For non track cars, this is the way to go. For a serious track car, or for extreme lowering, I'd go with a good coil over setup.
Best Suspension Kit
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 200
Likes: 76
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
While it is a generalization I always suggest there are f0ur types of suspension classes:
Boulevard cruisers: Z51/Z06 sway bars and shocks
Canyon Cruisers: C6 Z51 sway bars and C6 Z06/Bilstein?04 Z06 or SC Sachs and finally DRM Bilstein shock (in progressively better order)
Autocrossers: Rule book limited but lowered slightly/corner weighted, best shocks for class, etc.
HPDE: Multi adjustable shocks, balanced F/R sway bars (up to 35mm), areo added, and the list goes on and on.
So the question is what is your goal, one of the worst way of doing it is adding big sway bars front and back, HD shocks and slamming the ride height and expecting a comfortable ride.
Boulevard cruisers: Z51/Z06 sway bars and shocks
Canyon Cruisers: C6 Z51 sway bars and C6 Z06/Bilstein?04 Z06 or SC Sachs and finally DRM Bilstein shock (in progressively better order)
Autocrossers: Rule book limited but lowered slightly/corner weighted, best shocks for class, etc.
HPDE: Multi adjustable shocks, balanced F/R sway bars (up to 35mm), areo added, and the list goes on and on.
So the question is what is your goal, one of the worst way of doing it is adding big sway bars front and back, HD shocks and slamming the ride height and expecting a comfortable ride.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 3,313
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
To may variables to recommend anything... My suggestion would be list what you want to do with the car and then put together a budget... for example... my car is a 2002 Z06... my goals for the car is killer fuel mileage for commuting to work so lets say 85% of its use.. the rest is 10% auto cross and 5% HPDE. with that said.... I focused most of my budget on the suspension and making sure the stock LS6 (remember that fuel economy) will live in a road course. I need to previse this with another factor... I'm a professional wrench (was an ASE certified mech but for the past 28 years I've turned wrenches on aircraft so.... licensed A&P mechanic) needless to say I do my own work which means is save alot for my budget...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 26
Likes: 5
Thank you for all of the replies!
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job
too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.
Thanks.
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job
too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.Thanks.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 3,313
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Thank you for all of the replies!
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.
Thanks.
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job
too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.Thanks.
Last edited by MWWarlord; Mar 5, 2021 at 01:53 PM. Reason: corrected typos
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
I think the C6 Z06 shock with C6 Z51 sway bars are going to be the perfect choice for you. They will be much more budget friendly than other options, and since you're mainly driving it on the street these no need for anything stiffer. With that said, they make a HUGE difference in how the car handles without making the ride significantly rougher. If you STIL want things stiffer after that you can upgrade your springs, but I really thing you'll be happy with the shocks and sway bars. You'll also want to swap out your plastic sway bar end links for metal ones.
Last edited by ASRoff; Mar 5, 2021 at 01:29 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: Central Illinois
Thank you for all of the replies!
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.
Thanks.
My vette is a 2000 Convertible and I use it as a daily driver in the warm months of New Hampshire. I've never driven on a track but I would like to start this summer. I do drive it a lot and enjoy it but would like to stiffen it up a little more to get some more crisp driving out of it.
I won't do my own work on it because I'm 19 and only ever worked an office job
too afraid to work on something I like as much as the vette. The only things I did to it myself were LED lights and interior modifications and a new head unit.Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 117
Just had them installed, and best overall suspension I had on the car...plus Customer Service is amazing, communication is perfect, what they say they will do was done...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 3,957
From: Cincinnati, OH
Aldan American: C5, C6 Coilovers, Springs & Suspension Upgrades 1997-2013
Just had them installed, and best overall suspension I had on the car...plus Customer Service is amazing, communication is perfect, what they say they will do was done...
