[Z06] sway bars/shocks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
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sway bars/shocks
I have a 2004 Z06 and I'm looking at upgrading to C6 Z06 sway bars and skocks. I'm pretty sure the sway bars will be a significant improvement. I don't know about the shocks. I want a little better handling but not a stiffer ride that would come with Bilstein sports or similar. Anybody has experience with the C6 Z06 shocks?
Last edited by oviz06; Jan 7, 2012 at 08:54 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
If your stock shocks are worn out the Bilstein Sport's have almost identical damping rates. Bottom line is that you aren't going to see much, if any difference in the ride, but the Bilsteins are going to last a lot longer that the stock shocks.
Going to C6 shocks will make the ride more harsh because they are matched to stiffer springs and have a bit more compression damping than you need.
If you aren't going to change the springs the Bilstein's will probably give you the best handling you are going to get.
If you really want some more roll stiffness the Pfadt chart is a good tool. Try to select a set of bars that give an equal percentage of change front and back. This is also why some adjustabilty is a good thing.
I'm not fond at all of how Pfadt clamps their aluminum arms on their front bar. Some racers have failed these joints and it is an inherently poor design. Unless you clamp directly around the bar there is the potential for the joint to loosen up, and this joint is clamped at an angle.
Going to C6 shocks will make the ride more harsh because they are matched to stiffer springs and have a bit more compression damping than you need.
If you aren't going to change the springs the Bilstein's will probably give you the best handling you are going to get.
If you really want some more roll stiffness the Pfadt chart is a good tool. Try to select a set of bars that give an equal percentage of change front and back. This is also why some adjustabilty is a good thing.
I'm not fond at all of how Pfadt clamps their aluminum arms on their front bar. Some racers have failed these joints and it is an inherently poor design. Unless you clamp directly around the bar there is the potential for the joint to loosen up, and this joint is clamped at an angle.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Dennis Grant (who is an expert on shocks BTW) has the 2004 Z06 and Bilsetin Sports as well as the Bilstein HD's on his web site. Here is a link, the shock curves are near the bottom of the page, but it's worth reading what Dennis says, he really knows his stuff on this subject.
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html
As you can see in the curves, the front Bilstein Sports are identical in valving to the 2004 Z06 shocks. Since the Bilsteins last a lot longer there is no reason to spend the big bucks for the 2004 stock shocks.
The rears are just a bit softer than the Z shocks in compression, but unless you are a shock tuning expert you aren't going to feel it, and this also takes out some of the harshness that the stock shocks have. In rebound, the Bilsteins have more high speed damping and very similar low speed damping.
Also you will note that the Bilstein HD's aren't bad either, just a bit easier in terms of ride. If you aren't racing or autocrossing the car the HD's are probably a good upgrade that won't pound you on the highway.
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html
As you can see in the curves, the front Bilstein Sports are identical in valving to the 2004 Z06 shocks. Since the Bilsteins last a lot longer there is no reason to spend the big bucks for the 2004 stock shocks.
The rears are just a bit softer than the Z shocks in compression, but unless you are a shock tuning expert you aren't going to feel it, and this also takes out some of the harshness that the stock shocks have. In rebound, the Bilsteins have more high speed damping and very similar low speed damping.
Also you will note that the Bilstein HD's aren't bad either, just a bit easier in terms of ride. If you aren't racing or autocrossing the car the HD's are probably a good upgrade that won't pound you on the highway.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
If you're looking at shocks and sway bars you may want to take a look at our full Johnny O'Connell package. We designed it as a complete system to work extremely well for Corvettes of all types, but specifically folks who want a performance improvement without sacrificing too much ride quality. The ride quality will be a little stiffer over small road irregularities, but much smoother over high speed or rough patches. The ride quality change is specifically because of the changes we made in the dampers for handling improvements.
Here is a recent review we saw posted here on CorvetteForum:
Here is a recent review we saw posted here on CorvetteForum:
Originally Posted by dkvetteguy
The JOC kit is fabulous! I had Z51 suspension previously. Living in the rocky mountains I do a lot of high speed corners and encounter bumps in corners!
Previously the stock z51 suspension would "hop and jump on bumps on corners at high speed" Now the car is planted with no body roll on sweepers and hard cornering. There is a touch of a stiffer ride but Just right FEEL in my opinion. I have regular goodyear supercar tires. The rear bar is set on the center mounting hole with the links adjusted to take up all slack[tight] with the car resting on the suspension. I have installed 2 more of these kits on friends cars and they all agree its a lot better than stock.
So what more can i say! Get ride of OEM suspension and install the JOC!!!!! The carbon fiber plaque is cool mounted on the fuse box cover under the hood TOO!!!
Previously the stock z51 suspension would "hop and jump on bumps on corners at high speed" Now the car is planted with no body roll on sweepers and hard cornering. There is a touch of a stiffer ride but Just right FEEL in my opinion. I have regular goodyear supercar tires. The rear bar is set on the center mounting hole with the links adjusted to take up all slack[tight] with the car resting on the suspension. I have installed 2 more of these kits on friends cars and they all agree its a lot better than stock.
So what more can i say! Get ride of OEM suspension and install the JOC!!!!! The carbon fiber plaque is cool mounted on the fuse box cover under the hood TOO!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 1,716
From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
I am running the PFADT light weight sways on mine along with their Coilovers... My C5Z rides, handles like a dream! you just cannot get that with "stock" sways,shocks,leaf springs.. in my humble opinion.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
I have a 2004 Z06 and I'm looking at upgrading to C6 Z06 sway bars and skocks. I'm pretty sure the sway bars will be a significant improvement. I don't know about the shocks. I want a little better handling but not a stiffer ride that would come with Bilstein sports or similar. Anybody has experience with the C6 Z06 shocks?
