craigp40

Gents, I'm getting ready to do some suspension work on my 2001 Vert. It has 76k miles on it right now and I'm thinking it's time to change shocks. Since this is my first Vette and I bought it with 72k on it, I have no real baseline to compare to determine if I truly need them or not. Just a gut feeling. Planning to go with C6Z06 shocks or Bilstein HDs, but I need to do a bit more reading to narrow it down. Comments welcome...

That brings me to my question. As I educate myself on this, I've read that many folks also change out the sway bars while they are changing shocks. Seems the preferred are the C6Z51 bars since I don't plan to go with bigger tires for C6Z06 bars. I don't track the car or plan to. It's a fun road toy for me when the weather is nice. Will the beefier bars really make a noticeable difference after I put the new shocks on? Or would I be just as happy leaving them alone or only changing out the end links to get rid of the plastics ones (which I assume I have)? I don't mind spending the money on bars if they will make noticeable improvements. However, I'll pass if the gains are barely noticeable for public road driving (spirited of course...).

Bill Curlee

What suspension do you currently have now?? Base FE-1, Z-51????

YES,,, The shocks will make a very noticeable difference! With that many miles, you will ask your self, WOW, why didn't I do this sooner? YES SIR!
Depending on the sway bars you have now, Say, you have the base FE-1 and go to a bigger bar, YES, the improvement will be noticeable. HOWEVER,,,, When you install up-graded suspension parts, it best to do the whole package. The Z-51, ZO6 and the C6 Z-51, have better higher rate springs to balance out the ride. Not saying that you cant just add the bigger bars. Yes It will make a difference but it will not be as good as something with all the up-graded components.

I have an 02 ZO6. The car had 30,000 ish miles on it One day I took a high speed highway sweeping entrances ramp at good rate of speed. . It had a very uneven surface (from heavy truck traffic). The car almost left the road as it hopped side ways when it hit the bumps. I changed the shocks to C6Z06 shocks and I no longer have that issue.

The OEM C5 ZO6 shocks were weak and had a difficult time controlling the wheels on uneven surfaces where the road disturbed the tires contact patch. Any better shock will make a significant improvement in the way the car handles.

BC

craigp40

To be honest Bill, I'm not sure what specific suspension I have. I assume the base FE-1, but not certain. I know this is a noob question, but how can I tell?

Smoken1

Look at the glove box door it should have all the info on a sticker there... Do you have the switch on the center console? If you do have that 3 position switch that is the F45 suspension

craigp40

I will check the glove box when I get home. However no 3 position switch on the center console for me. Only switch I have is for traction control.

rock_man

Hello, I have a 2004 Z06. About 2 years ago I replaced very old original shocks with new OE C5Z06 shocks. About a month or so ago, I replaced the rear sway bar with C6Z06 rear sway bar. This made a dramatic difference in handling, both daily driving and at the limit. I am running stock C5Z06 tires sizes. The car is MUCH more responsive with the large rear sway bar. I've been warned about it. I do not mind it, because this responsiveness forces me to learn to be a better Corvette driver at the limit, since snap over steer is increased. A light right foot, walking into the throttle is necessary. My next upgrade would be to go with the C6Z06 shocks. I also had to replace all four sway bar end links, they were very worn out - noisy and sloppy. You will want to change them on your car as well. Get the GM / ACDelco OE sealed metal end links and enjoy your new handling Vette!

bobs77vet

I just went to the 04 z06 shocks and the c5 z06 sway bars with urethane bushings on my 04 vert.....its a huge difference.....especially with the sway bars...the car is absolutely flat in the corners....NO ROLL I mean ZERO.....the stiffer shocks make it firmer but not so much that its annoying.....I did the shocks first and was happy....but by far the biggest improvement was the huge *** sway bar up front and a bigger one in the back.....I think it actually made the shocks less stiff by transferring all movement to both sides....the sway bar swap is easy and fun.....compressing the stock shocks in the car is PITA . I kept my stock springs in place even though I have the z06 springs sitting on the work bench. I also noticed less wheel hop with the upgrade and I am running z06 wheels

some people do the c6 z51 shocks and the c5 z06 sway bars.....apparently only the c5 04 z06 shocks are worth getting and the others years are not as good. I like OEM parts

no doubt you will have the Holy **** why did I wait to do this moment......I did, it now feels like a corvette should

BigGun

The C5 Z06 sway bars front and rear will make a difference you can feel and can be had fro cheap if you look around. Do this first and you may decide to wait on the shocks.

craigp40

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. This has been extremely helpful! It seems unanimous - install the upgraded sway bars as well, which I will do. I've heard a few different things in this thread and in my research. Please let me know if I'm understanding correctly.

