Sachs T1 shocks need help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
Sachs T1 shocks need help
I have a 2004 c5 with z06 sway bars i got a deal on some new sachs shocks they feel very stiff and hard to move will they make the car handle better? I'm not worried how stiff it rides.will i need to up grade to stiffer springs or will they be ok with my c5 springs they say these shocks are like 04 z06 just better can anyone help me with this issue should i get zo6 shocks instead of the T1s. i really dont want to spend any more $$$ on springs but i think zo6 springs would help this work better not sure 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,043
Likes: 9,807
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The T1 shocks were part of the GM Performance Parts T1 package so people could race the Corvette in the SCCA T1 class. That package included much stiffer springs, shocks and sway bars. The shocks were intended for the track not the street. They are much stiffer than the 04 Z shocks which were revalved from the previous years to keep the back end from hopping around when going over bumps.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
The T1 shocks were part of the GM Performance Parts T1 package so people could race the Corvette in the SCCA T1 class. That package included much stiffer springs, shocks and sway bars. The shocks were intended for the track not the street. They are much stiffer than the 04 Z shocks which were revalved from the previous years to keep the back end from hopping around when going over bumps.
Bill
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,043
Likes: 9,807
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
That is up to you. I wouldn't do it for the reasons I mentioned in my post. You are substituting something designed for one suspension into a different suspension. Suspension systems are engineered to work as a package the change could enhance or degrade the performance you have now. No way to know without extensive performance tests.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
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From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
As Bill said you need to think of your suspension as a package deal.
The function of shocks (they are called dampeners everywhere else) is to control the oscillations from the springs. The springs you have on now are nowhere near as stiff as the stock C5 Z06 springs let alone the T1 springs.
I would think that moving to C5 Z06 springs would help some. That is an awful stiff suspension to be running on the streets. Race tracks are much smoother than the streets, which is why they can get away with running the stiffer suspensions.
The function of shocks (they are called dampeners everywhere else) is to control the oscillations from the springs. The springs you have on now are nowhere near as stiff as the stock C5 Z06 springs let alone the T1 springs.
I would think that moving to C5 Z06 springs would help some. That is an awful stiff suspension to be running on the streets. Race tracks are much smoother than the streets, which is why they can get away with running the stiffer suspensions.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
i need to sell them and buy something else do you know what they are worth? or anyone that can use them.they retail for 800.00 they have been installed on a car run for 300 miles they look new! and they are very stiff! when he sold them to me he said he was going to coil overs i paid 300.00 thanks scott
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
i need to sell them and buy something else do you know what they are worth? or anyone that can use them.they retail for 800.00 they have been installed on a car run for 300 miles they look new! and they are very stiff! when he sold them to me he said he was going to coil overs i paid 300.00 thanks scott
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