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Need shock advice
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,703
Likes: 1
From: Don't taze me 'Bro! VA
Need shock advice
First of all, how do you know when a C5 needs new shocks? I've always done the "bounce" test with all my other vehicles.
I have a 98 with about 48K miles on the clock. Should I be thinking about new shocks? The car still rides great and feels tight and solid.
If it is time for shocks, can someone give me a suggestion for a good all around reasonably priced set? I don't race or autocross the car and really just use it for weekend pleasure driving. I plan to keep this car for a long time.
Thanks for any advice
I have a 98 with about 48K miles on the clock. Should I be thinking about new shocks? The car still rides great and feels tight and solid.
If it is time for shocks, can someone give me a suggestion for a good all around reasonably priced set? I don't race or autocross the car and really just use it for weekend pleasure driving. I plan to keep this car for a long time.
Thanks for any advice
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: State of Perplexity California
I have absolutely no idea how to do a decent test on mounted shock absorbers. I'm not sure anyone really does. Given that, I replaced my OEM's with Bilstein HD's somewhere after 100K miles. I approached it as a 100K mile service item that wasn't mentioned in the manual.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
If you can't feel the shocks "floating" over dips and corkscrews, they are most likely, okay.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
First of all, how do you know when a C5 needs new shocks? I've always done the "bounce" test with all my other vehicles.
I have a 98 with about 48K miles on the clock. Should I be thinking about new shocks? The car still rides great and feels tight and solid.
If it is time for shocks, can someone give me a suggestion for a good all around reasonably priced set? I don't race or autocross the car and really just use it for weekend pleasure driving. I plan to keep this car for a long time.
Thanks for any advice
I have a 98 with about 48K miles on the clock. Should I be thinking about new shocks? The car still rides great and feels tight and solid.
If it is time for shocks, can someone give me a suggestion for a good all around reasonably priced set? I don't race or autocross the car and really just use it for weekend pleasure driving. I plan to keep this car for a long time.
Thanks for any advice
A good choice is the C6 Z06 shocks. They are inexpensive and don't compromise the ride.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
I replaced my stock z51 shocks at 30,000 miles with Bilstein HD. I wanted a shock that was smooth on the hightway and twisty roads and I do not race. I read to may threads that said the Sports were too rough form members that do alot of interstate driving like I do.
I could tell a difference immediately. They are very similar in firmness (or slightly firmer) to the z51 but the Bilsteins HD smoothed out the rough stuff better, less or no wheel hop and the best improvement was on the interstate (or high speeds) when you hit an overpass or bridge the car is much smoother and settles down quicker and gives your more confidence at high speeds. (mine car would bounce twice after a overpass but now its once then its settled).
I would do it for sure at 40 or 50K miles. I have mine at stock height too (HD are shorter that stock but no problem at all).
Its one of the best mods I have done since the Z06 sway/poly bushings, CAI and Corsa Indys.
I could tell a difference immediately. They are very similar in firmness (or slightly firmer) to the z51 but the Bilsteins HD smoothed out the rough stuff better, less or no wheel hop and the best improvement was on the interstate (or high speeds) when you hit an overpass or bridge the car is much smoother and settles down quicker and gives your more confidence at high speeds. (mine car would bounce twice after a overpass but now its once then its settled).
I would do it for sure at 40 or 50K miles. I have mine at stock height too (HD are shorter that stock but no problem at all).
Its one of the best mods I have done since the Z06 sway/poly bushings, CAI and Corsa Indys.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,088
Likes: 2
From: tampa florida
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
I recently replaced my F45s with Bilsteins. My car has around 80k miles and every shock that came off the car was completely worthless, no damping left in the shocks. They compressed with hardly any pressure and would not uncompress themselves. The car was drivable with the shocks in this condition. Some things I noticed were the car felt floaty on the highway and the rear stepped a little side to side when hitting bumps at highway speeds. Most noticable sign however was when trying too do a burnout or powerslide the car the rear tires hopped like crazy. Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
I don't think that shocks "wear out" like they did years ago on cars used on the street. The inner piston will last the life of the car, valves rarely break.
They do however leak in time. If you see any sign of leakage, even just seepage, time to replace. My two cents.
RonJ ...
They do however leak in time. If you see any sign of leakage, even just seepage, time to replace. My two cents.
RonJ ...