Slammed, What shocks?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek N.C.
Slammed, What shocks?
I am getting Bilstein shocks but do not know if I should get the HD's or the Sports. Any thoughts? My fear is that I only have about 1 1/8" of upward travel in the rear before it rubs the inner fender.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,047
Likes: 252
From: San Diego
Coilovers! I believe both of the options from Bilstein are not ideal for a slammed Vette I don't know this for a fact read it some where on this forum. They both will work fine you may want to get them revalved from Bilstein? Hey what do I know. I was slammed on my stock 01 Z shocks for 2 plus years with no problems.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Bragg, NC
people will recommend the sports over the HD's for lowered vettes but people have also used the HD's as well with a drop and liked the ride... seems the sports are a bit more stiffer. Bilsteins are recommended for about a 1" drop... but coilovers of course would be the best option but obviously bank
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
Just a word of caution regarding the Bilstein Sports.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Just a word of caution regarding the Bilstein Sports.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
Ah well, one of these days I'll get some coil overs...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
AFAIK, the body of the HDs and Sports are the exact same length, or about 1" shorter than factory Z51 shocks (maybe all factory shocks?)
It has been repeated many times in this forum, but shocks do not control the ride height of the car. Both of you guys changed springs which, along with the adjuster bolts, do control the ride height of the car. I, along with many others who are lowered on stock bolts, have benefited from the increased travel of the Bilsteins keeping us off of the bumpstops. 
Just a word of caution regarding the Bilstein Sports.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
My experience as well. Same situation- bilstein sports + FE1 suspension, then going to Z06 suspension the front of the car raised up a little. I went with Koni FSD's now and raised the rear of the car a little, sick of bottoming out everywhere and the car riding pretty crappy cause of the decrease in wheel travel.
Ah well, one of these days I'll get some coil overs...
Ah well, one of these days I'll get some coil overs...
...well ok, ok maybe in a couple millimeters
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08
I installed the Bilstien sports on my 00 coupe (base suspension) with Z06 sways and lowered on stockbolts...Net result was approx 1.5" drop at all four corners and the ride & handling is 1000% better... Feels like a different car...and IMO it is not too stiff as others have commented..
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Just a word of caution regarding the Bilstein Sports.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.
I was lowered on the stock bolts (no bushings cut) on an FE1 (base) suspension with approximately 75k miles on the car.
I swapped the springs with newer ZO6 springs and added the Bilstein sports. I again lowered the bushings so the car would be the same height as before.
The car now sits at what appears to be stock height. I don't know why. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by going with the Bilsteins over the C6ZO6 shocks (I heard the C6ZO6 shocks were great but wouldn't allow the car to be lowered - which was in contrast to what I read about he Bilsteins).
I've driven the car for at least 1,000 miles like this, so any settling should have ocurred by now. If you go with the Bilsteins, chances are likely you will no longer be 'slammed'.