Thinking about bilstein or Z06 shocks....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land TX
Thinking about bilstein or Z06 shocks....
I'm contemplating getting Bilstien or ZO6 shocks.
Can anyone who have them already let me know how they affect handling and ride stiffness? Curretly have a Z51 C6
Also what was the total cost of this upgrade for you?
Thanks,
Jeff
Can anyone who have them already let me know how they affect handling and ride stiffness? Curretly have a Z51 C6
Also what was the total cost of this upgrade for you?
Thanks,
Jeff
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 4
From: Crete IL
I put the C6 Z06 shocks on my stock Z51. The handling improved a little. Overall control improved a little. Overall there is less of a soft feel and more of a controlled feel. The ride did not deteriorate much at all. Only noticable on bad roads. This is how the Z51 should have been tuned from the factory. I paid about $200 total for all four shocks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
I just put the LPE Konis on my car. Big difference!!! The car launchs much better now. It transtions from spin to hook with no hop in First gear on F1 Runflats. The ride is more supple than stock but is firmer and provides more control. Cornering has improved and so had traction coming out of corners.
These shocks come preset for the C6 from Lingenfelter. I went with the settings they came siwht but they are 3 way adjustable for both compression and rebound. On the Koni website are god instruction for tuningg the shock for autocrossing and roadracing.
Great shocks and a good price compared to Penske or comparable shocks
I had mine installed at 21st Century Musclecars in Carrolton Texas and authorized Lingenfelter installer.
Note: Marks left by the OEM shocks that had already began to leak.
These shocks come preset for the C6 from Lingenfelter. I went with the settings they came siwht but they are 3 way adjustable for both compression and rebound. On the Koni website are god instruction for tuningg the shock for autocrossing and roadracing.
Great shocks and a good price compared to Penske or comparable shocks
I had mine installed at 21st Century Musclecars in Carrolton Texas and authorized Lingenfelter installer.
Note: Marks left by the OEM shocks that had already began to leak.
Last edited by midnite902; Apr 12, 2006 at 04:19 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,769
Likes: 0
From: SFV CA
Midnite, those Konis look baddass!!! Sorry for the noob question, will adding the Konis affect my current (lowered) ride height? How long to install?? I'm been debating Bilstein or Koni, I have Bilstein Sports on my other cars and yet no experience with Konis...thanks for sharing the info!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
Also, Midnite, can you tell us how easy / difficult it is to adjust rebound / compression. I read access was not ideal due to how the shocks mount on the C5/C6. Thanks
TommyV: Yes, Sports are the stiffer of the two. Also, the 04' C5 Z06 shocks and the C6 Z51 shock are essentially identical in valving and are the "improved and Nurburgring tuned" Sachs shock. Pre-2004 Z06 shocks are sloppy and no good. The '04+ stuff is better especially because they tightened up rebound, but the Bilsteins are still better. Bilstein is the master of good damper control in a reasonably priced shock.
TommyV: Yes, Sports are the stiffer of the two. Also, the 04' C5 Z06 shocks and the C6 Z51 shock are essentially identical in valving and are the "improved and Nurburgring tuned" Sachs shock. Pre-2004 Z06 shocks are sloppy and no good. The '04+ stuff is better especially because they tightened up rebound, but the Bilsteins are still better. Bilstein is the master of good damper control in a reasonably priced shock.
Last edited by TTRotary; Apr 13, 2006 at 02:46 PM.
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Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
Originally Posted by TTRotary
Also, the 04' C5 Z06 shocks and the C6 Z51 shock are essentially identical in valving and are the "improved and Nurburgring tuned" Sachs shock.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Z51 here with bilstein sports. Its a rough ride at times. I got the stiffer ones to get rid of wheel hop but it didnt help much. I would go for the HD's instead.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Originally Posted by Brabus2
Midnite, those Konis look baddass!!! Sorry for the noob question, will adding the Konis affect my current (lowered) ride height? How long to install?? I'm been debating Bilstein or Koni, I have Bilstein Sports on my other cars and yet no experience with Konis...thanks for sharing the info!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Originally Posted by TTRotary
Also, Midnite, can you tell us how easy / difficult it is to adjust rebound / compression. I read access was not ideal due to how the shocks mount on the C5/C6. Thanks
TommyV: Yes, Sports are the stiffer of the two. Also, the 04' C5 Z06 shocks and the C6 Z51 shock are essentially identical in valving and are the "improved and Nurburgring tuned" Sachs shock. Pre-2004 Z06 shocks are sloppy and no good. The '04+ stuff is better especially because they tightened up rebound, but the Bilsteins are still better. Bilstein is the master of good damper control in a reasonably priced shock.
TommyV: Yes, Sports are the stiffer of the two. Also, the 04' C5 Z06 shocks and the C6 Z51 shock are essentially identical in valving and are the "improved and Nurburgring tuned" Sachs shock. Pre-2004 Z06 shocks are sloppy and no good. The '04+ stuff is better especially because they tightened up rebound, but the Bilsteins are still better. Bilstein is the master of good damper control in a reasonably priced shock.
The come with the LPE setup for the C6 and I didn't need to adjust.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by fstcrr54321
I'm contemplating getting Bilstien or ZO6 shocks.
Can anyone who have them already let me know how they affect handling and ride stiffness? Curretly have a Z51 C6
Also what was the total cost of this upgrade for you?
Thanks,
Jeff
Can anyone who have them already let me know how they affect handling and ride stiffness? Curretly have a Z51 C6
Also what was the total cost of this upgrade for you?
Thanks,
Jeff
I chose Z06 shocks instead of Bilsteins or Konis because they are specifically engineered for that chassis and I didn't want to change the front/rear balance. There were no changes to the sway bars or springs. A highly recommended mod for a daily driver, driven by an enthusiast. They take a few hundred miles to "break in" and a side benefit is much reduced front end bottoming. These are the shocks GM should have put on the Z51 in the first place.
Last edited by AraiGP4; Apr 18, 2006 at 07:05 AM.
