[Z06] Installed new Z06 shocks and wish I would have put on DRM
08-09-2018, 03:13 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Installed new Z06 shocks and wish I would have put on DRM
So I picked up the C6 ZO6 with 60, 000 miles and I assumed the Cadillac ride was due to worn out shocks. I put brand new C6 ZO6 on and the ride feels exactly the same. it is very smooth and comfortable and soaks up bumps well but coming from a Cayman S, I miss the firm suspension. I really wish I would have got a set of DRM's
08-09-2018, 03:27 PM
#4
Team Owner
If anything,GM shocks are more harsh over bumps than the DRM's. Proper Z06 suspension is not known for "smooth and comfortable" normally, unless we're talking mag ride....which doesn't sound like your car has. What tires are you running?
Edit..posted tires while I was posting...no experience with Hankook, but they wouldn't be my choice of tire.
Edit..posted tires while I was posting...no experience with Hankook, but they wouldn't be my choice of tire.
Last edited by MTPZ06; 08-09-2018 at 03:28 PM.
08-09-2018, 03:37 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
08-09-2018, 03:42 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I may be just used to a firmer ride :-( I'll see if there is another local C6Z that can take me for a ride to see if it feels the same. Can't see why it wouldn't.
Last edited by 03Zcrit; 08-09-2018 at 03:42 PM.
08-09-2018, 03:48 PM
#8
Team Owner
You may be happier with coilovers. There's always stiffer springs like Hyperco or T1, but I'd be more inclined to go coilover at that point.
08-10-2018, 08:08 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jun 2005
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2018 C6 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10, '17
The fact that your car is "taking in the bumps" means it is properly maintaining mechanical grip, ie., keeping the tires in contact with the road - which is desirable. A "stiffer suspension" does not necessarily mean anything useful for a street car with limited downforce. The suspension is a system and the shock is only one part of it. The springs job is to keep the tires in contact with the road and control travel of the suspension (among other things). The shocks job is to control the rate at which this happens. If the shock is too stiff (over-damped) then the spring can't fully compress and you will skip the tires off the road (this is bad). If the shocks are too soft (under-damped) then the springs will oscillate and you will bounce the chassis. You want the spring to oscillate once over a bump and then stop, and the shock determines if this happens properly. The shock is usually the most important part of the sorcery that goes into the suspension, as the dampening ability ultimately controls what is happening. DRM Bilsteins simply do a better job of controlling the springs than the OEM shocks do, but this does not mean they are "stiffer" in all scenarios (nor should they be).
On my race car my suspension is super stiff, but that is because I have a giant wing that generates almost a full ton of downforce. Without very stiff independent springs and proper dampening of the shocks I would bottom out the suspension immediately. But there is a trade-off for this (decreased overall ride quality, reduced performance over bumps etc).
Other factors like larger sway bars (to mitigate body roll), solid bushings and mounts (stiffer is always better here for race cars where NVH are meaningless), alignment and tires also have a profound impact on how the car handles and reacts to changes in the road surface.
If you want your car to "handle better" (ie., more mechanical grip, reduce oscillations over bumps, keep rear planted and provide more feedback) as opposed to the arbitrary requirement of "stiffer" - then DRM Bilsteins are a worthy upgrade to the OEM shocks.
On my race car my suspension is super stiff, but that is because I have a giant wing that generates almost a full ton of downforce. Without very stiff independent springs and proper dampening of the shocks I would bottom out the suspension immediately. But there is a trade-off for this (decreased overall ride quality, reduced performance over bumps etc).
Other factors like larger sway bars (to mitigate body roll), solid bushings and mounts (stiffer is always better here for race cars where NVH are meaningless), alignment and tires also have a profound impact on how the car handles and reacts to changes in the road surface.
If you want your car to "handle better" (ie., more mechanical grip, reduce oscillations over bumps, keep rear planted and provide more feedback) as opposed to the arbitrary requirement of "stiffer" - then DRM Bilsteins are a worthy upgrade to the OEM shocks.
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08-10-2018, 08:50 AM
#13
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2006
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I too am running the DRM's.. Love em… Actually got mine from Mordeth (Anthony) w < 200 miles...
08-10-2018, 10:49 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Mordeth, thanks for the wonderful write up and education. I think you nailed it as my complaint is the travel that occurs in the rear while going over larger bumps in the road, not a pot hole. It feels like the dampening could be slightly improved.
08-11-2018, 07:02 AM
#17
So I picked up the C6 ZO6 with 60, 000 miles and I assumed the Cadillac ride was due to worn out shocks. I put brand new C6 ZO6 on and the ride feels exactly the same. it is very smooth and comfortable and soaks up bumps well but coming from a Cayman S, I miss the firm suspension. I really wish I would have got a set of DRM's
The European method for suspension seems to be firm shocks/stiff sways with soft springs. DRM shocks with stiffer sways may help you get that firm suspension you miss. Oh and skinnier tires, but that looks terrible on stock wheels
08-11-2018, 07:15 AM
#18
When talking suspension the 1 variable is wheel rate and there are 2 ways to get there. Wheel rate is the sum (cruedly) of the stiffness of your springs and sways.
Most cars go stiff spring soft sway and that gives you the hard sports car feel. Vettes do soft spring stiff sway so you have nice ride quality but when you take a turn she grabs.
Most cars go stiff spring soft sway and that gives you the hard sports car feel. Vettes do soft spring stiff sway so you have nice ride quality but when you take a turn she grabs.
Last edited by Apocolipse; 08-11-2018 at 07:17 AM.
08-11-2018, 10:52 AM
#19
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
When talking suspension the 1 variable is wheel rate and there are 2 ways to get there. Wheel rate is the sum (cruedly) of the stiffness of your springs and sways.
Most cars go stiff spring soft sway and that gives you the hard sports car feel. Vettes do soft spring stiff sway so you have nice ride quality but when you take a turn she grabs.
Most cars go stiff spring soft sway and that gives you the hard sports car feel. Vettes do soft spring stiff sway so you have nice ride quality but when you take a turn she grabs.
