C5 shocks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 333
From: Leesburg Fl
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '14,'18
Won't the ZO6 shocks ride harder? I would need to know what kind of tools are needed.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Installing cheap shocks will suit your soft Buick like ride requirements.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 333
From: Leesburg Fl
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '14,'18
Thanks for all the feedback.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 692
From: West Virginia
I would stick with OEM - they were spec'd to match the springs and away bars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 333
From: Leesburg Fl
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '14,'18
Good for you. Too many people think "hard=better" is a valid formula for shocks. That's why many replacement shocks and struts are made firmer than OEM - catering to people who want to feel they have paid for something "better".
I would stick with OEM - they were spec'd to match the springs and away bars.
I would stick with OEM - they were spec'd to match the springs and away bars.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 31
From: Baltimore MD
I own an 02 Z51 Convert and replaced the OEM shocks with Bilstein HD shocks. The vette became much more compliant, absorbing the potholes and rough roads in the DC and Baltimore area with less jarring. It still exhibited great turn in and a planted feel in curves up to speeds of 80 mph but above that speed it became less planted. For the roads in my area, the vette became more fun to drive as a daily driver and actually easier to drive faster at speeds below 80 mph.
Would not recommend for the track.
It would be a learning experience to drive a vette with DRM Bilsteins in a back to back comparison.
Would not recommend for the track.
It would be a learning experience to drive a vette with DRM Bilsteins in a back to back comparison.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Too many people think "softer=better" is a valid formula for shocks. That's why many people who want the Buick feel think they have to buy low end "soft" shocks.
Lousy tires and worn shocks can make any car ride horrible.
The biggest fallacy is that shocks; 1. don't go bad until they leak. and 2. only need be changed when tire wear indicates so.
When the truth is the worn out shocks are bouncing you off the springs without suppression.
Properly valved shocks will make your Vette ride smoother when the road is not.
Handle better than changing bars and springs (some cases)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 212
From: Winnipeg
I would listen to Bill. He was the reason back in 2008 I went with 08 Z06 shocks. My Z only had 9000 K miles but was hardly driven so the shocks weren't exaxtly compliant. Put in the 08 Z shocks on all 4 corners and WOW. Like Bill said car could turn at high speeds on a dime. Rode fairly soft for a c6Z shock but the handling and turn in at speed was amazing for the $$ spent. Just lowered though on the stock bolts. Couldn't go lower if I wanted to anyway. Just one guy's opinion. I'd do it all again when I get another one.
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