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So I’m installing lowering bolts this weekend so I’m thinking about replacing the shocks. The car has 100k and the shocks look original. I’ve always ran Bilsteins on my other cars. Lowering the car should I go with the HD or sport? Also is anyone running the aFe Johnny O’Connell shocks? Are they worth the extra cost? Amazon has a set of 4 Bilsteins for like 450 vs 780 for the aFe
For a lowered car, the Bilstein B8 Sports work pretty well. When I first installed mine, last year, I thought I had made a mistake because they were kinda harsh. But, after about a 100 mile break-in, I'm very satisfied with them.
Tirerack or Rock Auto has the B8's for around $100/each.
Have you thought about the C6 Z06 shocks? Just curious.
I guess I hadn’t. Being my first Corvette, any mods I’ve done I’ve leaned to what I’ve had experience with in the past on other vehicles. Are they are big improvement over base C5 shocks?
For a lowered car, the Bilstein B8 Sports work pretty well. When I first installed mine, last year, I thought I had made a mistake because they were kinda harsh. But, after about a 100 mile break-in, I'm very satisfied with them.
Tirerack or Rock Auto has the B8's for around $100/each.
Ive always has great luck with Bilstein. I put a set on my GMC and it was a night and day difference driving down the road.
I spent a bit more and went with the Doug Rippie Motorsport valved Bilstein shocks. My car is stock ride height, but these are really great shocks. Similar to stock <35 mph but way more composed and compliant at speed.
I've got 107k on my 2002 Z and just bought a set of C6Z06 shocks to install. It is my daily so I wasn't interested in coilovers or anything harsh like my track car has on it.
I'll keep the stock Z sway bars, but I might grab a set of C6Z51s later if they are indeed an upgrade.
I've got 107k on my 2002 Z and just bought a set of C6Z06 shocks to install. It is my daily so I wasn't interested in coilovers or anything harsh like my track car has on it.
I'll keep the stock Z sway bars, but I might grab a set of C6Z51s later if they are indeed an upgrade.
The shocks on my 2001 Z06 were still good when I replaced them @ 70k miles earlier this year, but I swapped in C6 Z06 shocks. They were definitely an improvement... very composed and sporty, but less harsh than C5 Z06 shocks which makes the car more comfortable.
I don't think C6Z51 sway bars are an upgrade for C5Z.
The shocks on my 2001 Z06 were still good when I replaced them @ 70k miles earlier this year, but I swapped in C6 Z06 shocks. They were definitely an improvement... very composed and sporty, but less harsh than C5 Z06 shocks which makes the car more comfortable.
I don't think C6Z51 sway bars are an upgrade for C5Z.
Thanks! My shocks are still good, bit the reviews about them being more compliant on the road led me to them. I didn't think the C6Z51 barswbars going to offer much to me, around 1mm difference Ft/Re I believe so thanks for the feedback.
I went with Drm's, Hotkis bars and heim joints w/ rear set to minimum on my 2000 Z51 about 80k miles back. 100% improvement over C6Z shocks and the stock Zo6 bars I thought were an upgrade. It's lowered to with just bolts but honestly that only served to scrape everywhere but it looks cool. The car does drives like it's on rails still to this day.
I don't know where they fall compared to C6Z shocks, but 2004 C5Z shocks (now the only replacement I believe if still available They were tuned sharper by GM Guru for Road Course Competition - curious if later shocks were any improvement. I hear Bilstein Revalves are best budget option, without going Koni yellow, or either expensive coilovers
The 2004 Z06 shock are excellent but expensive. For what they cost, you could buy two sets of the C6Z shocks and still have money left over.
Sad story: when I installed Bilstein B8 Sports on my car, last year, I didn't realize it already had the 2004 Z06 Sach shocks, with less than 20k miles. Didn't save them and later found the purchase invoice in my car's documentation.
The 2004 Z06 shock are excellent but expensive. For what they cost, you could buy two sets of the C6Z shocks and still have money left over.
Sad story: when I installed Bilstein B8 Sports on my car, last year, I didn't realize it already had the 2004 Z06 Sach shocks, with less than 20k miles. Didn't save them and later found the purchase invoice in my car's documentation.
Bummer. Probably not a bad idea for me to check part numbers on the shocks currently on the car since I don’t have much history. Ive got the previous owners name and number from some documents I found in the car. I’ve contemplated giving him a call to see what he knows about it.
I had read that bitstein shocks were favored in lowered cars because of the bump stops, the shocks were physically better suited to fit a lowered car, but I don't know many specifics. My used and lowered car came to me with a set of heavy duty Bilsteins, which have since been renamed to more easily identify the street shocks from track.
Running Koni FSDs now and thinking about switching to Bilsteins. Koni's seem to have a lot of play up and down when going over road dips and stupid parking lot speed bumps.
Got the lowering bolt installed. Definitely harsher ride. I think I’m leaning towards the Bilsteins. Should have them in for next weekend. Also need to do front sway bar links. Mine are in pretty bad shape...and the list continues
New shock absorbers
