C5 Shocks
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 5
C5 Shocks
I have the base suspension...
I like the smoothness, meaning not being jolted when riding over bumps etc. However, if I wanted to improve the overall handling...what shock would be a good choice. For example, sometimes I feel like the body is hovering over the tires, a loose kind of feeling - hard to decsribe. Maybe the stock shocks are shot despite only having 25k on the clock?
I've heard that the 2004 Z06 shocks or C6Z are a good option, but there are several aftermarket makes. Koni, Bilstein, HAL, PFADT, coilovers and some adjustable some not.
Plan to make this a winter project and upgrade the sway's too.
Thanks for input as always!
al
I like the smoothness, meaning not being jolted when riding over bumps etc. However, if I wanted to improve the overall handling...what shock would be a good choice. For example, sometimes I feel like the body is hovering over the tires, a loose kind of feeling - hard to decsribe. Maybe the stock shocks are shot despite only having 25k on the clock?
I've heard that the 2004 Z06 shocks or C6Z are a good option, but there are several aftermarket makes. Koni, Bilstein, HAL, PFADT, coilovers and some adjustable some not.
Plan to make this a winter project and upgrade the sway's too.
Thanks for input as always!
al
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
Using that criteria I would go with Koni FSD shocks, If you do a search on Google you should be able to find them for about $600 shipped (I paid $590 shipped) and I would also change your sway bars, go with C6 Z51 bars. You can get these from Gene at GM Partshouse for under $250 shipped for front and rear bars.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Ellington CT
The reason I asked was your description of the kind of hard to explain "hovering" feeling reminded me of how my car felt when I had the Pilot Z/P tires. I HATED how the car drove with them.
Anyway, I am curious myself to see what kind of answers you get to the shock question. I think I would prefer the normal Bilstein shocks (not sport) as an upgrade that wouldn't be too extreme.
Anyway, I am curious myself to see what kind of answers you get to the shock question. I think I would prefer the normal Bilstein shocks (not sport) as an upgrade that wouldn't be too extreme.
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
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12,952
Likes: 0
From: Greer SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
Here is some info:
Relative Stiffness (Provided by Pfadt http://www.pfadtracing.com/)
C5 base: 0.4
C5Z06 : 1
C6Z: 1.2
C5 Pfadt Standard: 1.5
C5 Pfadt Pfatty: 2.5
GM T1: 3
Here is the sequence of my suspension mods. Keep in mind that I race (road course.)
Starting Point... Z51
Then...
1. Lowered 1.5"
2. Hotchkis + Bilstein HD (not good for a lowered-car on the street [bottomed-out]; not much improvement at the track)
3. Hotchkis + Bilstein Sport (less bottoming out; still not that great at the track)
4. Change tires to Nitto RII (huge improvement at the track, but still not adequate)
5. Hotchkis + QA1 Adjustable Shocks (adjustability provided better streetability, better rear drop for off-the-line, much better handling at the track)
6. T1 Bars + QA1 Shocks (fantastic set-up; car can out-handle Ferrari & Porsche in the curves)
Personally I like adjustable shocks so that you can optimize the setting for a specific need. Whether QA1, Koni, Mallet-Penske...all provide better performance for trying to combine a street car with a track car. As far as Stabilizer Bars, no doubt in my mind...T1's offer fantastic stability!
Relative Stiffness (Provided by Pfadt http://www.pfadtracing.com/)
C5 base: 0.4
C5Z06 : 1
C6Z: 1.2
C5 Pfadt Standard: 1.5
C5 Pfadt Pfatty: 2.5
GM T1: 3
Here is the sequence of my suspension mods. Keep in mind that I race (road course.)
Starting Point... Z51
Then...
1. Lowered 1.5"
2. Hotchkis + Bilstein HD (not good for a lowered-car on the street [bottomed-out]; not much improvement at the track)
3. Hotchkis + Bilstein Sport (less bottoming out; still not that great at the track)
4. Change tires to Nitto RII (huge improvement at the track, but still not adequate)
5. Hotchkis + QA1 Adjustable Shocks (adjustability provided better streetability, better rear drop for off-the-line, much better handling at the track)
6. T1 Bars + QA1 Shocks (fantastic set-up; car can out-handle Ferrari & Porsche in the curves)
Personally I like adjustable shocks so that you can optimize the setting for a specific need. Whether QA1, Koni, Mallet-Penske...all provide better performance for trying to combine a street car with a track car. As far as Stabilizer Bars, no doubt in my mind...T1's offer fantastic stability!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City Utah
St. Jude Donor '08
Autocross & Roadrace Forum Sponsor
Pfadt Sport Shocks
Let me give you some information on what Pfadt Race Engineering has to offer.
