Shock Leak
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Shock Leak
I am preparing to purchase an 03 with selective ride. I had the car inspected at a Chevy dealer so that I can purchase an extended warranty. The only issues found were the right turnh signal light out and all four shocks are leaking. I got an estimate at the dealer for replacing the shocks. I expected a high price and got the same. Are leaks common? Are there alternatives such non magnetic i.e. Bilsteins, etc? thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Can go with Z06 shocks or other vendors but need a resistor pak to fool the computer
I am preparing to purchase an 03 with selective ride. I had the car inspected at a Chevy dealer so that I can purchase an extended warranty. The only issues found were the right turnh signal light out and all four shocks are leaking. I got an estimate at the dealer for replacing the shocks. I expected a high price and got the same. Are leaks common? Are there alternatives such non magnetic i.e. Bilsteins, etc? thanks
Rears are a snap after you get 2 24MM sockets (HF very inexpensive).
Fronts need to be compressed and tie wrapped but also very easy.
Don't pay a fortune to anyone dealer or otherwise. Use the $$$$$ to add mods to the C5. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
Be careful.......the 03 anniversary, (not sure if this applies to non-anniv cars), Has the 1st F55 select ride shocks, different from the previous
C5's F45 shocks.
The F55 select ride magnetic shocks are very expensive to replace , $600-1000 each. They are unigue to the 03 C5's. They become standard on C6's in 05 with the select ride option.
You will find that the 03's with SR were shipped with shock stuffers which needed to be removed at delivery. Some people have had interesting experiences when the dealer did not remove the stuffers.
Go to the 03 anniversary website and read some of these experiences.
I say all this from my experience. I bought an 03 anniversary in Jan and had it shipped from New Hampshire to Louisiana. The dealer I bought it from did not know about shock stuffers.Neither did I. It arrived with at least one bad leaking shock. Long story short the seller agreed to pay to replace all 4 shocks with standard touring shocks and simulators.
So thats what I did for $850. After reading endless opinions on the value of selct ride I decided to give up that option and go with inexpensive to replace standard shocks.
There is a lot of information on other options regarding the simulators and overriding the computer on this forum under the tech hdg.
Caution- if you ignore the electronics your car will limit you to 80mph and continuously alarm you on the DIC.
If you would like more details of my atle of whoa feel free to PM me.
Good luck
C5's F45 shocks.
The F55 select ride magnetic shocks are very expensive to replace , $600-1000 each. They are unigue to the 03 C5's. They become standard on C6's in 05 with the select ride option.
You will find that the 03's with SR were shipped with shock stuffers which needed to be removed at delivery. Some people have had interesting experiences when the dealer did not remove the stuffers.
Go to the 03 anniversary website and read some of these experiences.
I say all this from my experience. I bought an 03 anniversary in Jan and had it shipped from New Hampshire to Louisiana. The dealer I bought it from did not know about shock stuffers.Neither did I. It arrived with at least one bad leaking shock. Long story short the seller agreed to pay to replace all 4 shocks with standard touring shocks and simulators.
So thats what I did for $850. After reading endless opinions on the value of selct ride I decided to give up that option and go with inexpensive to replace standard shocks.
There is a lot of information on other options regarding the simulators and overriding the computer on this forum under the tech hdg.
Caution- if you ignore the electronics your car will limit you to 80mph and continuously alarm you on the DIC.
If you would like more details of my atle of whoa feel free to PM me.
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,063
Likes: 1,271
From: Central Ma
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 14
F55 shocks
Most of what you have read is correct. Substituting can be a nightmare but is possible. Check out deprogramming F55 suspension and from my experience don't bother asking a dealer to help. You will need access to a Tech 2.
I have a used set - no leaks if you want to continue with the selective suspension - 4 shocks $1200 OM me if interested.
I have a used set - no leaks if you want to continue with the selective suspension - 4 shocks $1200 OM me if interested.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
50th anniv Registry link
Here is the link to the 50th anniv website.
http://www.50thregistry.com/
I did find a dealer in Hammond, La to install and deprogram the computer.
Never discussed the extended warranty. Didn't want one.
There are simulators for the F55 as well as the F45.
Look in the ecklers website
http://www.50thregistry.com/
I did find a dealer in Hammond, La to install and deprogram the computer.
Never discussed the extended warranty. Didn't want one.
There are simulators for the F55 as well as the F45.
Look in the ecklers website
Last edited by cedrop; Apr 23, 2011 at 12:36 AM. Reason: addwd info
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
It is true the F55 simulators specifically say they do not work on 2003's
I forgot that I did have to return to the dealer a second time to get rid of the 80mph max warning. Don't know what he did to resolve that issue but he didn't charge me and apologized for the inconvenience so I blew it off.
All that said, you can also forget the simulators completely and go thru the deprograming procedure as stated with someone with a TechII.
I saw that as a step back position if the simulators did not work.
I just didn't want to screw with the computer.
Bottom line is I have standard touring Bilsteins with simulators and no 80mph max on the dic on my 50th anniv. I also do not have ride control options.
I forgot that I did have to return to the dealer a second time to get rid of the 80mph max warning. Don't know what he did to resolve that issue but he didn't charge me and apologized for the inconvenience so I blew it off.
All that said, you can also forget the simulators completely and go thru the deprograming procedure as stated with someone with a TechII.
I saw that as a step back position if the simulators did not work.
I just didn't want to screw with the computer.
Bottom line is I have standard touring Bilsteins with simulators and no 80mph max on the dic on my 50th anniv. I also do not have ride control options.
