Yeah I turned the double four last week and decided I needed to spend all of my bday money. I told my relatives that if they wanted to give me a present, then give me cash. Got about $200 which is about half way to the price of the 2004 OEM shocks. Ordered them from the GMpartswarehouse for about $450 and they will be here next Wed. Anyone have any concerns regarding swapping them out? Any unexpecteds or tricks I need to know? I figure it is pretty straight forward.

 

Pretty easy swap and well worth the effort and money! These are IMO the best shocks for a stock suspension C5Z06

 

these shocks are absolutely dialed for the oem springs and sways.

i bought a set for my z a few weeks after i had it.

 

Also agree. Those shocks are hard to beat on a stock C5Z.

 

Going to see how it feels on the track after the install. If it corners flatter I will leave the stock sway bars, but if not I am going to get the Johnny O'Connell sway bars for Christmas. Added bonus that they are powder coated yellow in my case. :-)

 

Might as well order the sway bars now. The car won't be any flatter.

Steve A.

 

From what I have read the 2004 shocks react quicker when shifting the car from side to side, which would make the car flatter when cornering.

 

I installed the 2004 shocks on my 2003. Huge difference. I think you'll like them on the track.

 

If you were going through a slalom that might be slightly true, but once your in the corner, it's the springs and sway bars that determine your lean.

Steve

 

How are these better than the earlier shocks?

How do they compare to the C6z06 shocks?

 

They don't really help the car corner flatter. Shocks can do that in transitions, it requires stiffer rebound valving. But this isn't always a guaranteed way to make the car handle better. It can make turn in response sharper, but stiffer rebound ultimately takes away grip and that doesn't help cornering performance.
The 04z06 shocks are the best oem shocks (and better than the bilstein and probably many coilovers because the valving was developed through extensive testing on Nurburgring. This track is a 13 mile long twisty German road that tests many aspects of handling.

Dennis Grant compared dyno plots of the old z06 shocks, blisteins, and 04 z06 shocks and the biggest difference is in the rear valving. The 04z shocks have slightly more compression and less rebound, especially the high speed rebound. This result in less wheel spin and more rear traction coming out of turns. This is the main reason the 04 shocks are better. Probably more than you wanted to know.

 

Yeah that is basically what I read. Rear grip and transition thru slaloms.

 

I did the swap few years ago and was impressed at the time. It might be time for some new ones, but I'll go back to these 04's again.

 

i have heard that the z06 shocks go out pretty quickly. i have an 02 z06 with 110k miles and i need to replace the shocks.
how much life can i get out of the 04's?
i know someone selling a set with 40k miles for cheap, or should i get brand new gm c6 z06 shocks

 

I'll check back in later on this one. I have a 97 coupe and just put on the C6 Z51 sway bars. Made a huge difference, the car is absolutely flat in the corners. No roll at all ! Now I
need new seats because I can corner so hard I slide off and press on the door panel. The bars cost me $225 for both. I have the ZO6 shocks ordered and should be here next week.
They were $260 for all 4 , 2012 ZO6 models I believe. 04 ZO6 might be better but for half price I'll take my chances.

 

For a lot less $'s, you could have virtually identical performing Bilstein Super Sport Schocks.

 

not even anywhere close in valving. the bilstein sports are most similar to the 2002 valving

 

a good price on the 04s is $450

 

That's what I paid after shipping.

 

Here are the damper (shock) dyno plots of the OEM 2004 Z06 dampers compared to the Bilsteins (copied from Dennis Grant's Autocross to Win).
Bilsteins are traditionally very good at valving their dampers for grip (better than Koni), but in this case the valving of the OEM 04Z dampers is superior.



Fronts
Not a dramatic difference in all three dampers, the 04Z shocks have a bit less high speed rebound.

Rears
This is where the 04Z shocks are superior. They have the most compression damping, which results in higher levels of grip.
They have the strongest low speed rebound (good for controlling body roll - flat cornering), but this quickly bleeds off to give the least amount of medium and high speed rebound. Rebound takes away grip, by definition it slows the spring's ability to press the tire against the road.

Conclusion
The Bilsteins will give the car flatter cornering, and will make the rear a little more loose (all things being equal).
The OEM 04Z shocks will give the car the most available grip, and therefore lower lap times.

For street only, take your pick.