Pfadt Sport Shocks
The Pfadt Sport Shocks will rid the car of the infamous rough corner nervousness that seems to plague the Corvette. The Pfadt Sport Shocks are also adjustable so you can tailor the balance between cornering performance and ride quality to suite your taste, even if your taste changes during the day. The adjustments are simple and can be changed in a matter of minutes, with no tools necessary.
Retail: $890
Pfadt Coil Overs
The Pfadt Coil Overs offer some great features in an affordable, easy to use package. The Pfadt Coil Overs feature a single damping adjustment at the top of each shock that adjusts both rebound and compression in a ratio of 3:1. This adjustment gives you the ability to tailor the coil over to your specific car and driving style, even if your needs change. For example, on the trip to your favorite local road course you can dial the coil overs down to a setting of 6-8 which will give you a smooth comfortable ride. Once you get to the track dial the coil overs up to a setting of 10-12 and you will be greeted with racecar handling that you would expect from your Corvette. These coil overs also feature a separate ride height adjustment. This adjustment is independent of both spring preload and shock travel. What this means to you is, regardless of the ride height that you are looking for you will retain the full shock travel to soak up all the bumps and pot holes that you can throw at it.
Retail: $1790
Please let me know if there is anything that I can help you with!
Pfadt Sport Shocks
The Pfadt Sport Shocks will rid the car of the infamous rough corner nervousness that seems to plague the Corvette. The Pfadt Sport Shocks are also adjustable so you can tailor the balance between cornering performance and ride quality to suite your taste, even if your taste changes during the day. The adjustments are simple and can be changed in a matter of minutes, with no tools necessary.
Retail: $890
Pfadt Coil Overs
The Pfadt Coil Overs offer some great features in an affordable, easy to use package. The Pfadt Coil Overs feature a single damping adjustment at the top of each shock that adjusts both rebound and compression in a ratio of 3:1. This adjustment gives you the ability to tailor the coil over to your specific car and driving style, even if your needs change. For example, on the trip to your favorite local road course you can dial the coil overs down to a setting of 6-8 which will give you a smooth comfortable ride. Once you get to the track dial the coil overs up to a setting of 10-12 and you will be greeted with racecar handling that you would expect from your Corvette. These coil overs also feature a separate ride height adjustment. This adjustment is independent of both spring preload and shock travel. What this means to you is, regardless of the ride height that you are looking for you will retain the full shock travel to soak up all the bumps and pot holes that you can throw at it.
Retail: $1790
Please let me know if there is anything that I can help you with!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City Utah
St. Jude Donor '08
Autocross & Roadrace Forum Sponsor
Sway Bar Comparison Chart
To help with selecting a sway bar package here is a chart that we have put together to illustrate the differences between common sway bars.
Please let me know if there is anything else that I can help with.
Please let me know if there is anything else that I can help with.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
I have the Koni FSds and I am not that impressed. Don't get me wrong, they are good, but I don't think they are much better than the Z06 option. Send me a PM if you want to test my 01 with Konis, I live in State College PA.
By the way, I run Kumho ASX tires, and they are pretty inexpensive, so that may add to my disappointment. I just wanted to mention the tires, since they are in the ride equation.
By the way, I run Kumho ASX tires, and they are pretty inexpensive, so that may add to my disappointment. I just wanted to mention the tires, since they are in the ride equation.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 5
Thanks for all the feedback guys!
I'm leaning towards the adjustable shocks posted above by Josh with a C6Z or C5Z sway!
I just dont' want to feel every bump...she's really smooth now and I like that...just want a little more firmness in the twisty's.
al
I'm leaning towards the adjustable shocks posted above by Josh with a C6Z or C5Z sway!
I just dont' want to feel every bump...she's really smooth now and I like that...just want a little more firmness in the twisty's.
al
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,578
Likes: 1,686
From: Converse TX
I like the Koni's , just not slammed on the ground, they really ride good, better handling, but I had to raise my Vette about 3/4" over my F45s