Time for new shocks?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 165
Likes: 14
From: Humble Texas
Time for new shocks?
I have a 2007 Corvette coupe / base with 28,000 miles. I purchased the car two years ago. I have changed all fluids (transmission, differential, power steering, antifreeze, oil, etc.) but have not touched the shocks. Car is not daily
driven.
I suspect shocks are original to car. Do shocks wear out / sit lower over time (12-13 years) or is strictly mileage?
Car rides goods, seems to sit just fine. Just wanting to see opinions regarding changing shocks.
SUP
driven.
I suspect shocks are original to car. Do shocks wear out / sit lower over time (12-13 years) or is strictly mileage?
Car rides goods, seems to sit just fine. Just wanting to see opinions regarding changing shocks.
SUP
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You should be OK, but your getting close. My OEM shocks lasted a little over 30,000 miles...as have every other brand I've tried.
Maybe lowering my car puts undue stress on them? IDK.
Maybe lowering my car puts undue stress on them? IDK.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 745
Likes: 192
From: Olympia WA
St. Jude Donor '16-'17, '19
I'm in the same quandary... my '07 only has 30K on the clock.. has the FE3 Suspension System Sport... for the most part "seems" to be OK... but with the number of years... considering replacement shock options. Seem like a lot of owners have a preference for the Bilstein HD direct-replacement. So interested in what gets posted (replies).
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,377
Likes: 6,523
From: Melbourne, FL
Hope. Testing shocks is easy, push down firmly on a corner of the car. When you release, if it goes back to normal, they're fine. If it bounces back and forth a few times before settling, they're shot.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 115
Yes. Technically, the nitrogen pressure inside the shock will contribute *some* lifting force. But as you pointed out the effect is very small. The lifting force is probably in the neighborhood of 40 pounds - on suspension that carries 800-900 pounds at each wheel.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
And...unless they are subjected to external fluids that could cause damage (saltwater, etc.), they do not "age", unless a car sat in a barn for 20 years, and was never moved. I cannot see a reason for replacing shocks on a daily driver until at least 50K. I know that is too long for a lot of people. And, some folks think shocks are the same as struts, and they aren't.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,377
Likes: 6,523
From: Melbourne, FL
And...unless they are subjected to external fluids that could cause damage (saltwater, etc.), they do not "age", unless a car sat in a barn for 20 years, and was never moved. I cannot see a reason for replacing shocks on a daily driver until at least 50K. I know that is too long for a lot of people. And, some folks think shocks are the same as struts, and they aren't.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 909
Likes: 452
From: North Dakota
2012 here...just went over 20k miles last fall. I'm putting these on to stiffen up things a bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
My '01 Silverado 4x had the fac. shocks until about 150K. Compared to the ones we had on the 60's and 70's cars, shocks have come a long, long way.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 57
From: San Jose CA
Z51 with 140K. Just replaced with GM Z06 shocks. Originals were prolly going for awhile (slow process), but eventually any bumps/seams/holes felt really "crunchy". Never did "bounce". Vastly better with the new shocks. While stiff the jarring/crunch is much better managed.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
On the base model, you can go a lot longer before you will feel the difference in the corners as the shocks start to give up the Ghost. Its not that the base model shock suck, it just that car has a softer suspension, so just harder to tell as the shocks do start to go softer in dampening instead.
On a Z51 (car built for autocross from the factory), you can start to feel the shocks give on the ghost in hard corners around the 30K marks (as you lap times increase as well)..
On a Z51 (car built for autocross from the factory), you can start to feel the shocks give on the ghost in hard corners around the 30K marks (as you lap times increase as well)..
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 377
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I would say that on Corvettes that usually lead a pretty pampered life unless they are used as DD I would go with 75-100K miles. Shocks dampen the motion of the springs so the biggest indications of needing new shocks are excessive bouncing when going over swells or dips at highway speeds (3 bounces or more) or excessive harsh roughness when hitting potholes in town. Shocks go so slow and gradual it is hard to tell when they need replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,377
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From: Melbourne, FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
some of us replace the OEM shocks with Bilstein B6. Not essential but nice. If you're OEM shocks aren't leaking they're likely fine. You might like the ride from B6.
Recommend that you raise the air pressure to 32LB with new B6.
Recommend that you raise the air pressure to 32LB with new B6.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 325
From: Houston TX
I replaced the shocks on my DD 07 (Z51) at around 70k miles with the DRM Bilsteins. I'm now at 155k and I think the OEM shocks felt better at the end of their life than the BIlsteins do now. I'm gonna try the Koni Special Actives (replaced FSD model) next.