between the stock base model shocks, z51 shocks, and the z06 shocks?

If replaced, do other items need to be replaced as well? Sway bars, etc?

 

Yikes! Here we go again.

 

i searched and did not find what i am looking for...wrong search terms maybe. If you can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it.

 

Valving and diameter.

The valving sets the rate the shock piston is permitted to move through the fluid inside the shock tube. For Z51 shocks, and even moreso for the Z06 shocks, the valving is more restrictive causing the movement of the piston for a given road input ("bump") to be less than the base shocks. This results in the ride being somewhat firmer, but this is not the result owners are seeking...less shock travel also adds damping input to the springs to resist and reduce body roll in cornering which is the desired result.

The more heavy duty the application, the more likely the shock is to be larger in diameter. This probably is done to (1) provide increased piston area to deal with the larger forces being resisted, and (2) to increase the volume of fluid in order to reduce fluid temperature during hard workouts (increased surface area to radiate heat, more fluid to heat up, yadda), but I am guessing on that. If you are not using the increased capacity of these firmer, larger diameter shocks, then you have possibly spent your hard earned cash to suffer a harsher ride for nothing.

Stabilizer bars are usually the cheapest mod that owners make to improve handling, so this is the first suspension mod that is done generally. Shocks are somewhat more expensive, but if you decide to change the shocks, then the stabilizer bars are the natural thing to do to add further improvement with little additional cost.

Heavy duty springs with increased spring rate are the other side to the triangle...they make the vehicle ride even firmer, but further improve handling. Those hungry for handling have done all three, but until you are sure you have need for all that handling improvement (auto-crossing, road course racing), I would start with the stabilizer bars.

As a current thread indicates, these changes will alter the vehicle handling from where it is now...better go slow until you get a handle on the changes and are accustomed to how the car reacts.

 

What suspension do you have, what don't you llike about it?

 

I have a set of Z51 shocks for sale!{about 600 miles on them}

 

when i replaced my 2007 base shocks with C6 Z06, other than part number differences, there were also physical differences, so its not all internal valving.

side by side, the Z06 shocks were about 3/4 inch shorter at full extension and were noticebly fatter in diameter than the base shocks.

i went with the whole suspension upgrade...shocks/sways/springs.

just the shocks will produce a better controlled car. i would at least do the bars and shocks

 

JmpnJckFlsh - thank you for the wonderful explaination!

MAJ Z06 - i have the base model of everything. Basically, I don't do any racing or anything of that nature, but i do however like to take the twisties whenever i can. I previously had an Audi TT3.2 and my husband had a C5 Z06. Both of the above cars were great in the twisties, very firm, I did not get the feeling like I might fly off the road. With the C6, i get a little more play and tend to take it a little slower in the twisties because of that.

Maybe all I need are different sway bars? Would that stiffen it up where I need it? I'm pretty dense with it comes to sway bars and shocks - but I'm learning!

 

You were probably a good candidate for the Z51 package (cheap@$1695), but if you didn't need the coolers brakes, or the tranny, upgrading your suspension is probably the ticket.

The bars are going to help, and it's a cheap place to start...try them and see. If you are used to the Audi and the Z06, you are probably already accustomed to sacrificing fluffy ride for handling, and may want more than the bars.

You can always upgrade to the complete Z51 suspension with F1 super tires, but the total package with installation labor will be expensive. Unless your husband or yourself can do the work, I would use a sharp pencil to compare the changes you think you need to simply trading for a Z51. At some point, maybe after heavy duty shocks, or adding Z51 springs (the last step), you will also need sticky tires to take full advantage of those improvements.

Maybe you can get a break on the Z51 parts from a CF member that's upgrading to the complete Z06 suspension...that would help.

 

Do the sway bars. That'll make a noticeable difference, flattening the car during cornering. If you want shocks too, avoid the OEM Sachs and go with a set of Bilsteins. They offer better rebound control than the Sachs while at the same time not sacrificing as much ride comfort. I went with the Bilstein HD shocks rather than their sport shock because with the base spring rate the sport would overdamp the suspension.

And consider stickier tires. You can make all the suspension changes you want, but unless the tires can stick, ultimate performance will still be limited. BFG KDW tires are a favorite, offering good stick at a good price. Michelins are a bit better, but markedly more expensive. If you want to stay with runflats, then the Goodyear supercars are your alternative. Realize, though, that tire life will be much shorter than your GS2s. Wet and cold performance will suffer too. I stayed with GS2s since my car is a daily driver and I don't want to be buying tires every 6 months.