Z51 Shock Changeout
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Petaluma, CA USA
Z51 Shock Changeout
Has anyone replaced their Z51 shock with any other to smooth out the ride on bad roads? The cars seems like it would handle better if the wheels would remain in contact with the road better. This seems to be the case with the F55 on the 2003 cars. The F55 is reported to handle better than the Z51 on very rough roads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Re: Z51 Shock Changeout (65RallyRed)
The F55 suspension is electronically controlled and the Z51 isn't. Its hard to beat a system that can compensate for the road suface a thousand times a second!
I think others here have changed to Bilstien shocks or Koni with the Z51 but I'm not they will give you the smooth ride your looking for.
I think others here have changed to Bilstien shocks or Koni with the Z51 but I'm not they will give you the smooth ride your looking for.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Petaluma, CA USA
Re: Z51 Shock Changeout (2k2C5)
I understand the operation of the F55 and had two F45 cars. I'm not looking for a smooth ride as much as I'm looking to increase tire adhesion on rough surfaces in corners. For example, when the shocks are warm, they soften up a bit and work better to hold the tires on the road. I cited the F55 example as a softer shock working better than a stiff shock under these conditions.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
Re: Z51 Shock Changeout (65RallyRed)
65,
Many people here on the Forum have gone from the Z51 shocks to the Bilstein Sports shocks for the reason you have pointed out. Do a search on the word Bilstein.
I have the Z51 suspension and I'm hopping all over the place on rough roads.
Bilsteins are in my near future.
Many people here on the Forum have gone from the Z51 shocks to the Bilstein Sports shocks for the reason you have pointed out. Do a search on the word Bilstein.
I have the Z51 suspension and I'm hopping all over the place on rough roads.
Bilsteins are in my near future.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
Re: Z51 Shock Changeout (65RallyRed)
It's not nessesarly the shocks that you need to change it is the leaf springs. The base leaf springs are much softer then the Z51's. I've had 3 C5's one with Z51 the other 2 with F45. The big differance is the leaf spring. Your car will still ride tight if you only change the shocks. I have some base- F45 leaf springs that you can have if you want to come down to Pleasanton and pick them up or if you want to trade for your Z51's I will drive up to Petaluma and help you swap them out.
