Enjoy you're new car!! 
Shock stuffers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 147
Likes: 29
From: Rogersville, MO
Shock stuffers
Under the car yesterday and happened to notice the "yellow tabs" hanging down out of the rear shock boots. The dealer who prepped the car for delivery failed to remove the "shock stuffers" installed at the factory for transport. The front ones had been removed which I had inspected when I first bought the car about 18 months ago and assumed the rears had been removed also. Have never been pleased with the ride over sharp bumps and now I know the reason why. Completely changed to ride of the vehicle and the magnetic ride control actually works splendid now. I believe 2003 was the first year this ride option was offered, so if you have a 03 or 04 with this ride control option, make sure you check your shocks. I guess this delivery prep was overlooked by a lot of dealers. You can search the forum on additional info on this.
Happier owner now
Happier owner now
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
It amazes me to see how many of these still exist after all these years. You would think that someone would have had the wheels off and noticed or complained about the ride quality.
Congratulations on the discovery of your new shocks.
Congratulations on the discovery of your new shocks.
Last edited by Rob 02; May 16, 2017 at 01:07 AM.
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Surprised the stuffers weren't noticed before now, but at least you won't have to worry about them from now on.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 147
Likes: 29
From: Rogersville, MO
Lack of knowledge
That's what I like about this forum. It was a post I saw that caused me to inspect my shocks. The tabs are really not that obvious although the ride was not the greatest. But never having had a C5 had nothing to compare to. So much info available on here. A big thanks to all who take time to share their experiences, bot good and bad that help assist C5 owners
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Happened to me as well.
Bought my 03 last year with 27k on the clock, I am the third owner. Noted the harsh ride when I drove it home from SoCal to Oregon. Checked the shocks and all four still had the damn stuffers installed. Can't imagine that the two previous owners never looked at their shocks after experiencing such a harsh ride.
FYI,
TSB #022003 --
VEHICLES ARE SHIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE SUSPENSION TIGHTENED DOWN UNTIL JOUST BUMPER CONTACTS A TEMPORARY PLASTIC STUFFER IN EACH DAMPER OR SHOCK. THE STUFFERS MUST BE REMOVED DURING NEW VEHICLE PREPARATION. *TT (NHTSA ID #10002564, FEBRUARY 20 2003)
Bought my 03 last year with 27k on the clock, I am the third owner. Noted the harsh ride when I drove it home from SoCal to Oregon. Checked the shocks and all four still had the damn stuffers installed. Can't imagine that the two previous owners never looked at their shocks after experiencing such a harsh ride.
FYI,
TSB #022003 --
VEHICLES ARE SHIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE SUSPENSION TIGHTENED DOWN UNTIL JOUST BUMPER CONTACTS A TEMPORARY PLASTIC STUFFER IN EACH DAMPER OR SHOCK. THE STUFFERS MUST BE REMOVED DURING NEW VEHICLE PREPARATION. *TT (NHTSA ID #10002564, FEBRUARY 20 2003)
Last edited by jrprich; May 16, 2017 at 11:16 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Well, I can only speak from my single experience on my 03 but the difference was nothing short of amazing.
Driving it home from SoCal up PCH the Vette felt like it had no suspension travel at all because it really had only about 1/2" of travel. Every single bump or change in the road surface felt like the entire car was bottoming out and the jolt went right up my spine.
I feared the worst having read about the F55 mag shocks springing leaks and failing. But the car only had 27k on it and otherwise was in superb condition. I should have just pulled into a garage and checked the shocks but at that time I had not heard of the "shock stuffers" 
Was so glad that all it took was jacking up and removing each wheel and there were the bright yellow removal tabs hanging loose. Just a quick pull and they popped right out.
Jim
Last edited by jrprich; May 16, 2017 at 05:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: The Steel City, Colorful Colorado
Winner 2020 C7 of the Year - Modified
A post by jrprich got me curious a few months back, so I checked my 03' AE and sure enough - I had all 4 shock stuffers. I still owe him a steak dinner if I ever run into him.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
No dinner required
, just happy to help a fellow Vette owner anyway I can. Many CF members have helped me in countless ways over the last decade or so. Pay it forward.Jim
This is what to look for.............
Last edited by jrprich; May 16, 2017 at 10:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
I bet........it just amazes me that so many dealers just ignored Chevy and delivered these Vettes with the stuffers still installed.
And that so many owners seemed to accept the lousy ride quality for so long.
And that so many owners seemed to accept the lousy ride quality for so long.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 15
From: My Garage. Upstate, SC
You currently hold the time record for discovering the stuffers! 
Every dealer was eligible for a 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette that year. Some dealers had never sold a Vette before. Plus the F55 suspension was new for 2003 and the leaflet (left in the seat) instructing the dealer to remove the stuffers was overlooked.
Come visit the 50thRegistry.com for more info specific to your AE.
Every dealer was eligible for a 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette that year. Some dealers had never sold a Vette before. Plus the F55 suspension was new for 2003 and the leaflet (left in the seat) instructing the dealer to remove the stuffers was overlooked.
Come visit the 50thRegistry.com for more info specific to your AE.
Last edited by Trigger Creep; May 24, 2017 at 03:13 PM.
