Which shocks for Autocross?
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
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From: Simi Valley CA
It took mine about 200 mi of just driving fwy. Then I dropped the front just a little on the stock bolts to get it where I wanted it. I'm going to wait another couple of weeks, then if it's still sitting the same, have it aligned. This is about how it sits now. (low quality phone camera.. sorry)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 9
From: MARRIOTTSVILLE MD
Would it make any sense to adjust the ride height without any shocks on the car ? It seems like my car's ride height varies depending on whether I turned left or right into my garage.
INTHERED
INTHERED
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo TX
yeah shocks can do that. i dont know whether setting your ride height without shocks is the answer though. they have a gas charge in them which acts like a spring so technically, depending on the strength of the charge, it can raise your ride height a decent amount. i would just rock the car back and forth and maybe roll out and back into your garage and see if that levels it out a little.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 9
From: MARRIOTTSVILLE MD
My C6 Z06 shocks just arrived can't wait to put them on my C5. Should I reuse the original nut, retainer and insulater from the front shocks or purchase new parts ?
Thanks >>>>> INTHERED
Thanks >>>>> INTHERED
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Simi Valley CA
You do have to use some of the existing parts in the front. Also, it will make installation MUCH easier in the front if you compress the shock some and lock it. I used a motorcycle tie-down but you could use cable ties or anything else to hold it. The rears were pretty easy.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 670
Likes: 28
From: Mitchell SD
I've autocrossed with Z51 and '04 Z06 shocks, and there are some observable differences.
With the Z51 shocks my car would get a bit unsettled over bumps in the lot we run in. The Z06 shocks have taken care of that to a significant degree (although I couldn't tell you why from a technical POV).
I do know that my times have improved towards FTD with the same group of folks I run with this year over last year. Hopefully some of that is my driving skills, but I think part of it is the Z06 shocks.
I don't have any experience with the Bilstein sports in an autox environment, but on the street they feel very similar to the Z06 shocks.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
With the Z51 shocks my car would get a bit unsettled over bumps in the lot we run in. The Z06 shocks have taken care of that to a significant degree (although I couldn't tell you why from a technical POV).
I do know that my times have improved towards FTD with the same group of folks I run with this year over last year. Hopefully some of that is my driving skills, but I think part of it is the Z06 shocks.
I don't have any experience with the Bilstein sports in an autox environment, but on the street they feel very similar to the Z06 shocks.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Simi Valley CA
Well, I got to try out my set-up this weekend. Z51 sway bars front/rear and C6 Z06 shocks, KDW2s. I was right in there with the Z06 times and did very well.. specially considering this was my first autocross. I didn't "beat" everybody, but I was in the top ten and the second fastest coupe. The car handled perfectly.. the driver needed bigger gonads. 
Oh, there were tons of guys (and girls) that also said it was their "first" time out... ya, it was their first time out, in a corvette... on THAT day.. with the sun in THAT position.
One guy said his first time out, then later fessed up that he'd been running porsches for years. 
Oh, there were tons of guys (and girls) that also said it was their "first" time out... ya, it was their first time out, in a corvette... on THAT day.. with the sun in THAT position.
One guy said his first time out, then later fessed up that he'd been running porsches for years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
Have a good one,
Mike
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Pro
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Caution!
Roger T
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,070
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From: MARRIOTTSVILLE MD
What do you autocross guys set your ride height wedge to ?
Thanks >>>>> INTHERED
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Simi Valley CA
I dropped my front end (stock bolts) and do scrape a tiny bit 'o tire but not bad. I'll put it back up a little. The website does say that they don't reccomend lowering it with the C6 Z06 shocks. I'm not sure why cuz it seems to work fine (other than the little tire rub once in a while).
This was shot last weekend.
This was shot last weekend.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
The driver side rear of the vehicle is 1/2 inch higher then the passenger side rear with or without shocks on and I can't seen to figure out why. Should I have large differences in the rear height adjuster settings between DS and PS ?
What do you autocross guys set your ride height wedge to ?
Thanks >>>>> INTHERED
What do you autocross guys set your ride height wedge to ?
Thanks >>>>> INTHERED
Drive the car onto a flat (not necessarily level) floor, then measure the distance to the tie down points. I used a popsicle stick to measure the height by putting the stick up into the tie down slot and marking the stick. Obviously you should be close to equal left to right. Less obvious is the need to have the front tie down points about a half inch lower than the rear. This will be a close approximation of the correct rake angle.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,138
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From: Burbank. CA.
I use my car for autocross and track days only. I now have double adjustable Penske's, but would have no problem in going back to the C6 Z06 shocks. I also run the VB&P Springs. #966 front. #750 rear.
Steve
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Simi Valley CA
Gene Culley has a post in C5 Parts and has them on sale again. Check it out.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1776553
||--Genuine GM C6 Z06 Shocks--||
10313647 – Z06 Front Shocks
10318361 – Z06 Rear Shocks
Both sets of front and rear shocks (4) 233.17 shipped.
For the shocks on our website, use part number c6z06shocks under Chevrolet make.
The C6 Z06 shocks will work on C5’s without modification. Not recommended for C5’s that are completely lowered on stock bolts.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1776553
||--Genuine GM C6 Z06 Shocks--||
10313647 – Z06 Front Shocks
10318361 – Z06 Rear Shocks
Both sets of front and rear shocks (4) 233.17 shipped.
For the shocks on our website, use part number c6z06shocks under Chevrolet make.
The C6 Z06 shocks will work on C5’s without modification. Not recommended for C5’s that are completely lowered on stock bolts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 162
From: Louisville KY
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C6 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
My coupe has Hotchkis sway bars Z06 Springs and Bilstien sports.
It runs great autocrossing. To me the street ride is fine also being it is a Vette. If you do a search you should find that bilstien sports are better if you lower your car because the Factory shocks can bottom out.
It runs great autocrossing. To me the street ride is fine also being it is a Vette. If you do a search you should find that bilstien sports are better if you lower your car because the Factory shocks can bottom out.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Fontana CA
The C6 Z06 shocks will work on C5’s without modification. Not recommended for C5’s that are completely lowered on stock bolts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 9
From: MARRIOTTSVILLE MD
Very good discussion guys, im considering the '07 C6 Z06 Shocks for my C5 Coupe, and Im lowered past the stock bolts, not much but just a little bit, so why is it that its not recommended for the C5's? Does anyone actually know why? is it because compressing the shocks makes them too stiff for the ride height of the car?
INTHERED
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 37
From: Burbank. CA.
The C6 Z06 shocks work great on a lowered C5. I'm a little lower then stock bolts too. I'm now on Penske double adjustable shocks. My times are no better right now. The car feels better, but with no results yet. These C6 Z06 shocks are around $200. It's really a no brainier what shocks to use.
Steve
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
For autocrossing/HPDE the C5 Z06 shocks for 2004 have better valve damping than earlier shocks and the C6Z shocks. This is especially true in higher speed transitions and chicanes. The Koni shock would be a slight upgrade from the 2004Z. More important is the alignment, corner weights and wedge. Just changing shock and lowering the car will not give you optimum handling.