C6 Z06 Bars: To perform properly on my Vette I need to go with wider tires. True? If so, these are out. I want to keep my current wheels.
C6 Z51 Bars: Seem to be bolt on with my current configuration and a good upgrade to the base bars.
C5 Z06 Bars: Do these need wider wheels like the C6 Z06 bars? If not, how do they compare the C6 Z51 bars?

bobs77vet

the sway bars don't care about your tire size....it will improve the handling regardless of tires, shocks or springs., I suppose the rear c6 z06 sway bar may be too much with base c5 wheels. the sway bars stops the car from rolling. C5 Z06 sway bars front and back are a direct bolt in replacement.... I have both z06 wheels and base 5 spoke wheels the handling improvements are noticeable on both sets. look at the diameter of the sway bars that shows the stiffness. let me find those.

one of the c6 rear sway bars are not a direct bolt in replacement they need something else I am not sure what though

bobs77vet

what do I think the sweet spot is......the 04 zo6 shocks, or the c6 z51 shocks and then the c5 z06 sway bars.....its really irrelevant arguing about a 1mm difference in a front sway bar 30 vs 31 or a 1.4 mm difference in a rear sway bar 23.6 vs 25.


the zo6 rear bar of 28mm is really beefy and may not be what you want.

craigp40

Bob, I'm by no means an expert on this but if you go to roughly post 17 and beyond in the below link it will show why I'm asking that question. Maybe it's BS, but that's why I'm trying to educate myself on this.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...errerid=539732

bobs77vet

those posts are spot on with what i am try to convey ( perhaps poorly) especially with the C6 zo6 rear sway bar....look at the diameter of those its huge...my reasoning for doing the c5 '04 z06 shocks and sway bars is because some GM engineer decided those were the best for the c5 platform. I also bought the c5 z06 wheels and I swapped them with my base wheels every 6 months for fun. I do have the c5 z06 springs but I don't think I will be swapping those in I don't need a harsher ride. I can definitively tell you the c5 z06 sway bars 30mm Frt/23.6 rear are wonderful....the c6z51 are within 1mm frt and 1.4 rear of those ....now the c6 z06 is still with in 1mm in the front but goes to +4.4 in the rear. I agree with that big of a rear sway bar things will start to get squirrely unless every thing including tires/tire contact is matched to it.

so the sweet spot is 04 z06 or c6 z51 shocks ….. plus the c5 z06 sway bars or the c6 z51 sway bars. there is an article on this let me find it...you are thinking correctly....

bobs77vet

https://www.chevydiy.com/c5-corvette...rmance-part-3/

Clairvoyantwolf

Yes the handling balance of the car will move more towards oversteer as you add Z51 or Z06 parts, but that is not a problem, per se, that is the purpose of those suspension packages. The Corvette team assumes that a Corvette buyer getting a base suspension car doesn't really care that much about ultimate performance and dials more understeer into that suspension to make it "safer." They also assume that a buyer ticking the box for Z51 and especially Z06 knows what they are doing and wants the most capable car GM can build with just a touch of understeer for safety. This, of course, is a matter of degree. A base suspension corvette will understeer less than an econobox for obvious reasons. Really it's nothing you need to worry about. The car won't suddenly spin on you for no reason. Even in a spirited drive the corvette's limits are so high you won't really ever reach them...unless you're insane.

craigp40

Thanks for the further info guys. I think we're talking the same now. This has been very helpful. I have enough info to start shopping now. We'll see what kind of prices I can get...

bobs77vet

I paid $100 for used 04 z06 shocks, and $200 04 z06 springs with 16 k on them, and $200 shipped for both c5 sway bars. I have seen the shocks for c5 c6 go from 100 to 200 and sway bars from 75 to what I paid 200....

Gordy M

You will find the 04 Z06 shocks to be more aggressive than the C6 Z shocks in handling but for a daily driver, the extra cost is hard to justify. If you are into track events or autocrossing then it will make a small difference. The shocks/springs changes should be made at the same time to have a better handling and compliant suspension. For autocrossing most of the C5 Z06 drivers in AS run the 31-33mm bars and Koni adjustable shocks. The shocks are overkill for a street car but the 31mm front bar and a 23.8mm rear bar makes a big difference

bobs77vet

I had wondered how my 04 z06 shocks compared to the c6 z06 shocks....you are saying they are more aggressive.....so maybe they are slightly firmer? I do find them firm but not past the annoying range.