looking to ad Coil over shocks to a 2000 C5.
Can the leaf spring's be removed & just run the coil over? Are there any other parts that are needed?
I notice there are different load ratings on the shocks, what would be the best option for a stock C5 that is driven on the street like a normal car?
What Brand is recommended & from what parts dealer?
Any advice is much appreciated.

 

Nice id be interested in this too if it provides better ride quality then the leaf spring setup. How many miles does it take for a coilover shock to go bad or leak and not hold any pressure?

 

I have the coil over shocks on my Silverado crew cab & there holding up well

 

Most shock manufacturers and resellers can tell what the recommended springs are for their shocks and you driving style.
These are expensive but considered one of the 3 best among racers. https://vorshlag-store.com/collectio...nt=43221700947

And there are several to choose from here, and Sam can give you great advice. http://www.stranoparts.com/searchbym...316&ModelID=11

 

Why would you want to go to a coil over setup for just normal street use?

 

Whats wrong with wanting a car to handle and ride decently? C8's have coilovers

 

There are much easier / less expensive ways to make a C5 handle well and ride decently. And everyone has their own idea about what is ideal for handling and ride quality.

Going to coil overs is re-engineering the suspension. It could be necessary to achieve certain performance requirements for racing, but it should not be necessary for street driving. There are always trade-offs that are made when designing a suspension system. Do you think you can engineer a coil over system better than GM engineered the C5 suspension? For racing applications, there are companies out there who have done the work to make the suspension actually work for racing (with a compromise of poor ride quality and shorter suspension life). For normal street use, I think you would spend a lot less money and end up with better results upgrading parts with OEM Z06 shocks and sway bars (and possibly leaf springs if you really need higher spring rates).

You probably would not like the harsh ride of a full on racing suspension. Therefore, you will be guessing at spring rates and shocks and roll bars trying to get a good balance between performance and a ride you can live with on the street.

Not trying to insult your ideas - just trying to help you make a good decision.

 

I don't race my C5, we drive it like a normal car, I'm looking for a better ride, not the track type of ride.
If I can buy the shocks @ Advanced Auto so be it.
What else needed to make the change? sway bars, control arms, or just remove the leaf springs & shocks, install the new coil over??
This is what I'm trying to find out..

 

Just to be perfectly clear, you are wanting a softer ride than the stock C5 suspension provides - is that correct? If so, going to coil overs is not the route you want to take. Coil over suspension "upgrades" are targeted at people who want stiffer rides in order to get better performance for racing or canyon carving. The stock transverse springs on your C5 are not that stiff. If want a softer / smoother ride, leave the springs alone and focus on just shocks and sway bars. If you can find standard shocks with a reduced damping rate, you will get a much smoother ride. Smaller diameter sway bars will also make the ride smoother.

When you buy coil over shocks, you are buying into a shock that is intentionally designed for higher damping. You can pick any springs you want if you really want a softer spring rate, but then your shocks are going to be over damped for the soft spring rate. The only way to avoid that would be to buy coil over shocks that have full adjustability for both compression and rebound damping. Those will be the most expensive shocks you can find.

For sway bars, you can also go the route of the Base C7 Stingray and just remove the rear sway bar. I went the opposite direction with my C7. The OEM ride was very smooth and soft. I added a rear sway bar and went to higher damping shocks. The ride is much, much firmer and going over the bump into my driveway - it is almost jarring. But I was after higher performance and this stiffer ride was the penalty paid to get that performance.

Keep in mind that by making the suspension softer, you are reducing the performance capability of the car. You are making a sports car into a touring car. I am not sure why anyone would want a Corvette when their main desire is a smooth ride. You can kind of get that with a newer Corvette that has Magnetic Ride Suspension, but then again, it is not going to ride like a Lexus.

 

Rik
what you say makes a lot of sense to me, I'll just buy a set of softer shocks & leave it alone, here in NJ our roads are some of the WORST in the country!!
I bought shocks for my HD $800 for 2 shocks, & a harsh bump is a harsh bump, expansion heave's; pot holes, sink holes, the kill ya if ya hit one, it's an obstackle course driving around here!!
Thanx for the info, you where very helpful..

 

I don't have to. You don't either. It's a matter of standing on the shoulders of others before us and applying that knowledge to what is presently needed

Prime example. Look at LG Racing. Ask Lou if he could engineer a better shock than stock ?
Nobody; including GM C5 engineers built from scratch. EVERYBODY uses Technology that already exists. That technology facilitates a purpose built change in a unique and different setup. That's all.
No body builds an all new anything from scratch anymore. Nobody could afford it. You use "standard rate" springs, shocks that were modeled years ago on platforms that were done to death over and over. No one's reinventing the wheel here. The same way H&R/KW builds coilovers for Porsche.
FWIW; Thanks for the suggestions but I've spent 40 years in automotive repair and my son is a Mechanical Engineer

 

If someone is looking for a racing setup, what you say is correct. But the OP is not looking for a racing setup, they are looking for a softer ride. You are not going to get experience from a racing shop on how to make the ride softer (and less performance oriented), so you will be on your own choosing spring rates and damper rates for that setup.

 

NObodoy mentinoned racing setup! Have nice day

 

You did - "LG Racing". Have nice day also!

 

No I mentioned a person who OWNS a company that supplies parts mainly to street cars. Oh wait, yes they do supply race parts. Maybe you should ask them why/how they build their shocks and engineer parts

 

If you are talking about LG Motorsports (not LG Racing), I have no need to talk to them. I bought my sway bars from them. They sell good products. Those products are all designed for improved racing performance. They have no parts available to make the Corvette ride smoother.

"At LG Motorsports our saying is: 'We Race - You Win' and that is why we built the product that we have here."

 

roadcaptain; Depending on your overall demands there are lots of companies building decent sets. Price will vary on quality and their abilities. You won't necessarily need other suspension parts but; if you enjoy a better handling car things like replacing sway bars and using poly bushings will make it handle to a higher potential.
Good Luck with your decisions.