the Z06 stuff so why go higher???

BTW - Good Tires will make a world of difference. My friend running GY with the same suspension as me cannot compete in turns with my Pilot Sport Cups.....

 

'Better handling' and 'better ride' are typically opposing objectives. I ran Bilsteins & Hotchkis for about two years. Much better handling than the Z51, but a little more of a harsher ride on rough roads, especially potholes. For most street driving though, it was hardly noticeable. For me, the better handling off-set the marginally harsher feel.

I sometimes sound like a broken record, but adjustable shocks offer the best of both worlds, but are also very expensive, ~$1000+ for 4.

 

First...I completely agree with the tire comment. The best investment I ever made was in tires. That more than anything, significantly improved our lap time at the track and also handling on the street.

As far as shocks & bars, you do not need to get the car to its limits to enjoy the 'feel' of more stability. My wife loves the T1's and said to me, "It's well worth the money." I agree. However, for someone else it may not be worth it. The problem with any modification is its perceived value. There are people who are very happy with their stock Corvette, just like there are people who will not pay the price for a Corvette and are happy in their Miata.

 

There are a lot of good options floating out there for upgrading your C5 suspension. This thread has hit on a lot of them. My opinon is that our (Pfadt Racing) coil-over setup will give you the simplest one stop solution for what you are looking for.

It offers:
Ability to change ride height to a nice level (you pick that level, and our adjustable length bodies will support it)
Stiffer spring rates than C5 Z06 or Z51, but not so much that your SO will refuse to ride in the car
Adjustable (shock) damping to fine tune the ride to you personal taste and road conditions
Proven to eliminate dreaded wheel hop.

There are other options out there, but when you start adding up all of the pieces, The cost comes out to about the same $$$ if not more.

The Bilsteins are a good option becuase they allow the car to be run lower than the Z06 (or your Z51) shocks because of their shorter bodies. The problem is that you will eventually want to step up the spring rates (at least in the rear to the Z06 spring) and you are spending more.

Sways are an important piece of this also. Like others have said, because you have the Z51, there is little advantage in Z06 sways, only the front is different and not by much. The Hotchkis sways are a nice upgrade and very streetable, but they lack the rate adjustment of our (Pfadt) sways and are limited in their ability to get rid of some of the understeer that the C5 cars all suffer from. Our Pfadt sways are a bit stiffer than the Hotchkis. T1s are another option, but really do make the ride quality suffer on the street. They are in the same boat as the Hotchkis in their lack of rate adjustability. We have a new set of sways that are nearly T1 stiffeness and have the full rate adjustability of our standard bars. These are Pfatty bars and are generally aimed at dedicated track cars.

Here are my two options for your car.

1. Pfadt Coil overs and Pfadt standard sways. You will love the crispness of handling and the ride will not be degraded from your Z51 setup. The change will be immediately noticable and dramatic. The tuning options are endless. This setup will be the last setup you need regardless of what you do with your car.

or

2. Keep the Z51 springs, Bilstein HD shocks and a set of our Pfatty sways. The softer rate of the Z51 springs and pick up the crispness with the heavier sways. I have tested a similiar setup on our C5 coupe and it is good. The problem being that eventually you may want more spring rate and then you are back in there changing parts again.

There are a lot of good options out there. Hope this helps you come up with a nice setup.

-Aaron

 

Aaron thanks for chiming in. I am interested in a race suspension since I do around 15+ HPDEs per year. I dont mind giving up road comfort because it is really only a weekend car if it is not on the track.

I already have T1 bars so I would like to build something off of that. I thought of the T1 springs and shocks, but all that stuff was designed in the 90s with different tire thoughts.

what is your suggestion.....