Learn how to drive your car under track conditions, once your driving skills improve significatly, then consider altering your set-up to suite your driving style.
Or you can do what most inidivduals do, throw away your money on aftermarket parts you do not need without knowing the car's full capabilities with it's current set-up.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton OR
I replaced the shocks and sway bars on my C5 Z06 with C6 Z06 stuff. It made sense to me since I got them all for free from a family member. Is there a huge difference? Not too much. I would say the back end is a bit more loose given the big change in rear sway bar size.
As others have said, if you are paying for a new set I'd look into pfadt or someone else to compare price & performance. If you are getting the C6 stuff for cheap, go for it.
As others have said, if you are paying for a new set I'd look into pfadt or someone else to compare price & performance. If you are getting the C6 stuff for cheap, go for it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
I replaced the shocks and sway bars on my C5 Z06 with C6 Z06 stuff. It made sense to me since I got them all for free from a family member. Is there a huge difference? Not too much. I would say the back end is a bit more loose given the big change in rear sway bar size.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 109
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IPUIG makes some valid points. I have run with the stock set-up close to 20 track days because the car had more to offer than I could handle. Then I felt I could do more so I went to a little stickier tires (Humho's Ecsta XS 275/40/17 and 315/30/18) and got a bit faster. Next I improved the brakes by going with Z51 rotors (if you machine a bit off the diameter and machine a bit off the calipers you can fit front C5 Z06 calipers and pads to the rear of the C5) I'm using different kind of pads to maintain the front bias but the result is significant and the investment is minimal. Next I went to Toyo R888 tires (275/40/17 and 305/35/18) and that made another big difference. That brings me to today and why I'm looking at improving the suspension. After an agonizing amount of research (THANKS to all of you for your great help!!!) I decided to go for the PFADT coilovers as my next change. I'm trying to run that on my track event later this month (if I can get the coilovers since PFADT has them on back order :-)) and figure out how much of a difference they make.
PFADT, knowing what my goals are, what sway bars would you recommend as my next step?
PFADT, knowing what my goals are, what sway bars would you recommend as my next step?
Last edited by oviz06; Jan 11, 2012 at 08:13 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
IPUIG makes some valid points. I have run with the stock set-up close to 20 track days because the car had more to offer than I could handle. Then I felt I could do more so I went to a little stickier tires (Humho's Ecsta XS 275/40/17 and 315/30/18) and got a bit faster. Next I improved the brakes by going with Z51 rotors (if you machine a bit off the diameter and machine a bit off the calipers you can fit front C5 Z06 calipers and pads to the rear of the C5) I'm using different kind of pads to maintain the front bias but the result is significant and the investment is minimal. Next I went to Toyo R888 tires (275/40/17 and 305/35/18) and that made another big difference. That brings me to today and why I'm looking at improving the suspension. After an agonizing amount of research (THANKS to all of you for your great help!!!) I decided to go for the PFADT coilovers as my next change. I'm trying to run that on my track event later this month (if I can get the coilovers since PFADT has them on back order :-)) and figure out how much of a difference they make.
PFADT, knowing what my goals are, what sway bars would you recommend as my next step?
PFADT, knowing what my goals are, what sway bars would you recommend as my next step?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
PFADT, you convinced me to go with you, now help me get these coilovers!!! You have to have a set hidden somewhere.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
The pictured coilover back story: While at the Spectre341 Hillclimb in our 5th Generation Camaro we pushed into the side of a cliff at 60+ MPH, and this was some of the damage left behind. Obviously damage did not occur during normal operation of the vehicle...
In all seriousness we are working on these as hard as we can. The coilover project definitely isn't on the back burner, and when completed will allow us to increase production of an overall better product. It's exciting times at Pfadt Race Engineering and there are some really cool projects going on right now, but first priority is getting Coilovers back online.
Last edited by Pfadt Racing; Jan 12, 2012 at 05:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 109
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Well we do have a "scratch and dent" set of Double Adjustable coilovers that were on our Camaro that we would make a screaming deal on. Comes with a "gently used" set of front lower control arms as well!
The pictured coilover back story: While at the Spectre341 Hillclimb in our 5th Generation Camaro we pushed into the side of a cliff at 60+ MPH, and this was some of the damage left behind. Obviously damage did not occur during normal operation of the vehicle...
In all seriousness we are working on these as hard as we can. The coilover project definitely isn't on the back burner, and when completed will allow us to increase production of an overall better product. It's exciting times at Pfadt Race Engineering and there are some really cool projects going on right now, but first priority is getting Coilovers back online.
The pictured coilover back story: While at the Spectre341 Hillclimb in our 5th Generation Camaro we pushed into the side of a cliff at 60+ MPH, and this was some of the damage left behind. Obviously damage did not occur during normal operation of the vehicle...
In all seriousness we are working on these as hard as we can. The coilover project definitely isn't on the back burner, and when completed will allow us to increase production of an overall better product. It's exciting times at Pfadt Race Engineering and there are some really cool projects going on right now, but first priority is getting Coilovers back online.
Last edited by oviz06; Jan 12, 2012 at 10:44 PM.