shocks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,320
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I certainly would not recommend coil overs unless you are planning to track the car or add REALLY big power. coil overs will definitely have a negative impact on the ride quality of your car. Plus, there's really no need for coil overs on a stock or near stock car. If you're looking to improve the handling of your car without making the ride too "hard, or too stiff" I would suggest swapping your stock shocks out for C6 Z06 shocks and Z51 sway bars. That should help a lot without making it uncomfortable to drive down a city street.
Last edited by MWWarlord; Jul 31, 2020 at 03:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I certainly would not recommend coil overs unless you are planning to track the car or add REALLY big power. coil overs will definitely have a negative impact on the ride quality of your car. Plus, there's really no need for coil overs on a stock or near stock car. If you're looking to improve the handling of your car without making the ride too "hard, or too stiff" I would suggest swapping your stock shocks out for C6 Z06 shocks and Z51 sway bars. That should help a lot without making it uncomfortable to drive down a city street.
I did this on my 02 and it was an improvement.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,320
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I personally have not tracked my car, but I am supercharged with 500 RWHP. My car is set up as a grand touring canyon carver. The stock suspension was definitely NOT good enough after I added the supercharger. I'm currently running the C6 Z06 shocks and Z51 sway bars as I have recommended to you. They work great with the "spirited" street driving that I do (feels like the car is on rails). I care about the ride quality of my car which is why I went with this setup. You can also get stiffer leaf springs if you want it to be even stiffer (but still less stiff than coil overs). If you have real plans to build a track monster with over 550 RWHP, then you may want to look at coil overs. However, on a stock or lightly modified car the only difference between the setup I have recommended and coil overs, is the coil overs will result in a rough ride. If you do have a desire to track your car...great. Be aware that regular track use gets expensive even if you're bone stock as it will require regular tire and brake pad replacement in addition to track fees. I've been told to budget about $1000.00 per track day (although I've not done it myself). If you tell us exactly what you're looking to do with your car, we can give you more specific advice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,320
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Also, I know you mentioned that you need new shocks, so it would be a good time to upgrade. However, I think it's worth mentioning that it doesn't really matter much what improvements you make to your suspension if you don't have a good set of performance tires. Just something else to consider.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,205
Likes: 282
From: NoVA
Stock suspension sucks, the car wallows. Z06, FE4 is where it should have be stock, but then the plush ride (automatic trans, 75%) drivers would revolt.
Get a set of new set of Z06 shocks and a set of Z06 springs/sways. They were engineered together so matching them up provides gains.
Get a set of new set of Z06 shocks and a set of Z06 springs/sways. They were engineered together so matching them up provides gains.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Any Dampening increase over Stock Shocks will be an improvement, but you have to go big (Like Koni's or [Revalved] Bilsteins) to get the most handling benefit. Much cheaper and IMO better overall handling. You don't even have to upgrade springs - stock leaf spring's spring-rate will work great with upgraded shocks, or, can step up to Hyperco AX springs in a lightweight composite leaf spring(s). Reaches the competitiveness of Coil-Overs, without breaking the bank, and only sacrificing ride quality based on a stiffer spring, not a hard shock, for a very great performance configuration.
Last edited by Hitman227; Aug 1, 2020 at 01:22 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
With coil overs, you loose the locating action of the lief springs, so you aso have to beef up other stuff to compensate for that loss of locating action, if you want to do it correctly. I was looking into coilovers as a way to keep my lowered ride hight ,in a more mechanically correct way than just adjusting the bolts on the springs..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Yes, you are correct in the differences in the way to set Ride Height, but corner balancing can be achieved without Coilovers, this is the most important value in performance handling.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 1,582
From: East Metro (Twin Cities) Minnesota
St. Jude Donor '21
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 217
From: Victoria tx
yes. Easy mod that is a pretty good value in the Corvette world. Firms up the ride quite a bit!
https://youtu.be/Wfuy0pvZg-g
https://youtu.be/Wfuy0pvZg-g