New Bilsteins Shocks
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
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From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
New Bilsteins Shocks
Just picked up some Bilstein sport shocks yesterday from Eckler's. How hard are these to install? I am planning on giving them a try tonight. 
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 349
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From: ft lauderdale fl
Originally Posted by JeepTJ
Just picked up some Bilstein sport shocks yesterday from Eckler's. How hard are these to install? I am planning on giving them a try tonight.
I await your review of them vs. the stock. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,422
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From: SouthWest FL
Originally Posted by CAJUNY2KC5
I love my Bilstein sports shocks. Add some Hotckhis sway bars, lower the car and have a ball!!!!!!!!!
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Race Director
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From: Greer SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
We replaced the Z51 shocks with Bilsteins, which provided better handling & stopped the bottoming-out of our lowered (1.5") car. For the cost Bilsteins are a good shock; much better than stock. However, we eventually replaced the Bilsteins with QA1 12-point adjustable shocks. Huge improvement! We can run any where from 'stiff' at the track to a 'Cadillac ride' for long trips.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
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From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Well the new shocks are on. 
Wow, not the easiest of jobs. Took me about four hours. Two floor jacks are a must. One jack stand could help too. Better go look at your torque wrench too. Mine only goes to 150. The rear lower bolts gets 168lbs, now that’s fun.
New problem now. The car sits higher then my old Jeep. Will this settle down? Or do I need to lower the car? I want to get a alignment done soon. Thinking of going with the Zo6 specs.
Time to go drive and see is if she will settle down a bit.
Wow, not the easiest of jobs. Took me about four hours. Two floor jacks are a must. One jack stand could help too. Better go look at your torque wrench too. Mine only goes to 150. The rear lower bolts gets 168lbs, now that’s fun.
New problem now. The car sits higher then my old Jeep. Will this settle down? Or do I need to lower the car? I want to get a alignment done soon. Thinking of going with the Zo6 specs.
Time to go drive and see is if she will settle down a bit.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,386
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From: SoCal
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
After installing Bilsteins and letting them settle, the ride height will be about .25 to .5 inch lower than if you had the stock Z51 shocks. I wouldn't recommend lowering your car until after putting some miles on your new shocks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: SoCal
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Another thing...if you're planning on lowering the car, I would suggest going all the way down on the stock rear bolts and then cutting 1/3 of the bushings on the front. IMO this is the best stance for the vette and gives it an aggressive look without going "slammed." 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Southern California CA
The Bilsteins will settle after a couple hundred miles. Lower it and get an alignment and you will be pleased with the looks and handling. Also, consider getting A&A's frame savers and rocker rails. A must for lowered cars. I have a near similiar setup on my C5.
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Thanks for the info. This will go into my folder for future reference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by EricT43
How is the ride quality of the Bilsteins compared to stock Z51?
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 348
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From: Southern California CA
If you were to change your susp. would it be better to get Bilstein Shocks and Struts? Or are you fine with just shocks? I am going to be getting the Bilsteins and Hotchkis combo. Is this one of the best susp. combos and are coil overs worth it on Vettes?
Thanks
-Kam
Thanks
-Kam
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 650
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From: Southern California CA
Originally Posted by KamPow3r
If you were to change your susp. would it be better to get Bilstein Shocks and Struts? Or are you fine with just shocks? I am going to be getting the Bilsteins and Hotchkis combo. Is this one of the best susp. combos and are coil overs worth it on Vettes?
Thanks
-Kam
Thanks
-Kam
For most street applications Bilsteins with a set of $200 Z06 sway bars will work fine. If you have run-flats and want additional performance, changing tires will be one of the biggest improvements.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 348
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From: Southern California CA
Well its mostly gonna be a street car with mods. Mostly H/C package and usual bolt-ons. I will be taking it to the track a every now and then (drag and road-course) and few auto-x. I am getting the Bilsteins for sure but are the Hotchkis a little to expensive for the swaybars or is it worth it? If I were to just get Z06 swaybars will I almost have the same handling performance as the Hotchkis swaybars would?
I will be taking the run-flats off and prolly putting Kumho Ecsta EX 265/35-18 in the front and 295/35-18 in the rear. My brother has these tires on his BMW M3 and they are great.
I would like to take my car to the canyons also and have fun and be safe.
Thanks
-Kam
I will be taking the run-flats off and prolly putting Kumho Ecsta EX 265/35-18 in the front and 295/35-18 in the rear. My brother has these tires on his BMW M3 and they are great.
I would like to take my car to the canyons also and have fun and be safe.
Thanks
-Kam