Tips on Shocks/Sways/Lowering the C5
#23
Team Owner
Until I get an answer from Pfadt on the dimensions of the shock (unmounted, center of mount at bottom to center of mount bushing at top) I'm not going to believe anything about 'being shorter'. Bilsteins were supposedly shorter as well.
I don't know why, but run a search on pfadt shocks in all of C5/C6 sections- all you get back is a bunch for sale instead of how great they are, and nothing on how great they are for a lowered car.
I don't know why, but run a search on pfadt shocks in all of C5/C6 sections- all you get back is a bunch for sale instead of how great they are, and nothing on how great they are for a lowered car.
#25
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St. Jude Donor '10
1" shorter on a 2" drop will allow 3/4" travel before hitting bump, or 1.25" if bumpstop was shortened.
I'd say this shock would do well at a 1.5" drop, but no more. It is adjustable which could in essense, utilize the travel better. Some vendors had them for $650 last fall, I'm inquiring on current deals.
I put the poly bushings, they hold the sway tighter and won't let it move like rubber will (although the amount of movement is minute).
#26
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The rear C6Z51 bar is almost 2mm thicker so they could make the car slightly little more prone to over steer but I doubt you'll notice that change either.
Probably just putting poly bushings on the bars you have would make them as good as the C6Z51 bars with rubber bushings.
Peter
Last edited by lionelhutz; 05-12-2010 at 07:25 PM.
#27
Melting Slicks
Pfadt sport shocks are not shorter. They are actually longer by a 1/4" then C6 Z06 shocks. The important measurement is when the shock is compressed all the way down. That's the number your looking for. The Pfadt shocks have a shorter shock body, but the other end is much longer. That's where the adjuster is mounted on the front shocks. Taking up travel. I can't remember if the shock body on the rear is shorter or longer, but I know that it's 1/4" longer also when fully compressed. I don't count the bump stop at all in compressed measurements. I've had 04,06,07 Z06 shocks, Penske dbl and triple adj. shocks and now Pfadt shocks.
Steve
Steve
Last edited by mountainbiker2; 05-12-2010 at 07:45 PM.
#28
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St. Jude Donor '10
Pfadt sport shocks are not shorter. They are actually longer by a 1/4" then C6 Z06 shocks. The important measurement is when the shock is compressed all the way down. That's the number your looking for. The Pfadt shocks have a shorter shock body, but the other end is much longer. That's where the adjuster is mounted on the front shocks. Taking up travel. I can't remember if the shock body on the rear is shorter or longer, but I know that it's 1/4" longer also when fully compressed. I don't count the bump stop at all in compressed measurements. I've had 04,06,07 Z06 shocks, Penske dbl and triple adj. shocks and now Pfadt shocks.
Steve
Steve
C5 stock, Bilstein sport and Pfadt all have 3.5" travel (give or take .25) but Pfadt is telling me their shock has a uncompressed length of 15.5", vs. 16.5 for the others.
#29
Melting Slicks
I believe the shocks I still have in the garage are 07 Z06 shocks. The travel in the front is 5 1/4". The rear are 4 3/4". No bump stops. Any car lowered more then the stock hardware will be sitting on the bump stops more then likely on any shock brand. At least very close. The only exception would be the Penske's.
Steve A.
Steve A.
Last edited by mountainbiker2; 05-12-2010 at 09:07 PM.
#30
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St. Jude Donor '10
I believe the shocks I still have in the garage are 07 Z06 shocks. The travel in the front is 5 1/4". The rear are 4 3/4". No bump stops. Any car lowered more then the stock hardware will be sitting on the bump stops more then likely on any shock brand. At least very close. The only exception would be the Penske's.
Steve A.
Steve A.
You say there's no bump stop, did you take the dust cover off? If there's 4-3/4 travel with the cover on, maybe there is a bump stop under the dust cover and there's even more travel than known?
Do you know any dimensions on the Penske?
#31
Team Owner
I just want some damn shocks that are going to work!
#32
Melting Slicks
All the shocks will work. Just don't go to low.
Never tried these. They are a little longer when fully compressed.
Here's a drawing of my Penske's. This was the size of my Dbl. adjustable ones. I wanted the Triple built with the same dimensions.
Never tried these. They are a little longer when fully compressed.
Here's a drawing of my Penske's. This was the size of my Dbl. adjustable ones. I wanted the Triple built with the same dimensions.
Last edited by mountainbiker2; 05-13-2010 at 06:48 PM.
#34
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St. Jude Donor '10
May look into a C5Z rear spring and see how that works.
The Koni's you can see the bumpstop and travel is almost the same again, 3.5" travel.
The Penski's, the dimension looks to be same or longer uncompressed, as the 15-7/16 dimension drawn is to the top of the dust cover and not at the mounting point (there would be another 1/2" bushing for mounting.
Regarding 'any shock will work, don't go too low'- well, that's kinda the point of this thread. If you go more than stock (1/2" front/back) as it's designed, you'll be ok.
For those that do the aftermarket stuff, cutting front bushings, longer rear bolts- and want to get a decent looking drop (1.5" is perfect look for these cars), we're still back to square one. Sitting on the bumpstop.
I'd still like to see the Pfadts- as they told me 1" shorter, could mean all the world with lowering these cars to a decent 1-1/2 to 2" drop without doing $2k coilovers.
#35
Team Owner
I should clarify...when I say "shocks that will work", I mean a shock that will work on lowered suspension. I'm all the way down on stock bolts, and most likley won't go any lower unless I uprgade to coilovers $$$...especially after seeing a mythbuster thread like this one. I'd like to find a shock that won't have me bottoming out and riding on the bumpstop...even with a modest change in ride height such as mine. So far, the pfadt inverted is in the running, but there's limited feedback on these.
#37
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#38
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St. Jude Donor '10
A shock (non adjustable) is a simple thing, and yet there seems to be nothing made short enough.
#39
Melting Slicks
Steve
#40
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St. Jude Donor '10
They are not shorter when fully compressed. I have them. They are 1/4" longer. If you guys want to go lower then just buy coilovers. If you look at the big picture, it's not that much more money over time. My car is pretty low, but I have VB&P springs. They are stiffer then Z06 springs. I can't run coilovers, because of the class I run in autocross.
Steve
Steve
I'm trying to get to the bottom of shocks without the expense of a coilover. I want the car lower, but also interested in track and possible autocross. For now, just trying to find that secret out there where guys who are lowered, don't have to pay $2k to do it. So, coilovers is not the option here.........or is it?