Shock recommendations?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: Wytheville Virginia
Shock recommendations?
02 base coupe upgraded C6 z51 sway bars stock height , I mostly do highway driving, but love to go back ways and mountain roads, my vette is not a daily driver, I want some good shocks for better handling and spirited driving , but I still want good drivability not to harsh, was thinking about C6 z06 or Bilstein HDs I’m not sure on the sports, I want some good shocks and wouldn’t mind on spending a little extra, to get better improvement over the sloppy base shocks, my car has 40k on the clock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
02 base coupe upgraded C6 z51 sway bars stock height , I mostly do highway driving, but love to go back ways and mountain roads, my vette is not a daily driver, I want some good shocks for better handling and spirited driving , but I still want good drivability not to harsh, was thinking about C6 z06 or Bilstein HDs I’m not sure on the sports, I want some good shocks and wouldn’t mind on spending a little extra, to get better improvement over the sloppy base shocks, my car has 40k on the clock.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
BWILL03Z,
That's what I've heard as well. I went with the Bilstein Sports because I track my car as well as daily drive it. It's an 03Z with poly bushings. Kind of rough, but I like it responsive. If I didn't do track days, I'd probably would try the Bilstein HDs. I've got the HDs on just about everything else I own.
Spaggs
That's what I've heard as well. I went with the Bilstein Sports because I track my car as well as daily drive it. It's an 03Z with poly bushings. Kind of rough, but I like it responsive. If I didn't do track days, I'd probably would try the Bilstein HDs. I've got the HDs on just about everything else I own.
Spaggs
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
BWILL03Z,
That's what I've heard as well. I went with the Bilstein Sports because I track my car as well as daily drive it. It's an 03Z with poly bushings. Kind of rough, but I like it responsive. If I didn't do track days, I'd probably would try the Bilstein HDs. I've got the HDs on just about everything else I own.
Spaggs
That's what I've heard as well. I went with the Bilstein Sports because I track my car as well as daily drive it. It's an 03Z with poly bushings. Kind of rough, but I like it responsive. If I didn't do track days, I'd probably would try the Bilstein HDs. I've got the HDs on just about everything else I own.
Spaggs
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: Wytheville Virginia
I had Bilstein sports and now c6 z06 shocks. I really like both but for performance the Bilsteins def have the advantage. They were a bit stiff for me so that’s why I got the C6Z shocks and they. I had the Bilstein HD’s on my ws6 trans am and they were a nice upgrade over stock. Did the c6z sway bars make a big difference? That is my next purchase.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
You will find the C6Z shocks will work very well on a base coupe wit the C6Z51 sways. It will be soft enough for rough roads, stiff enough for the twisties and compliant enough for daily driving.
For bwill03z going from C5Z sways to C6 Z sways will not be of any advantage, the C6A rear sway bar is too bid for the stock wheels/tires setup. The C6Z shocks are so highly suggested because they are very reasonably priced compared to the Bilstein, Sachs. Koni, Johnny C and 04Z shocks.
For bwill03z going from C5Z sways to C6 Z sways will not be of any advantage, the C6A rear sway bar is too bid for the stock wheels/tires setup. The C6Z shocks are so highly suggested because they are very reasonably priced compared to the Bilstein, Sachs. Koni, Johnny C and 04Z shocks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
How stiff was the sports? And how did it affect drivability, I want to still have good drivability but a good performer in the twisties, are the sports worth $150 more over a set of c6z shocks? And the C6 z51 sways feel a bit better over stock, want good shocks with stiffness to clean up the sloppiness over base.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: Wytheville Virginia
You will find the C6Z shocks will work very well on a base coupe wit the C6Z51 sways. It will be soft enough for rough roads, stiff enough for the twisties and compliant enough for daily driving.
For bwill03z going from C5Z sways to C6 Z sways will not be of any advantage, the C6A rear sway bar is too bid for the stock wheels/tires setup. The C6Z shocks are so highly suggested because they are very reasonably priced compared to the Bilstein, Sachs. Koni, Johnny C and 04Z shocks.
For bwill03z going from C5Z sways to C6 Z sways will not be of any advantage, the C6A rear sway bar is too bid for the stock wheels/tires setup. The C6Z shocks are so highly suggested because they are very reasonably priced compared to the Bilstein, Sachs. Koni, Johnny C and 04Z shocks.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 25
From: If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. South West Florida / Livin' The Dream
St. Jude Donor '12
Bilstein sports here. Great improvement in handling, over stock, and they feel like the car is stuck to the road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,470
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From: East Windsor NJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Well, yes and no lol. Just put 13’ shocks on mine and the rears bolt right up but the fronts require either trimming the bushing that comes with the new shocks so that you can reuse the factory bushing on top OR you can buy the c6 top bushing that fits but for some reason doesn’t come with the shocks :/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 987
Likes: 224
From: Motor City, MI
So many good reviews on the C6Z shocks not sure how you go wrong. And only $250 or so. I went with C6 base shocks since roads in SE Michigan are garbage. They were a huge improvement over the C5 base shocks (they were also 15 years old and 60k miles).
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 8
From: Dallas Tx
My 2004 C5 still has the original shocks. Probably time to change them...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 987
Likes: 224
From: Motor City, MI
https://www.cultragfactoryparts.com/