2000 C5 Suspension Needs or Changes?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
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2000 C5 Suspension Needs or Changes?
Well I am new to the corvette scene and trying to do some research on the topic of suspension for the C5. I just picked up a C5 with 86k miles on it and is completely stock.
Was curious from a suspension standpoint what might need to be addressed or changed in that mileage zone? The suspension just sounds noisy. Is this normal?
Can you swap C6 shocks and springs onto the C5 without modification? Are they much better than a stock C5 shock and spring?
Seems to drive pretty good. Has a slight vibration over 65mph but I think that is tire balance related.
Was curious from a suspension standpoint what might need to be addressed or changed in that mileage zone? The suspension just sounds noisy. Is this normal?
Can you swap C6 shocks and springs onto the C5 without modification? Are they much better than a stock C5 shock and spring?
Seems to drive pretty good. Has a slight vibration over 65mph but I think that is tire balance related.
Last edited by PeteySM17; Mar 5, 2017 at 10:10 AM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 12
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What does noisy mean???? Rattles? Squeaks???
The swaybar end links on the C5 were plastic and they may be worn or broken. Replacement metal end links are available.
Squeaking if that is what you hear could be caused by rust between the rubber bushings and the sway bar itself. Also have heard of the rubber bushing itself deteriorating and not properly supporting the sway bar.
Front C6 spring will swap into the C5 without a problem. But you need to know what you want to accomplish based on how you plan to drive the car.. On the inside of the glove box door should be a list of RPO's the car was built with. Springs were FE1 or FE3 for model year 2000 and FE4 added for later year C5's. There are also aftermarket springs available. When you start replacing springs you might want to consider keeping the front and rear from the same family such as both FE3 or both FE1 etc to avoid introducing some strange handling. JMHP. The front C6 spring will bolt into the C5 with no issues. The C6 rear spring is totally different than what is used on the C5 and requires the C6 cradle and more to be put into a C5. Can/has been done but may be very expensive.
Before I started swapping springs I would get the car up on a lift and see what you are dealing with on the car as it now is. Solution to your "noise" may require a lot less than a spring swap.
C6 shocks are a direct bolt in. A popular upgrade to the C5 is C6Z06 shocks which can be had for under $300 for all 4. Another popular upgrade is to use C5Z51 sway bars on the C5. Again a direct bolt in.
Does your car have RPO F45? (Check the glove box door) If yes then a shock change requires additional steps unless you plan to keep RPO F45.
The swaybar end links on the C5 were plastic and they may be worn or broken. Replacement metal end links are available.
Squeaking if that is what you hear could be caused by rust between the rubber bushings and the sway bar itself. Also have heard of the rubber bushing itself deteriorating and not properly supporting the sway bar.
Front C6 spring will swap into the C5 without a problem. But you need to know what you want to accomplish based on how you plan to drive the car.. On the inside of the glove box door should be a list of RPO's the car was built with. Springs were FE1 or FE3 for model year 2000 and FE4 added for later year C5's. There are also aftermarket springs available. When you start replacing springs you might want to consider keeping the front and rear from the same family such as both FE3 or both FE1 etc to avoid introducing some strange handling. JMHP. The front C6 spring will bolt into the C5 with no issues. The C6 rear spring is totally different than what is used on the C5 and requires the C6 cradle and more to be put into a C5. Can/has been done but may be very expensive.
Before I started swapping springs I would get the car up on a lift and see what you are dealing with on the car as it now is. Solution to your "noise" may require a lot less than a spring swap.
C6 shocks are a direct bolt in. A popular upgrade to the C5 is C6Z06 shocks which can be had for under $300 for all 4. Another popular upgrade is to use C5Z51 sway bars on the C5. Again a direct bolt in.
Does your car have RPO F45? (Check the glove box door) If yes then a shock change requires additional steps unless you plan to keep RPO F45.
I dont have any major plans for the car but I would like it to perform as if it came off the show room floor or better. Hence the replacement of possibly worn parts or upgrades.
Thank you again for the info. Most of those components seem to be within an affordable budget.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 12
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Based on the numbers in my glove box I don't have the F45. And have the FE3 option springs. I will be looking into the c6 z06 shocks and c6z51 sway bars with the metal sway bar end links. Prob leave the springs stock. We shall see
Last edited by PeteySM17; Mar 5, 2017 at 05:58 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 317
Likes: 42
If I ever replace my shocks on my 2003 they are the ones I'm going to try. Like was mentioned before, be glad you don't have the F45 system. If you want a scare just try looking up prices on those things.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Likes: 5
From: St. Petersburg Florida
10 watt 10 ohm resistors at each shock solved my issues. or it can be programmed out with a tech II and then you can run any shock you desire. best wishes
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I installed FE-3 springs with C6 Z06 sway bars and like it. It is a thicker rear sway bar than the the C6 Z51 and same size front.
The reason being is that the rear Z51 spring is a bit softer than the Z06 rear spring but the front is the same.
I prefer softer spring for the ride and to get more squat on acceleration for straight line traction. The thicker bar to reduce under-steer. It is just a personal preference but if you are starting with FE3-Z51 springs then it is a good option as well.
Here are some spring rates in LBS/inch and sway bar sizes.
Swaybars:
Springs:
..... C5 FE1: 440# Front, 588# Rear
..... C5 Z51: 526# Front, 645# Rear
The reason being is that the rear Z51 spring is a bit softer than the Z06 rear spring but the front is the same.
I prefer softer spring for the ride and to get more squat on acceleration for straight line traction. The thicker bar to reduce under-steer. It is just a personal preference but if you are starting with FE3-Z51 springs then it is a good option as well.
Here are some spring rates in LBS/inch and sway bar sizes.
Swaybars:
- C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear / 3.81mm/2.0mm thickness
- C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
- C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.15mm/3mm thickness
- C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.5mm/3.5mm thickness
- C6 Base: ?? mm-front / 22.0 mm (7/8")-rear
- C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.4 mm (1")-rear
- C6 Z06: 31 mm-front / 28.8 mm-rear
- C5 Hotchkis: 31.75 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear / 4mm/4mm thickness
- C5/C6 Addco: 32 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
- C5/C6 Addco: 35 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
- C5 Pfadt (Adjustables): 32 mm-front / 26 mm-rear http://www.pfadtracing.com/
- C5 Pfadt (Adjustables): 35 mm-front / 28.5 mm-rear (Pfatty)
- C5 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6.35/6.35 thickness
- C6 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6mm/?? thick
Springs:
..... C5 FE1: 440# Front, 588# Rear
..... C5 Z51: 526# Front, 645# Rear
- C5 Z06: 526# Front, 714# Rear
- C6 Z06: 531# Front, 782# Rear
- C6 Z51: 526# Front, 645# Rear
- T1 (C6): 582# Front, 850# Rear
- C6 Base: 420# Front, 657# Rear (VBP: 400-420 F / 600-620 R)
- T1 (C5): 582# Front, 793# Rear
- Pfadt Coil-overs: 425# Front, 575# Rear (Remember: Wheel rates!)
- Hyperco HPS (Street): 565# Front (12405HPS), #765 Rear (12406HPS)
- Hyperco HPT (Track/Solo): 625# Front (12407HPT), #850 Rear (12408HPT)
- VBP Sport 990# Front, 650# Rear
- VBP Extreme 1050# Front, 855# Rear
Last edited by Rob 02; Mar 16, 2017 at 02:51 AM.