Hey guys,
First time posting here in the CF. Been lurking as a guest for years and had a 2005 GTO before this. So this is nothing new to me.
I was wondering what the best shocks are for a 1997 C5. I already have Hotchkis front and rear sways. I'm at about 120k miles and though the shocks still work they are soon to be on their last leg. I prefer my suspension to be stiff as crap. I don't go to the track so I have no reason to go with coilovers, but I do fly through twisties and want the car to stay planted and firm. Any advise would be appreciated gents.

 

I would go with c6 Z06 shocks. All the c6 shocks are a direct fit for your c5. I am sure others will chime in with opinions. Enjoy your c5 and welcome to the forum. Post up some pics when you can.

 

I installed Bilstein Sports on my 2000 Hardtop before the C6 ZO-6's were available and widely accepted as a great value in shocks for the C5. I've been very pleased with the Bilsteins and have them on all of my Corvettes.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

I love my C6 Z06 shocks, it might have raised my car about a half inch.

 

Yes of course the Z06 shoucks are a great choice or any aftermarket set-up
However I believe that when you change the shocks from the base models you MUST have someone with a TECH II or similar software to eliminate all the codes and error messages they will produce----You can research this here on the forum--It can be a tedious job !!!
IF you decide not to go thru all the re-programming issues caused by a shock change--there are other mods that will make your car run flatter and stiffer in the turns
1. Larger sway bars (Z06)
2. Poly bushings on all the sway bars
3. Metal end links rather than the stock plastic ones
4. SOLID rear trans mount
These would be my 1st set of mods before going thru the trouble of a shock change---See how well it works for you---If not satisfied THEN think about the shocks

 

I believe that this would only be the case if his '97 were equipped with the F45 - Selective Real Time Dampening option. If he is not equipped with the F45 he should have no problem with throwing codes from a shock change.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

If you have a car with the non-adjustable shocks there is no need to program anything if you change the shocks. The only time you need to use a programmer is if you have either the F45 or F55 shocks and decide to replace them with a regular set of shocks like the Bilsteins or the C6 Z06 shocks. You will not have any codes or error messages changing out the base shocks.

And IMO, the C6 Z06 shocks are a good replacement when the time comes.

 

Another vote for the C6 Z06 shocks. Installed them along with C6 Z51 sway bars and metal end links. Car now handles so much better, completely flat in the corners...love it!

 

I'll throw another vote for the Bilatein sport shocks. An advantage for these is that they were designed with the car being lowered in mind. Keeps them from seeing premature failure due to excessive travel. Had them on my car now since 2007 and haven't looked back.

 

Why would shocks raise or lower your car, unless they're bottomed out already at ride height?

 

Thanks for the info about the error messages and why they occur---or when they don't !!

 

If money's not an issue, I highly recommend Koni Sport. They are adjustable and will give you exactly what you need, for different situations. When I switched out my Bilsteins for the Konis, I could not believe the difference in handling and control.

 

Agreed. I tried two well known sets of shocks and couldn't wait to change to something else. One was too soft and one too stiff. I'm sold on the Koni Sport singles.

Have used Konis for years on several autocross cars and never had a quality issue.

 

I recently installed the Bilstein sports the ride is nice but they are noisy as there are rattle sounds now. I traced the rattle to the Pfadt front sway bar end links, there were noisy and worn out. I put the stock front bar back and added heavy duty adjustable end links on both sway bars and wow what a difference ride is nice and tight no rattles love the feel.

 

If the shocks are rattling something isn't right. As I said before, my Bilstein sports have been on my car for 8+ years now actually (went in spring of 2007) and have never rattled.

Koni's are probably the best you can get without going coil over. That comes at a price premium however.

 

If you do C6 Z06 shocks what brand? Already have stock Z51 so I don't know if any sway bar improvement would be cost effective for the street. Car has 76k miles. Maybe shocks changes aren't even really needed for street yet. Opinions?

 

C5 & C6 Shocks are High Pressure Nitrogen Charged shocks. After approx. 30-50K miles on the OEM shocks, that nitrogen charge eventually leaks out and the shock starts to lose their dampening capability. This happens over a VERY VERY LONG time so you don't really notice the reduction in handling.

That being said, I pushed my 02 ZO6 hard around a long sweeping highway entrance ramp and there were some uneven places on the pavement. The suspension lost its ability to control the tires on the pavement and the car started to skidder sideways off the turn. BOY,,, THAT was a butt pucker moment!!!

I replaced the OEM C5 ZO6 shocks at 35,000 miles with new GM C6 ZO6 shocks and I was amazed at the improved high speed maneuverability of the car. That same entrance ramp is a piece of cake now!!! The car is solid as a rock now. There was NOT a significant increase in normal daily driving road harshness or noise with the C6 ZO6 shocks. Good price and excellent performance!

I got mine from Gene Culley.

DO SHOCKS CHANGE THE CARS RIDE HEIGHT??

Well,,,,,,,, Each shock has approx. 40-50 pounds of FORCE (Im giving it a good estimate!!) on the shock rod. Compressing the rod into the shock is tough. I turn my new C6 shocks up-side down and body weight the rod into the shock and then use a coat hanger wire to keep it compressed! Cut the wire when I have it in place.

If you had four friends exert 50 pounds of lifting force on each corner of the car, your car will increase it STANCE/ ride height by some amount. So, the answer to that question is YES, it will but,, not to a significant degree. You can always adjust the ride height back down by using the front spring adjusters and increasing the bolt length on the rear spring to arm connector bolts.

I would bet a cold one that your OEM shocks have ZERO nitrogen charge now and little or no dampening ability.

Bill

 

CULTRAG Performance is where I got mine:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rformance.html

2013 C6 Z06 Shocks!

We sell the 2013 C6 Z06 shocks for $294.94 Many C5 customers ask us why we don’t recommend the 2004 shocks over the 2013. Many people also say that the C6 shocks are only developed for the C6. If you look at all of the basic suspension components between the C5 and C6, they are very much the same. The reason we don’t recommend the 2004 Z06 shocks over the 2013 C6 Z06 shocks is simply because of the price and customer feedback. We have many customers who have tried both sets of shocks and cannot tell the difference between the two, so why not purchase the lesser expensive set!

For the C5, not C5 Z06, we also recommend the C6 Z51 sway bar kit. The C6 Z51 sway bar kit coupled with the 2013 C6 Z06 shocks is our most popular suspension and handling upgrade for the C5.

To order, please call 484-949-2099 or go to the link below to order!
http://www.cultragfactoryparts.com/c...t/c6z06shocks/



||--Genuine GM 2013 C6 Z06 Shocks--||

10313647 – Z06 Front Shocks
25819268 – Z06 Rear Shocks

Both sets of front and rear shocks (4) $294.94 total.
For the shocks on our website, use part number c6z06shocks.

The C6 Z06 shocks will work on stock C5’s and C6’s without modification.

Thank you,

 

Really nothing I can add to Bill's comments. I got my shocks, sway bars and end links from Gene. Very happy.

 

Thank you all for your business and support!