I want/need to replace the shocks in my car. I don't know if they have ever been replaced in my car before or not, so I'm going to assume they haven't been.

My car isn't a race car or ever taken to the track (yet), I use it to drive around town.

I don't know a thing about shocks or what I need to get as a replacement. Does anyone have some recommendations as to what I can either buy at O'rileys or get from the Internet.

I can't imagine they are hard to replace, and I have a friend that will help me if I can't figure it out.

 

If you need/want to replace them you have a few options if you want to keep stock suspension.

If you have standard shocks and not the Magnetic Ride control then i would get a set of C6z06 shocks or Bilstiens, they are a direct bolt on and are only a couple hundred bux for all four from forum venders. if you have the mag ride control you can either buy them and swap them in (not cheap) or get a mag ride shock simulators and swap to standard suspension. don't get them at a parts store, they are going to be more expensive and who knows what brand..

S

 

To my knowledge, i don't have magnetic ride control.

I would don't necessarily need anything high-performance, but I like to have nice quality parts.

I could do a fair price, however I'm not wanting to spend a fortune.

 

Rockauto does have Monroe standard Sensatrac for 33.79ea but i would still go for the C6Z ones for the extra 100 bux. (rock auto has cupon codes as well for 5% discount if you search)

from what i have read, the C6Z's are better all around drive. Not harsh just handles better, rides better. if you search for posts about the C6z Shocks in the C5 sections you will read alot of good things... here is a good place to find them (from another members post).

www.gmpartshouse.com

they are always on the forum. if i'm not mistaken, one of our great supporters below is from their website

||--Genuine GM 20011 C6 Z06 Shocks--||



10313647 – Z06 Front Shocks
25819268 – Z06 Rear Shocks



Both sets of front and rear shocks (4) $249.88 total.
For the shocks on our website, use part number c6z06shocks under Chevrolet make.

 

Just did it my self, do you have a selector switch along side your active handling? It will say Sport, Tour and Perf if so you have either F45 or F55. The best way to get rid of that system is to deprogram it it cost me $49.25. I replaced my F45 with C6 Z06 shocks as mentioned above from Gene at GM Parts house. If you don't have the ride control then your good to go....Below is some questions I had about the de-programm procedure


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...on-please.html

 

I don't have the ride selection.

I have heard millions of people talk about the C6 Z06 shocks. I will take a look at GMparts and see if I can find a good set for my car.

Anything comparable in price/performance would be welcome.

 

Another vote for C6Z06 shocks. They're far from the best you can get but since you haven't tracked your vette yet they'll be an improvement over your stocks and will hold up just fine for the amateur hpde every once in a while if you ever decide to do that. They're also a relative bargain as far as good performance shocks go...

Out of curiosity; why do you think your current ones need to be replaced?

 

I have an 03 and it has ( the selective a drive), It says sport and tour. how many miles can I expect to get outta these shocks ?

 

I talked with the previous owner and he doesn't think they have ever been replaced. There is also a very quiet rattle noise coming from the right rear tire area that isn't brake related.

It might not fix the problem, but it's a good starting point.

 

Sounds like you have F-55 with the MAGNETIC SHOCKS. They have a Magnetorheological Fluid that passes thru a metering valve. The Control Module applies a current to a coil that surrounds the valve. The more current that is applied to the coil, the thicker the fluid gets and the more firm the shocks get.

They are SUPPOSE to be a very good system buy, I have never experienced it. Do you like the ride and can you notice a difference between the settings?

I hated my F-45 Real Time Dampening on my 98 It was the WORST option that I ever purchased. The Real Time Dampening/Selective ride/F-45 shocks start to get weak and leak around 70K and they are out of this world expensive. Can’t tell you how long F-55 shocks last.
The problem that I had with the system was twofold.

The setting changes were so indistinguishable that it wasn’t worth the dollars it cost & it’s on a BASE FE1 suspension which isn’t the best for anyone who loves performance.

For anyone that has F-45, program it out or sim it out, install and install the C6 ZO6 shocks. If you really want your car to handle better install Z-51 or ZO6 springs and sway bars or C6 Z-51 sway bars.

The C6 ZO6 Shocks made a big difference on my 02 ZO6.

 

Yep on the C6 ZO6 Shocks.Huge diff on my 02Z.Changed mine @ 62k.

A lot less dip,squat & roll on my DD.

\db2
carolina

 

How much harsher is the ride with the c6 Z06 shocks compared to the stock shocks?
I like the ride of my stockers, but I have 32,000 miles on them and an instructor at an autocross said that they are probably too worn for autocross/

 

LOL My OEM ZO6 Shocks had 45K miles on them when (I like you) were recommended changing to the C6 ZO6 Shocks.

As soon as they came, I installed them. Shock for shock, the mounted just like the C5 ZO6 shocks that were removed.

When I drove the car for the first time with the new shocks, I was kind of unimpressed as there wasn't any significant noticeable difference

A few days later, I took a sweeping highway entrance ramp at fairly high speeds. Before the new shocks were installed, on that same entrance ramp the car had a tendency to skidder side ways over the bumps in the road. It would give the sphincter a good pucker factor.

After the shock install,, that was a thing of the past! I really enjoy pushing the limits more now as the car is more predictable.

Bill

 

This thread is shocking...........

 

If you're looking at upgrading to C6Z shocks you should also look at our Johnny O'Connell shocks. They were designed with the daily driven Corvette in mind, and while they do increase performance of the car it's not at the expense of daily drivability! You will notice that the car immediately feels a little more connected to the road with the revised damping at low speeds, and is smoother over bumps at higher speeds like expansion joints and pot holes than the C6Z Shocks.

Overall the Johnny O'Connell shocks are a great shock for the money, and when combined with the Johnny O'Connell sway bars offer an almost unbeatable budget upgrade that will improve not only the street manners, but the overall balance of your Corvette. The Johnny O'Connell Stage 1 package includes the shocks, sway bars, metal endlinks and polyurethane sway bar bushings in one tidy package that doesn't require tuning to dial in properly... just bolt the parts up and go!

 

I went with the Bilstein Sport shocks on my Z and love them! I was planning on using the C6Z shocks but after alot of reading found alot of people perferred the Bilsteins for lowered cars becasue of the stiffer ride (my car is lowered on stock bolts with cut bushings). I cant comment on the ride quality becasue of the stiffer shocks and lowering the car it will ride stiffer but the overall ride is very similar to stock (with the exception of potholes, it doesnt absorb them as much). I have a buddy with C6Z shocks on his C5 and he loves them. I personally think you cant go wrong with either the C6Z or the Bilsteins. If your car is stock height i would recommend the HD's over the Sports. Good luck on your purchase.

 

It's hard to beat the cost of the C6 Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars. You can buy both together for less than most aftermarket shocks alone.

 

Car rides fine, I cant tell any differance between tour and sport. I dont drive it hard so I just leave it on tour .