Suspension and performance Questions!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Conroe TX
Suspension and performance Questions!!
Okay, I just got my C6 and unfortunately it didn't have Z51 package. I got such a great deal though that I couldn't pass it up. Now I have an excuse to mod!! So do I go with the Z51 stuff or Z06? I drive the car quite often and like to get pretty serious on my local winding roads but I like the smoothness the car has now and don't want to disrupt that much. What is the verdict between the two?
Next, as far as some simple performance mods go, what's the best? Air intakes, exhaust,etc.??? I have an A4 and she needs somemore get up down low. Anything helps!!
Next, as far as some simple performance mods go, what's the best? Air intakes, exhaust,etc.??? I have an A4 and she needs somemore get up down low. Anything helps!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA
Originally Posted by ToSlowForU
Okay, I just got my C6 and unfortunately it didn't have Z51 package. I got such a great deal though that I couldn't pass it up. Now I have an excuse to mod!! So do I go with the Z51 stuff or Z06? I drive the car quite often and like to get pretty serious on my local winding roads but I like the smoothness the car has now and don't want to disrupt that much. What is the verdict between the two?
Next, as far as some simple performance mods go, what's the best? Air intakes, exhaust,etc.??? I have an A4 and she needs somemore get up down low. Anything helps!!
Next, as far as some simple performance mods go, what's the best? Air intakes, exhaust,etc.??? I have an A4 and she needs somemore get up down low. Anything helps!!
The best thing that you can do for get up and go is to add a higher stall torque converter, since you have the auto. That will give you the biggest seat of the pants difference for the least amount of money.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I bought a 2001 C5 with base suspension, and just adding Bilstein Sport shocks made a huge difference. I really liked them a lot. You need to contact them to see if they have shocks for the C6 yet.
I can only make general comments about your question. as I have not tried either (I have owned both a C6 with Z51, and now a C6 with F55, though). Starting with the base suspension, the Z06 components may be going too far (assuming you would be sticking with the stock springs). I would add Z51 shocks and sway bars. This is reasonably inexpensive, and will probably give you what you are looking for.
I can only make general comments about your question. as I have not tried either (I have owned both a C6 with Z51, and now a C6 with F55, though). Starting with the base suspension, the Z06 components may be going too far (assuming you would be sticking with the stock springs). I would add Z51 shocks and sway bars. This is reasonably inexpensive, and will probably give you what you are looking for.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,438
Likes: 919
From: CONCORD NC
The Z06 is lighter, and therefor the springs/bars are designed for a lighter car. The Z51 parts will offer a more predictable package (until someone measures the Z06 parts for comparison), but go with a more aggressive alignment. The new Z06 allows up to -1.6 deg front and -1.5 deg rear camber, and that will help handling more than any mods you can do.
Dave
Dave
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 75
From: Western MI
I read alot of posts like this and don't understand why people throw money in the Z51 direction. If it is a track car, alright, I get it. But for street use, what is it about the base setup that you don't like? My base C6 is solid as a rock, drives like it is on rails and stops like nothing else. Are these upgrades really worth the cost on a street driven car?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by vettnutt
I read alot of posts like this and don't understand why people throw money in the Z51 direction. If it is a track car, alright, I get it. But for street use, what is it about the base setup that you don't like? My base C6 is solid as a rock, drives like it is on rails and stops like nothing else. Are these upgrades really worth the cost on a street driven car?
I like a car with a compliant suspension for daily driving. The full Z51 suspension jolts too much to suit me (on the roads I drive, the way I drive). But I also like a car that corners flatter than the base suspension allows our cars to do. Adding the Z51 sways gives me just the combination I want, for a tenth of the cost of the full Z51 package.
Last edited by shopdog; Nov 26, 2005 at 03:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Conroe TX
Originally Posted by shopdog
Depends on how you drive and what the roads are like in your area. On the rough roads I often travel, I don't want the stiffer springs and shocks of the Z51 package. However, the Z51 sways do make a positive difference by reducing body roll when cornering. So I added them to my base suspension car.
I like a car with a compliant suspension for daily driving. The full Z51 suspension jolts too much to suit me (on the roads I drive, the way I drive). But I also like a car that corners flatter than the base suspension allows our cars to do. Adding the Z51 sways gives me just the combination I want, for a tenth of the cost of the full Z51 package.
I like a car with a compliant suspension for daily driving. The full Z51 suspension jolts too much to suit me (on the roads I drive, the way I drive). But I also like a car that corners flatter than the base suspension allows our cars to do. Adding the Z51 sways gives me just the combination I want, for a tenth of the cost of the full Z51 package.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Originally Posted by shopdog
I like a car with a compliant suspension for daily driving. The full Z51 suspension jolts too much to suit me (on the roads I drive, the way I drive). But I also like a car that corners flatter than the base suspension allows our cars to do. Adding the Z51 sways gives me just the combination I want, for a tenth of the cost of the full Z51 package.
How would you compare the Z06 sways with the Z51?
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Conroe TX
This was also my thought. I am going to order my sway bars today and I am just trying to get it right the first time. Jeff @MTI says the Z06's should be a better choice only because you are getting a bigger bar. I am leaning that direction unless I hear otherwise here.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 29
From: Berryville Virginia
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
Originally Posted by vettnutt
I read alot of posts like this and don't understand why people throw money in the Z51 direction. If it is a track car, alright, I get it. But for street use, what is it about the base setup that you don't like? My base C6 is solid as a rock, drives like it is on rails and stops like nothing else. Are these upgrades really worth the cost on a street driven car?
If you are just looking for a cruiser and those things are not important to you then it is not for you.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by ToSlowForU
This was also my thought. I am going to order my sway bars today and I am just trying to get it right the first time. Jeff @MTI says the Z06's should be a better choice only because you are getting a bigger bar. I am leaning that direction unless I hear otherwise here.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Conroe TX
Originally Posted by shopdog
I think the Z06 rear bar is too much when used with the base suspension. If you go with too large a rear bar, the car will skate around like a live axle car. Too thin a bar, like the base bar, and the car wallows. I think the Z51 bar is a better choice than either of the others.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by vettnutt
I read alot of posts like this and don't understand why people throw money in the Z51 direction. If it is a track car, alright, I get it. But for street use, what is it about the base setup that you don't like? My base C6 is solid as a rock, drives like it is on rails and stops like nothing else. Are these upgrades really worth the cost on a street driven car?
Handling is subjective, but again IMHO, the stiffer suspension and stickier tires do make a difference when a clear on or off ramp presents itself and the closer ratio gears make it easier to keep the engine in the sweet spot above 3,000 RPM. That said, if I were buying the car with an auto trans, I'd either go base or F55 in the suspension department, probably F55 if the roads where I lived weren't in the best shape. You never said whether your C6 had an auto or manual tranny. Doesn't really matter, as long as you're happy with and enjoy your car. If so, then you made the right choice.