Suspension renovation
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 206
Likes: 9
From: Springfield, MO
Suspension renovation
My C5 is a 1997 with 139k miles on it. It used to be a daily driver but for the past year and a half it gets about 2,000 miles per year.
It needs some TLC and I have never changed the shocks in the 10 1/2 years I have owned it. In fact, I have not done anything underneath it except changes the tires, brakes, mufflers and oil.
I need to replace the steering rack. I know the C6 Z06 shock swap is popular. What else needs to be done when the C5 gets that old? Are there a bunch of rubber bushings that fatigue with age?
Thank you.
It needs some TLC and I have never changed the shocks in the 10 1/2 years I have owned it. In fact, I have not done anything underneath it except changes the tires, brakes, mufflers and oil.
I need to replace the steering rack. I know the C6 Z06 shock swap is popular. What else needs to be done when the C5 gets that old? Are there a bunch of rubber bushings that fatigue with age?
Thank you.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 280
Likes: 21
From: Austin TX
I'd definitely recommend the C6 Z06 shocks. I have them on my 2000 FRC in combination with Toyo R888 tires and the handling is great.
Also seriously considering doing all the ball joints (2 on each wheel) while you're in there. Not a fun or easy job unfortunately.
Also seriously considering doing all the ball joints (2 on each wheel) while you're in there. Not a fun or easy job unfortunately.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
My C5 is a 1997 with 139k miles on it. It used to be a daily driver but for the past year and a half it gets about 2,000 miles per year.
It needs some TLC and I have never changed the shocks in the 10 1/2 years I have owned it. In fact, I have not done anything underneath it except changes the tires, brakes, mufflers and oil.
I need to replace the steering rack. I know the C6 Z06 shock swap is popular. What else needs to be done when the C5 gets that old? Are there a bunch of rubber bushings that fatigue with age?
Thank you.
It needs some TLC and I have never changed the shocks in the 10 1/2 years I have owned it. In fact, I have not done anything underneath it except changes the tires, brakes, mufflers and oil.
I need to replace the steering rack. I know the C6 Z06 shock swap is popular. What else needs to be done when the C5 gets that old? Are there a bunch of rubber bushings that fatigue with age?
Thank you.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 85
Likes: 11
From: Boca Raton Florida
check for leaky seals where the CV half shafts enter the differential. If they were never changed I'm guessing you have some leakage and build up. Seals are an easy and inexpensive fix....but the shafts have to be removed. If you do tie rod ends, ball joints, or even shocks you're already in there and getting the shaft out isn't a much more effort.
Are you doing this yourself or a shop?
Are you doing this yourself or a shop?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 206
Likes: 9
From: Springfield, MO
I have a buddy in Los Angeles who retired from the CA Army National Guard in January and he is an excellent mechanic. He restored his 1969 Charger from a $750 barn find to a fantastic resto mod. We have done a number of jobs ourselves on various weekends but now that he is retired I have proposed that I pay him for doing much more work on a sustained basis.
I have wanted to do the shocks for a while and like you said as long as we are ripping apart some of the bits down there we might as well get really dirty and do it all.
The AC compressor and the steering rack need to be replaced. The left fender and front bumper cover need to be resprayed and the entire car needs a buff and polish afterwards. (I have a body shop in mind for that work.)
But when all is said and done I should basically have a new 1997 C5.
I have wanted to do the shocks for a while and like you said as long as we are ripping apart some of the bits down there we might as well get really dirty and do it all.
The AC compressor and the steering rack need to be replaced. The left fender and front bumper cover need to be resprayed and the entire car needs a buff and polish afterwards. (I have a body shop in mind for that work.)
But when all is said and done I should basically have a new 1997 C5.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
I changed out the shocks and bars on my 04, didn't see that much of a change so I went to coil overs all around. If you intend to keep the car I would definitely go with coil overs. Much more of an improvement in handling and ride. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I just got done doing a suspension bushing kit (all poly) on my own car. I also get to see an inordinate number of C5 suspension parts, control arms and such. I have yet to see a rubber bushing that needed anything. My car had 104K on it when I did mine and to be honest if it were not for the fact that i had to destroy them to get the steel bushings out, I'd have put em back in. I seriously contemplated not doing the rear of the car because I don't like the extra vibration noise the poly kit adds to the cabin.
Ball joints cost a fortune but if you have a press and some tubing to use as a mandrel, they're an easy replacement. I would only do the ones that need replaced. Mine were more about replacing the rubber boots than it was the ball joints themselves. I did at least one that I should not have. I only replaced 3 of the 8. Fwiw, they are the same front and rear. Only uppers are different from lowers.
The spring stops do wear out. They're not nearly so expensive. I got sway bar end links from Autozone fairly cheap.
Not only was that bushing job a waste of time, it really wasn't fun. I have a machine shop and it took every bit of 12 hours to get them in there. What a pita.
Ball joints cost a fortune but if you have a press and some tubing to use as a mandrel, they're an easy replacement. I would only do the ones that need replaced. Mine were more about replacing the rubber boots than it was the ball joints themselves. I did at least one that I should not have. I only replaced 3 of the 8. Fwiw, they are the same front and rear. Only uppers are different from lowers.
The spring stops do wear out. They're not nearly so expensive. I got sway bar end links from Autozone fairly cheap.
Not only was that bushing job a waste of time, it really wasn't fun. I have a machine shop and it took every bit of 12 hours to get them in there. What a pita.
Last edited by K-Spaz; Oct 11, 2016 at 07:44 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 391
Likes: 67
From: Oak Point Texas formerly okc
St. Jude Donor '16