C5 Shocks Question
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 60
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From: Miami FL
C5 Shocks Question
Ok I have Bilstein HD shocks on my 2000 C5 with C6Z51 Sways and Metal Endlinks which I installed about 6 months ago. The vette is my daily driver and most roads here in Miami suck. I am not sure if I should get Coilovers to help with these crappy on the roads or should I do something else?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Is the car lowered, and if so how much???
Even with the Bilsteins, if you lower it too much you will be hitting the bump stops and your ride will be like crap... The Bilsteins aren't shorter, but they have better valving that tends to keep you off of the bump stops. If you are lowered all the way on stock bolts in the rear you WILL likely have ride issues.
90% of the ride issues are a result of people lowering the car too much.
Coilovers let you lower the car more without bottoming out, but there are also issues with most coilovers in that they don't have rubber in the lower mounts and can be noisy and have more ride harshness without any compliance in the mounts.
Check you ride height and then figure out if you are on the rear bump stops.
Even with the Bilsteins, if you lower it too much you will be hitting the bump stops and your ride will be like crap... The Bilsteins aren't shorter, but they have better valving that tends to keep you off of the bump stops. If you are lowered all the way on stock bolts in the rear you WILL likely have ride issues.
90% of the ride issues are a result of people lowering the car too much.
Coilovers let you lower the car more without bottoming out, but there are also issues with most coilovers in that they don't have rubber in the lower mounts and can be noisy and have more ride harshness without any compliance in the mounts.
Check you ride height and then figure out if you are on the rear bump stops.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 60
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From: Miami FL
I haven't lowered it at all. My concern is I drive my 05 CLK55AMG through those same roads and it doesn't feel anything like the Vette, I know its a Luxury vehicle and sits higher than the Vette but the difference is night and day when comparing the two. Maybe I had high expectations for the HD Bilstein Shocks. My goal is to achieve a smoother ride on the street with my Vette, I don't take it to the track.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
I haven't lowered it at all. My concern is I drive my 05 CLK55AMG through those same roads and it doesn't feel anything like the Vette, I know its a Luxury vehicle and sits higher than the Vette but the difference is night and day when comparing the two. Maybe I had high expectations for the HD Bilstein Shocks. My goal is to achieve a smoother ride on the street with my Vette, I don't take it to the track.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
If your goal is a smoother ride than go back to your old stock shocks if you still have them. If not I have a set I just took off my 04 with 30K miles and are still good. I installed C6Z06 shocks on my base suspension with Z06 sways and my ride did get stiffer but to much trouble to swap them back out. I have to say I do like the better cornering and wheel hop control though.
Coilovers sound like a big waste of money to me for a car that doesn't see the track. Besides, they should result in a firmer ride, not a softer one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
The above posters are correct, you did stiffen things up with the Bilstein shocks. They are about the same valving as a Z06 shock and that is a pretty stiff setup. In addition, if you have run flats on the car that will make things worse. The Z didn't have run flats and as a result it could get away with stiffer shocks than it could if it had those stiff tires on it.
Change back to the stock shocks and that will be the best thing for you. As noted, most coilovers are stiffer than the stock Z06 setup because they are track oriented.
While the stiffer bars make the car handle better, you are going to get a bit more harshness from them too.
If the car is still too harsh with the stock shocks on it, you can always go to a set of non-run flat tires and keep a can of fix-a-flat, a small pucka pump and a plug kit in the car. That's what the Z06 has and it works ok for us. Run flat tires are just plain miserable when it comes to ride harshness.
Unfortunately coilovers probably aren't going to make your ride any better unless you order them special with softer springs and adjustable shocks that are set softer than stock. That is expensive for sure, but that's probably the only way you are going to get the ride you are looking for.
Change back to the stock shocks and that will be the best thing for you. As noted, most coilovers are stiffer than the stock Z06 setup because they are track oriented.
While the stiffer bars make the car handle better, you are going to get a bit more harshness from them too.
If the car is still too harsh with the stock shocks on it, you can always go to a set of non-run flat tires and keep a can of fix-a-flat, a small pucka pump and a plug kit in the car. That's what the Z06 has and it works ok for us. Run flat tires are just plain miserable when it comes to ride harshness.
Unfortunately coilovers probably aren't going to make your ride any better unless you order them special with softer springs and adjustable shocks that are set softer than stock. That is expensive for sure, but that's probably the only way you are going to get the ride you are looking for.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
Damn, you guys have me worried now. I just ordered a new set of Bilstein HD's for my C5 Coupe. I wanted to stiffen up the ride slightly compared to the stock OEM shocks but I hope that I didn't make a mistake. I don't want my car to ride like a truck.
I find the ride a little wallowy right now when I go over bumps or highway expansion joints. After all it is a sports car and I expect it to ride like one.
I find the ride a little wallowy right now when I go over bumps or highway expansion joints. After all it is a sports car and I expect it to ride like one.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
Don't worry, be happy.
I just ordered a new set of Bilstein HD's for my C5 Coupe. I wanted to stiffen up the ride slightly compared to the stock OEM shocks [...] I find the ride a little wallowy right now when I go over bumps or highway expansion joints. After all it is a sports car and I expect it to ride like one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Damn, you guys have me worried now. I just ordered a new set of Bilstein HD's for my C5 Coupe. I wanted to stiffen up the ride slightly compared to the stock OEM shocks but I hope that I didn't make a mistake. I don't want my car to ride like a truck.
I find the ride a little wallowy right now when I go over bumps or highway expansion joints. After all it is a sports car and I expect it to ride like one.
I find the ride a little wallowy right now when I go over bumps or highway expansion joints. After all it is a sports car and I expect it to ride like one.
