Ride control shocks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 255
Likes: 85
From: N.Y.
TB,
No doubt you are correct as far as Big money is concerned in the corp. world. I'm just a guy who always loved Vettes and the day came when I was able to buy the last of the collapsible head lamps which always turned me on even as a young man before the change to fixed lamps. It was and still is a personal thing for me. I could buy a new one tomorrow if I wished, but they don't excite me like the C5 and earlier ones do. Sure they are better and improved every year, but they just don't have the design look that pleases me. No rub against the newer owners because surely they like what They see and that's OK. A number of my friends have C6 and C7's which ride better, go faster and more bells and whistles, but for me, the eye appeal is not there. All being said, everyone has their own taste. I'll keep my O4 C5 as long as I can keep finding parts to keep it 100% as they day she was made. With 23,000 miles she's not going anywhere unless GM makes a design that lights me up like the older ones do. I'll just dig deeper in my pockets when I need those hard to get parts. Someone somewhere will have what I need when I need it. Geez! I guess I sound like some ambassador for C5. Not intentional, just personal.All the best
Daddy O
No doubt you are correct as far as Big money is concerned in the corp. world. I'm just a guy who always loved Vettes and the day came when I was able to buy the last of the collapsible head lamps which always turned me on even as a young man before the change to fixed lamps. It was and still is a personal thing for me. I could buy a new one tomorrow if I wished, but they don't excite me like the C5 and earlier ones do. Sure they are better and improved every year, but they just don't have the design look that pleases me. No rub against the newer owners because surely they like what They see and that's OK. A number of my friends have C6 and C7's which ride better, go faster and more bells and whistles, but for me, the eye appeal is not there. All being said, everyone has their own taste. I'll keep my O4 C5 as long as I can keep finding parts to keep it 100% as they day she was made. With 23,000 miles she's not going anywhere unless GM makes a design that lights me up like the older ones do. I'll just dig deeper in my pockets when I need those hard to get parts. Someone somewhere will have what I need when I need it. Geez! I guess I sound like some ambassador for C5. Not intentional, just personal.All the best
Daddy O
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
WELL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, If you dig a little deeper, you will find that there are NUMEROUS C5 parts that are NO LONGER AVAILABLE other than used... 97-2000 ETCM, 97-2000 Steering Wheel Position sensor, ZO6 Roof gutter trim, etc.... So, I cant say for sure but, one day the shocks will no longer be available, If they are already discontinued other than OEM on the shelf already sourced. They for much longer.never a high volume option and I ant see manufactures and GM keeping them in stock
Bill
Bill
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
Daddy O, I agree with 100% of your thoughts about the C5...well, except the "keeping it 100% as it was made" part 
Hope you continue to enjoy the car and smile every time you flick that headlight switch; I know I do!
Hope you continue to enjoy the car and smile every time you flick that headlight switch; I know I do!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 255
Likes: 85
From: N.Y.
Thanks Bill for your thoughts and info. Being a new bee on the forum any and all info from you guys are a wealth of knowledge to me. As I had stated, I never used the forum before since my car never had any major issues. Now her age is showing ( a little) and I find myself having to do more research and work on it. Not many miles for 14 years but just like us, time is not always good to us. Thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge and advise. This is a great group.
Daddy O
Daddy O
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 23
From: Golden CO
I went through this with my 03 C5 50th Anniversary, those shocks died, at about 40K just awful, leaking PLUS it was discovered, my car was one where the shipping pucks were never removed from the shocks, double duh on my par. But, it's so low I never got under it myself (lame excuse). Anyway I had them programmed out and put in standard shocks.
And that is my advice to you as well, just pull those out, have a shop program them out, and save about $1000 for a nice road trip on Route 66 (I loved it!) perhaps. If you ever sell it, the next owner gets all the parts and you did him a favor cause for sure by then replacements won't be around.
And $1600 for a set, wow, I did not dig deep enough, I never found them for even twice that much from a reputable source, And I found it difficult to find a shop to do the Tech II de-programming however here in Denver, finally used Corvette Specialties who did good WORK but I'd never deal with them again, salesman really sold me some sh*t shocks despite me requesting the C6 shocks. They leaked within a year, too.
And that is my advice to you as well, just pull those out, have a shop program them out, and save about $1000 for a nice road trip on Route 66 (I loved it!) perhaps. If you ever sell it, the next owner gets all the parts and you did him a favor cause for sure by then replacements won't be around.
And $1600 for a set, wow, I did not dig deep enough, I never found them for even twice that much from a reputable source, And I found it difficult to find a shop to do the Tech II de-programming however here in Denver, finally used Corvette Specialties who did good WORK but I'd never deal with them again, salesman really sold me some sh*t shocks despite me requesting the C6 shocks. They leaked within a year, too.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 255
Likes: 85
From: N.Y.
Thanks but I'll dig deep to keep her original. I did buy a full set from rock auto for $1400. Sure it hurt like hell, but I would always regret changing over and going another route. Just an as is guy not a switch and mix. Nothing wrong with that if that's what makes you smile. Some day someone will get a 100% stock C5 Lemans Edt. as long as I can get the parts. Of course the book on the car will be about the same price as the shocks 
by then! Thanks
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 694
From: Avon Lake OH
Just in case anyone still wants the OEM magnetic ride control shocks, they are still available at RockAuto for $373.79 each. You will need to buy three (3) ACDelco p/n's; two (2) front 5801058, and one each of the left rear 5801059 and right rear 5801060.
Last edited by JHrinsin; Feb 4, 2019 at 10:52 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 365
From: SF Bay Area
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
NOTHING is compatable with the F55 other than the GM OEM F-55 Shocks. If you install ANYTHING ELSE, you have to get rid of the F-55 RPO Code inside the BCM using the GM Tech2.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Nov 17, 2018 at 04:04 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 450
Likes: 94
From: Glendale Arizona
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 83
From: MN
For F45 suspension, you can get "simulators" that are just 10 ohm resistors and are available from many vendors. For F55 suspension, while I have no firsthand experience, I have read that resistors will not work and that you must deprogram it with a Tech 2. Good luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
For F45 suspension, you can get "simulators" that are just 10 ohm resistors and are available from many vendors. For F55 suspension, while I have no firsthand experience, I have read that resistors will not work and that you must deprogram it with a Tech 2. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 255
Likes: 85
From: N.Y.
Bill, I guess they can't read all your other posts on this subject! I had asked you once about the f55 a while back and understood your answer the first time. No options! In or out! Maybe they are looking for a miracle or grasping at straws�� I went the long $ and bought the GM shocks for $1400 at RA to keep the car "as made". Dig deep boys or scrap the system