shock life
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Waterloo Wisconsin
shock life
Hi,
I have a 97 with 42K miles on it. What is the expected life of the stock shocks? I know they ware out slow so one would not really notice if they are getting bad unless they are really weak. Mine seem fine but thought I would check to see if age more than mileage would ware them out.
Thank you,
Joe
I have a 97 with 42K miles on it. What is the expected life of the stock shocks? I know they ware out slow so one would not really notice if they are getting bad unless they are really weak. Mine seem fine but thought I would check to see if age more than mileage would ware them out.
Thank you,
Joe
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
99 6mm 148,000 miles original standard shocks. no leaks, still firm ride,no bounce. Original owner. I guess it depends on the driver and the quality of the shocks in materials and manufacture. Road quality is also a factor in longevity 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 301
From: Columbia SC
You should be fine like the The Big Guy says if you have no issues. If you replace I recommend you consider the C6 ZO6 shocks. Much better performance and not expensive. GMPartsHouse has great deal on them. Hope I got their name right.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Rule of thumb for me when buying a used car if I don't know how old the shocks are.
10 years or 40k miles. Leaks or no leaks, all four are replaced.
After that, they're replaced after two sets of tires or 50K miles.
Shocks wear and lose their capacity to perform just like tires.
The difference is that tires show their wear and shocks don't unless they leak.
10 years or 40k miles. Leaks or no leaks, all four are replaced.
After that, they're replaced after two sets of tires or 50K miles.
Shocks wear and lose their capacity to perform just like tires.
The difference is that tires show their wear and shocks don't unless they leak.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 519
Likes: 22
From: Golden CO
Rule of thumb for me when buying a used car if I don't know how old the shocks are.
10 years or 40k miles. Leaks or no leaks, all four are replaced.
After that, they're replaced after two sets of tires or 50K miles.
Shocks wear and lose their capacity to perform just like tires.
The difference is that tires show their wear and shocks don't unless they leak.
10 years or 40k miles. Leaks or no leaks, all four are replaced.
After that, they're replaced after two sets of tires or 50K miles.
Shocks wear and lose their capacity to perform just like tires.
The difference is that tires show their wear and shocks don't unless they leak.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
[QUOTE=DWC4;1586182392Anyone have experience on how easily these actually install and ride?[/QUOTE]
Installation is straight forward, nuts and bolts.
Took a ride in a friends that we installed these in.
Work great. Will take a few miles to knock the newness off.
Installation is straight forward, nuts and bolts.
Took a ride in a friends that we installed these in.
Work great. Will take a few miles to knock the newness off.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The STOCK C5 shocks loose a lot of performance after 30,000 miles. Unless, they totally fail, you will not be able to feel it in the car. If you follow a C5 with worn shocks, you can see it fail to dampen properly over bumps and road undulations.
If you install the C6 ZO6 shocks and drive it, you will need a crow bar to pry the grin off your face. My 02 ZO6 would side step (jump towards the outside of the curve when the road was rough) when I would take a fast highway sweeping turn onto the highway.
After the installation of the C6Z shocks,, that issue was resolved!
The C6Z Shocks are a 100% OEM replacement and no problem fit. Collapse the new shocks and ZIP TIE or coat hanger wire them in the collapsed position. Remove the old shocks, bolt the bottom in place, cut the retainer wire and guide the top into place. Bolt in.
Thats all there is to it. Gene Culley at GMPARTSHOUSE can hook you up with them for a great price.
Enjoy the IMPROVED ride!
BC
If you install the C6 ZO6 shocks and drive it, you will need a crow bar to pry the grin off your face. My 02 ZO6 would side step (jump towards the outside of the curve when the road was rough) when I would take a fast highway sweeping turn onto the highway.
After the installation of the C6Z shocks,, that issue was resolved!
The C6Z Shocks are a 100% OEM replacement and no problem fit. Collapse the new shocks and ZIP TIE or coat hanger wire them in the collapsed position. Remove the old shocks, bolt the bottom in place, cut the retainer wire and guide the top into place. Bolt in.
Thats all there is to it. Gene Culley at GMPARTSHOUSE can hook you up with them for a great price.
Enjoy the IMPROVED ride!
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Feb 16, 2014 at 01:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Waterloo Wisconsin
Thank you,
Joe
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You're OEM C5 shocks were originally gas charged. A shock has little or NO effect on a cars ride height. HOWEVER,,, The GAS pressure in the shock does provide some lifting force on the suspension.
If you compress the NEW shock on a bathroom scale, the force that it takes to compress the shock to about 3/4 compressed, will be the amount of lift on each corner of the car.
So,, yes, there will be a little added lift but, any new gas charged shock will do the same.
As for harshness. I was able to feel a little more road irregularities but, nothing to complain about. The performance improvements will FAR make up for that.
If you compress the NEW shock on a bathroom scale, the force that it takes to compress the shock to about 3/4 compressed, will be the amount of lift on each corner of the car.
So,, yes, there will be a little added lift but, any new gas charged shock will do the same.
As for harshness. I was able to feel a little more road irregularities but, nothing to complain about. The performance improvements will FAR make up for that.
Gasoline Addict
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 47
From: Twin Cities, MN
Replaced mine on my Z06 at 60k miles and the difference in ride and performance was profound. I could have very easily pushed the piston back into the used shocks by hand after taking them out. Not so much on the new ones.
Went with C6Z06 one for under $250 delivered. Great mod for the track.
Went with C6Z06 one for under $250 delivered. Great mod for the track.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 403
From: Horseshoe Bend ID
I replaced the OEM at 9yrs/80K with Bilsteins mostly 'cause the car was on the rack and I was getting the 10yr 100K service stuff done all at once. Can't say I noticed THAT much of a difference...