Are there any advantages/disadvantages to the Bilstein Sport shock over the 04 Z06 shock? Trying to decide which one to purchase and install on my 04 VERT.

 

Good question. I have the Bilsteins but I am curious with all of the talk about 04 ZO6 shocks being the best.

 

Come on,someone must have some usefull advice that will help with my decision on shocks. I want to get this right the first time.

 

I'm quite sure there is an advantage to the economy.

 

Just a thought with no knowledge to back it up ... but wouldnt changing shocks possibly have an effect on the Active Handling Algorithms ? .. Just throwing it out there ...

 

Can't really answer your direct question, but the previous owner of my 2003 Z06 purchased and installed 2004 Z06 shocks. He said that the 2003's were way too stiff over bumps and even on corners at moderate speeds. He also mentioned that the rear end felt loose. He mentioned that the 2004 suspension was a marked improvement. I guess the grass is always greener?

 

What are you going to do w/ the car Frank? If you're not going to compete w/ it(solo, track days etc), I'd save that money & put it into making it go faster--remember, one can never have too much power

 

No racing for me,just want my car to stay flat in the twistys and not bottom out on the rough roads around where I live. I just like a stiff ride. Have the Z06 sway bars on order.

 

Having a 04' Z myself, I was surprized that the car does not feel all that stiff as I might have expected, but it does handle extremely well. If you want a stiff feel ... then you probably do not want the 04 Z shocks. The Z's suspension differences to the vert go well beyond just the shocks. Some of the handling also may be attributed to the different tire sizes and the Goodyear SC tires. You may be best off with some stiff urethane suspension bushings and the bilsteins or Koni's if they are made for the Vette's. Koni's are generally the stiffer shock.

You may never get all that much stiffness with a vert anyways since the overall structural regidity it lacking in the overall body structure. The Z sway bar isnt all that much stiffer than the stock, but is lighter and hollow I believe.

I am not a mechanic or engineer ... but again I would caution that there may be some impact to the active handling system with suspension changes. I am also new to Vette ownership and not all that familiar with what the Coupe or Vert has .. but if you have the adjustable suspension ... you may not be able to change shocks without special computer changes as I believe the computer will know a change was made and will limit the speed to < 80mph or something like that. Just stuff I believe I read somewhere .. but I could be wrong.

Good luck.

 

01-03 Z06 shocks are a little more stiffer that the 04s

 

Does this mean the Bilstein sport is a stiffer shock than the 04 Z06 shock and similar to the 01-03 Z06 shock?

 

Unfortunately, I dont have any personal experience with the Bilstein shocks, so cant compare for you against the Z shocks. Perhaps others can.

I am doubtful that the Z sway bars and shocks alone are going to make your Vert ride and handle like a Z but should help. Since the Z shocks are designed in relation to the Z's structural and other suspension design characteristics in general which differ from the vert, you will probably get better results out of the Bilsteins (just a gut feeling). Looking at the Bilstein Catalog available on www.bilstein.com, they only seem to list 97-04 Z51 for the Vette, so that means they dont make a shock intended for the Z, but not sure what that may indicate ...

Good luck and I Hope you achieve your desired results for the Dollars spent. Hopefully some of my thoughts are helpful or at least help put you in the right direction.

 

I appreciate all the feedback from contributing forum members. I just want to say thanks for your imput.