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C6 shocks won't fit, please help

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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 11:06 AM
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Default C6 shocks won't fit, please help

Hey guys, I went to put c6 shocks on my 2000 couple last night. followed the mcrat/fuzzydice install proceedure. should have been straightforward but my issue was mounting the rear shocks. the upper bracket that I removed from the c5 shock does not seem to fit the c6 shock. I can not tighten the bracken on to the c6 shock. I get to the end of the threads and there is still play in the bracket. I compared a c5 shock to the c6 shock and it seems to be a different size. here is a pic to help illustrate my issue. these are not my pics.


this is where the problem is. I tighten the bolt as above but it will not go far enough to make the bracket tight. there is significant play in it. is it possible I need new bushings for the bracket? please help as this should have been an easy job but turned into a very frustrating night
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 12:19 PM
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I'm interested in this as well. I have a set to put on my '02. I bought them used and they did not come with the brackets so I will have to reuse my existing bracket and hardware.
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 12:23 PM
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why mess with the brackets at all? -- I put my new C6-Z06 shocks, including the brackets they comoe with, directly in place of the originals -- 2 bolts on top - one big one at the bottom. Compressing them is a bit of a pain -- but everything lined up perfectly.
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by redrckt97
why mess with the brackets at all? -- I put my new C6-Z06 shocks, including the brackets they comoe with, directly in place of the originals -- 2 bolts on top - one big one at the bottom. Compressing them is a bit of a pain -- but everything lined up perfectly.
my shocks did not come with the brackets and it seems like most after market shocks don't as well (the bilsteins don't).
thanks
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 12:39 PM
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Did you buy the shocks new and are they GM C6 Z06 shocks? If so, they should have come with the brackets installed. Mine did. Try contacting Gene Culley at www.gmpartshouse.com and see if he can help you.
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark C5
Did you buy the shocks new and are they GM C6 Z06 shocks? If so, they should have come with the brackets installed. Mine did. Try contacting Gene Culley at www.gmpartshouse.com and see if he can help you.
No, I bought them from a corvette recycler. they are low mileage C6 Z51 shocks. I know they should fit because there are other members who have the z51s on their c5s. I will talk to my local dealer. I am thinking maybe I can get some new bushings.
thanks
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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If I'm understanding you right,why not just add another washer to take up the slack?
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by bucwheat
If I'm understanding you right,why not just add another washer to take up the slack?
clearly you have all of those stars under your name because you have the power to read my mind!!! I am going to inquire with my local dealer about the bushing as I think they are worn out but if they aren't, a couple of washers it is!!!!
thanks
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 10:13 AM
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I called Gene Culley and the person I spoke with said everything should interchange between the C6 and C5 shock assemblies.
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by redrckt97
why mess with the brackets at all? -- I put my new C6-Z06 shocks, including the brackets they comoe with, directly in place of the originals -- 2 bolts on top - one big one at the bottom. Compressing them is a bit of a pain -- but everything lined up perfectly.
Brackets came with mine as well. I didn't have to take any pieces from the old shocks.
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 06:53 AM
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By the looks of the pic,I dont see the bushing mounted on the top part of the flange beneath the big washer,did you install it?The shocks are a direct fit and brackets are the same for C5-C6.
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by tremor1
I called Gene Culley and the person I spoke with said everything should interchange between the C6 and C5 shock assemblies.
I hope you didn't call just for me:o but the research I did says the 2 piece insulator and metal bracket are interchangable. Nice to hear Gene confirmed that. I am now just trying to get some new bushings-I think that will solve my problem. thanks for the info!!

Originally Posted by JropTop
By the looks of the pic,I dont see the bushing mounted on the top part of the flange beneath the big washer,did you install it?The shocks are a direct fit and brackets are the same for C5-C6.
the pic above is from a magazine write up, not my car. that said, it is exactally like what mine looks like. the insulator is 2 seperate pieces that attach to the metal bracket from each side.

bottom line is my 10 year old car likely has worn out bushings and I am hoping new ones will solve this install problem. thank you all for the help. this website is awesome and I would not have diagnosed this problem without it!!! I will let you know when I get the new bushings (2 week order time to get them from the US to Canada) and tell you how the install went!
rob
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 07:01 PM
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wow are you saying the corvette recycler kept the bushings that went to the shocks they sold you?
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Old Apr 23, 2010 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 00 Rooster
I hope you didn't call just for me:o but the research I did says the 2 piece insulator and metal bracket are interchangable. Nice to hear Gene confirmed that. I am now just trying to get some new bushings-I think that will solve my problem. thanks for the info!!



