Any good riding shocks?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Davison Michigan
Any good riding shocks?
Just bought my first Corvette (98). I know they are stiff riding cars but is there a shock that will ride a little softer? I just put new Michelin tires on it hoping that would help. These Michigan roads are just awefull. Thanks Kirt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
Do you have the base suspension or Z51? You need to know this before you decide what your next step is. The base suspension C5 is not stiff at all. I actually found it too soft.
I really like my Bilstein HD's. Firm when required and very comfortable on bad roads. Since they are monotube gas shocks, they do a good job of adapting to changing road conditions. I also went with Eibach swaybars for flatter cornering.
I really like my Bilstein HD's. Firm when required and very comfortable on bad roads. Since they are monotube gas shocks, they do a good job of adapting to changing road conditions. I also went with Eibach swaybars for flatter cornering.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
The biggest improvement I made to my base C5 convertible was swapping out the run-flat tires to non fun-flat tires. The car drove better but it was still a little too floaty for me. I then upgraded to Z06 sway bars to improve the cornering and then upgraded my OEM shocks to Koni FSD shocks. The car is a lot more planted and the ride is solid, but not harsh. If anything, the softest ride was with my OEM base shocks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
Look on the inside of your glove box door for the white sticker with option Codes... Should see something like this.. If you have a FE3/Z51 package you might try FE1 shocks... if that is not soft enough then you will need to swap the springs.. If you have FE1 already then check the ride height and make sure it was not lowered, but it looks like stock ride height in the pics.
Softest to Firmest:
FE1 Suspension System (base)
FE3 Suspension System, Sport
Z51 Performance Package, Handling (inc FE3)
FE4 Suspension System, Special Ride and Handling
Adjustable Suspension:
F45 Chassis, Continuously Variable, Real Time Damping
F55 Chassis Continuously Variable Real Time Damping Magneto Rheological
Softest to Firmest:
FE1 Suspension System (base)
FE3 Suspension System, Sport
Z51 Performance Package, Handling (inc FE3)
FE4 Suspension System, Special Ride and Handling
Adjustable Suspension:
F45 Chassis, Continuously Variable, Real Time Damping
F55 Chassis Continuously Variable Real Time Damping Magneto Rheological
Last edited by RedZMonte; Sep 16, 2014 at 02:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,029
Likes: 85
From: Palm Coast, FL
I found a big improvement when I changed the Sway bars and shocks.
I went with a little better then the Z06 and have the Hotchkis Performance Sway Bars and 06 Z06 shocks on my "98". I had a lot of miles on it so I replaced my bushings as well.
I went with a little better then the Z06 and have the Hotchkis Performance Sway Bars and 06 Z06 shocks on my "98". I had a lot of miles on it so I replaced my bushings as well.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Richmond BC
The biggest improvement I made to my base C5 convertible was swapping out the run-flat tires to non fun-flat tires. The car drove better but it was still a little too floaty for me. I then upgraded to Z06 sway bars to improve the cornering and then upgraded my OEM shocks to Koni FSD shocks. The car is a lot more planted and the ride is solid, but not harsh. If anything, the softest ride was with my OEM base shocks.