Most comfortable shocks
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Most comfortable shocks
New member and first time Corvette owner. Have an stock 2006 and I am going to replace all 4 shocks. Will not be racing or doing anything performance wise. Just want the most smooth and comfortable ride possible. Not sure if there is an airbag shock option. Going to drive it daily. Thank you in advance.
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
New member and first time Corvette owner. Have an stock 2006 and I am going to replace all 4 shocks. Will not be racing or doing anything performance wise. Just want the most smooth and comfortable ride possible. Not sure if there is an airbag shock option. Going to drive it daily. Thank you in advance.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 324
From: Florida
Comfortable ride and Corvette in the same sentence is an oxymoron! 
If it's a base model with stock shocks under 40K miles, I think that's as comfortable as its going to get. Plus if you still have run flat tires, they can be very harsh riding, especially over bad roads with pot holes, etc.
If it's a base model with stock shocks under 40K miles, I think that's as comfortable as its going to get. Plus if you still have run flat tires, they can be very harsh riding, especially over bad roads with pot holes, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
So something like a DB9 may be a more smoother road car that handles like a dream when pushed, but it comes with a hefty price tag for a suspension that pulls that off isntead. When the DB was set up as a full time track car (DB9R), the ride in that car on the streets is brutal instead.
So what you should have done if you where looking for a smooth riding car with some handing and power your not going to use much instead, more that enough American saloons on the market that would have done such much better then the vet isntead.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,669
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
New member and first time Corvette owner. Have an stock 2006 and I am going to replace all 4 shocks. Will not be racing or doing anything performance wise. Just want the most smooth and comfortable ride possible. Not sure if there is an airbag shock option. Going to drive it daily. Thank you in advance.
For Christmas I drove down from Kentucky to south Louisiana. We have some of the worst roads in the country in Louisiana with most major highways not being repaved but once every 30 years if we are lucky (thankfully we don't get potholes like in snowy areas of the country). I had put a new set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports on my 2011 Grand sport about a month before. Considering how bad the roads were in Louisiana, the car rode quite comfortably.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Doubt if there's an airbag shock system made for your car. Suggestion I'd make is to replace with stock, non-Z51 suspension shocks and as mentioned above, get new tires. Of course, it depends on how old your tires are, but the longer they are on the car (after actual production date code on sidewall), the harder they get. The harder the tires get, the harder your ride gets. So, regardless of miles on the tires, take a look at the sidewall and see when they were made. (here's a website that explains where to look: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...190101213240:s)
Finally, if you are looking for more comfortable tires, I would talk with Luke (Pavlich, phone ext. 4362) at TireRack about which tire will suit you best. And, yes, there is a difference in tires and their ride comfort in the Corvette.
Finally, if you are looking for more comfortable tires, I would talk with Luke (Pavlich, phone ext. 4362) at TireRack about which tire will suit you best. And, yes, there is a difference in tires and their ride comfort in the Corvette.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,669
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Comfortable ride and Corvette in the same sentence is an oxymoron! If it's a base model with stock shocks under 40K miles, I think that's as comfortable as its going to get. Plus if you still have run flat tires, they can be very harsh riding, especially over bad roads with pot holes, etc.
If it's a base model with stock shocks under 40K miles, I think that's as comfortable as its going to get. Plus if you still have run flat tires, they can be very harsh riding, especially over bad roads with pot holes, etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I had a C5 Z06 and now a C6 GS and consider them to have a very nice comfortable ride. I have ridden my boss's Porche Boxter and while it handles extremely nicely, the ride is rough and jars your teeth on every bump. Sure, a Corvette won't have a floaty ride like a Buick Roadmaster but for what it is, they ride very comfortably.
OP go ride in a C2 or C3 for an afternoon.......you'll never complain about the C6s ride again.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
The stock shocks with non run flat tires will be as good as it gets for comfort.
personelly though better shocks can be had for better handling at not much deterioration in ride.
I love my Koni FSD’s but understand they will lower the car 1/4-1/2 inch.
the base stock shocks are to gift for pushing the car but if you are a cruiser anyway this would be the best but with non RF tires.
personelly though better shocks can be had for better handling at not much deterioration in ride.
I love my Koni FSD’s but understand they will lower the car 1/4-1/2 inch.
the base stock shocks are to gift for pushing the car but if you are a cruiser anyway this would be the best but with non RF tires.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 230
From: Livingston County, Michigan
A couple of questions - OP, is your car a base level car, mag shocks, or Z51?
Second question, is it lowered?
I would concur with a previous reply that the OEM base shocks are pretty good from a comfort viewpoint and the Koni FSD are also very good.
I would also agree with previous posts that the run flat tires are “harsher” than non run flat alternatives, because of increased sidewall stiffness. Even amongst run flats, both Bridgestone and Michelin offer products with a better ride quality than the OEM tires. I have had both on my Z06.
Don’t have the car lowered. Because on severe bumps or wheel motions the shock may bottom on the bump stop which results in an abrupt harsh input.
Second question, is it lowered?
I would concur with a previous reply that the OEM base shocks are pretty good from a comfort viewpoint and the Koni FSD are also very good.
I would also agree with previous posts that the run flat tires are “harsher” than non run flat alternatives, because of increased sidewall stiffness. Even amongst run flats, both Bridgestone and Michelin offer products with a better ride quality than the OEM tires. I have had both on my Z06.
Don’t have the car lowered. Because on severe bumps or wheel motions the shock may bottom on the bump stop which results in an abrupt harsh input.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
I had a C5 Z06 and now a C6 GS and consider them to have a very nice comfortable ride. I have ridden my boss's Porche Boxter and while it handles extremely nicely, the ride is rough and jars your teeth on every bump. Sure, a Corvette won't have a floaty ride like a Buick Roadmaster but for what it is, they ride very comfortably.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 324
From: Florida
I had a C5 Z06 and now a C6 GS and consider them to have a very nice comfortable ride. I have ridden my boss's Porche Boxter and while it handles extremely nicely, the ride is rough and jars your teeth on every bump. Sure, a Corvette won't have a floaty ride like a Buick Roadmaster but for what it is, they ride very comfortably.
I think the OP didn't take the time to drive and decide if this car was the right choice for a daily driver and now has buyers remorse, and wants to modify it into something it wasn't meant to be.
This is all conjecture about his ride experience, because we don't know how many miles are on the car, condition of the shocks and tires, or if it's been lowered.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
If you have a base suspension go with the Bilstein HD B6 shocks (not "sport" B8) . Run the tires at 32 lb cold.
You'll find the car handles better and rides better. Lighter shocks and lower air makes the car wallow and actually makes the ride worse,even though this doesn't make sense.
You'll find the car handles better and rides better. Lighter shocks and lower air makes the car wallow and actually makes the ride worse,even though this doesn't make sense.