the pic above is from a magazine write up, not my car. that said, it is exactally like what mine looks like. the insulator is 2 seperate pieces that attach to the metal bracket from each side.

bottom line is my 10 year old car likely has worn out bushings and I am hoping new ones will solve this install problem. thank you all for the help. this website is awesome and I would not have diagnosed this problem without it!!! I will let you know when I get the new bushings (2 week order time to get them from the US to Canada) and tell you how the install went!
rob
Just wondering if the savings from buying these shocks from a junkyard, justified all this trouble for a simple shock(s) change?
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Old Apr 24, 2010 | 12:47 AM
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i just installed mine tonight without any trouble at all other than my cheap zip ties breaking.

for the top of the shocks i used a ratcheting 15mm wrench and a spoke wrench to hold on with, it worked perfectly..

the car feels so much better now.
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Old Apr 24, 2010 | 07:05 PM
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No issues when I installed C6 Z06 shocks from Gene Culley on my '01
Direct bolt in replacement....
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Old Apr 25, 2010 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by HowlinC5
wow are you saying the corvette recycler kept the bushings that went to the shocks they sold you?
yes. most after market shocks DO NOT come with bushings and brackets...like the bilsteins that went on the C6 my z51 shocks came off of.

Originally Posted by 1999_TRC
Just wondering if the savings from buying these shocks from a junkyard, justified all this trouble for a simple shock(s) change?
completely worth the savings. the shocks I got look like they've never been installed and were claimed to have 6 miles on them. I paid $125 shipped to Canada. at less than half the cost of the parts alone, I would do this again

Last edited by 00 Rooster; Apr 26, 2010 at 11:54 PM. Reason: jerkiness :(
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To C6 shocks won't fit, please help

Old Apr 25, 2010 | 02:35 PM
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Were the bushings loose on the old shocks? If both are the same and the bushings are worn, then the bushings would have been sloppy on the old shocks too. Just saying, why would the bushings that were fine on the old shocks suddenly appear bad on the new shocks?

My bushings on my old shocks were showing some wear but not worn out and I'd have no problem re-using them. And I'm thinking mine had more miles than yours at over 175,000km when I changed them. I took them off in case I needed them so I just have them on the shelf here. I had the top off one of my new rear shocks and they appeared to be about the same but I never really compared them closely. I still have to pull the other one apart - I'm cutting the bump stop in half for a little extra travel.

Can you post a picture of the disassembled shock assembly?

The dust boot should have a cupped shaped washer built-in that sits on a small round c-clip on the shock shaft. The bottom of the bushing sits in this cup shape. When you put it together, the top of the bushing should high enough that it covers part of the threaded section of the shock so that the nut can compress the bushing a certain amount.

Peter

Last edited by lionelhutz; Apr 25, 2010 at 02:37 PM.
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Old Apr 25, 2010 | 04:02 PM
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You might check the part number on the yellow sticker at the base of the shocks on GMPARTSHOUSE.com and see if they are C6 shocks.........
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Old Apr 26, 2010 | 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by lionelhutz
Were the bushings loose on the old shocks? If both are the same and the bushings are worn, then the bushings would have been sloppy on the old shocks too. Just saying, why would the bushings that were fine on the old shocks suddenly appear bad on the new shocks?

My bushings on my old shocks were showing some wear but not worn out and I'd have no problem re-using them. And I'm thinking mine had more miles than yours at over 175,000km when I changed them. I took them off in case I needed them so I just have them on the shelf here. I had the top off one of my new rear shocks and they appeared to be about the same but I never really compared them closely. I still have to pull the other one apart - I'm cutting the bump stop in half for a little extra travel.

Can you post a picture of the disassembled shock assembly?

The dust boot should have a cupped shaped washer built-in that sits on a small round c-clip on the shock shaft. The bottom of the bushing sits in this cup shape. When you put it together, the top of the bushing should high enough that it covers part of the threaded section of the shock so that the nut can compress the bushing a certain amount.

Peter
so, you bring up a VERY valid point. the bushing on my c5 shock is not loose and I completely understand your thought process here. I just go back from vacation today and am going to head out to work on the car. I will try to get some pics and show you what is going on.

Originally Posted by jrprich
You might check the part number on the yellow sticker at the base of the shocks on GMPARTSHOUSE.com and see if they are C6 shocks.........
I have not checked the part number on the shock...I did check it before I bought the part from the recycler. also, the shocks look the same. I wiil report back on this too.

thanks guys the help is appreciated!!
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