Just had them installed, and best overall suspension I had on the car...plus Customer Service is amazing, communication is perfect, what they say they will do was done...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
The sway bars and end links are pretty simple to DIY so . . . time to start learning. The shocks are a little more involved but doable, maybe just find an experienced friend to help you the first time.
If you want to take your convertible on the track, you will have to do a roll cage. The NCM Motorsports Park runs an intro to HPDE about once a year that does allow non-roll cage convertible as the speeds are limited to no more than 100 MPH.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 117
Since I bought the car new end of 2002, it is the seventh combo between dampers/Springs/Bushings...and the best overall results.
About leaking shocks, I had my part, even with expensive renowned brands, and they didn't always step to the plate to solve the issues created by their material...
Aldan American Coilovers are life time warranty, and fully rebuildable...anytime they will have a malfunction of any sort...(mine have none of the issues I did read on different forums)
Aldan has acted since day one professionally with their answers to my multiple questions, going deep in details to custom my ALDAN Coilovers to my application.
Customer service is impressive, I even had communication with the owner a Saturday afternoon during installation, and I can tell you, they know their product in deep technical details...
If you have any specific questions I will try to answer.
Christian
Last edited by miami993c297; May 6, 2021 at 05:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 3,957
From: Cincinnati, OH
Hi smitty2919,
Since I bought the car new end of 2002, it is the seventh combo between dampers/Springs/Bushings...and the best overall results.
About leaking shocks, I had my part, even with expensive renowned brands, and they didn't always step to the plate to solve the issues created by their material...
Aldan American Coilovers are life time warranty, and fully rebuildable...anytime they will have a malfunction of any sort...(mine have none of the issues I did read on different forums)
Aldan has acted since day one professionally with their answers to my multiple questions, going deep in details to custom my ALDAN Coilovers to my application.
Customer service is impressive, I even had communication with the owner a Saturday afternoon during installation, and I can tell you, they know their product in deep technical details...
If you have any specific questions I will try to answer.
Christian
Since I bought the car new end of 2002, it is the seventh combo between dampers/Springs/Bushings...and the best overall results.
About leaking shocks, I had my part, even with expensive renowned brands, and they didn't always step to the plate to solve the issues created by their material...
Aldan American Coilovers are life time warranty, and fully rebuildable...anytime they will have a malfunction of any sort...(mine have none of the issues I did read on different forums)
Aldan has acted since day one professionally with their answers to my multiple questions, going deep in details to custom my ALDAN Coilovers to my application.
Customer service is impressive, I even had communication with the owner a Saturday afternoon during installation, and I can tell you, they know their product in deep technical details...
If you have any specific questions I will try to answer.
Christian
The Aldans seemed like a good option given the price when they came out. But I steered away from the lack of feedback in terms of using them for autocross since not a lot ran them. I have since gaunt Ridetech single adjustable then swapped to Viking Warrior tripled. Very happy with adjustability and performance. Just did a test and tune and had a co-driver hot lapping the car and the shock tuning was critical.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 117
Nice, glad you are happy with customer service.
The Aldans seemed like a good option given the price when they came out. But I steered away from the lack of feedback in terms of using them for autocross since not a lot ran them. I have since gaunt Ridetech single adjustable then swapped to Viking Warrior tripled. Very happy with adjustability and performance. Just did a test and tune and had a co-driver hot lapping the car and the shock tuning was critical.
The Aldans seemed like a good option given the price when they came out. But I steered away from the lack of feedback in terms of using them for autocross since not a lot ran them. I have since gaunt Ridetech single adjustable then swapped to Viking Warrior tripled. Very happy with adjustability and performance. Just did a test and tune and had a co-driver hot lapping the car and the shock tuning was critical.
This is a thread that might interest you, because it is mainly about the ALDAN American behavior in Autocross, with enough positive results or victories to give an idea of the product, this thread is copied / paste from the Autocrossing Forum on here:
Autocrossing my C5Z on the new Aldan American Coilovers - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Last edited by miami993c297; Jun 6, 2021 at 06:02 AM.