hey guys wanted to start a new thread already posted some stuff looking for swaybar help, now its down to shock selection. Read a ton of posts, general concensus is everyone is very happy with the JOC sways so that's where I am going on the sway bar setups.

Car is base coupe with ECS supercharger. I am planning on putting in Z51 front spring to help with the nose dive in braking especially after installing the new sways(this has been recommended by several forum members. I will be also upgrading to Michelin PS once I have the suspension work complete so I can align properly.

I was planning on doing the full JOC sways and shocks and reading a lot of post there are other options I need to consider

Here are some comments I have read

JOC-"just re-valved stock shocks, much better out there", "they work great vast improvement", "back end still dances in bumpy turns could use faster rebound"

FSD- "great shock", "too harsh of a ride" etc.

DRM "best shock besides going to coilovers" "too harsh of a ride", "took them out went back to F55", keeps rear planted"

I am looking to reduce some of the back end hoping out in bumpy turns especially with a high HP car it gets dicey quick. I know to get the quicker rebound it will be firmer and the ride will suffer somewhat, I typically drive back roads that are in pretty good shape no chop. Car is not a DD maybe a 30-100 mile per week unless I go to mountains once in a while. DRM's for the money seem to be a very good choice.

 

Viking

 

I tried looking around for the u got a link?

 

I had DRMs on my Z for a while back in the day...and it was a pleasure to drive around on the streets of Charlotte.

 

http://vi-king.com/

I know of 4 people now who switched from DRM to Viking, and they all love them. Huge upgrade. I switched and would never go back.

 

SO where to buy and approx. cost? Also see that there is a bunch of different versions SP DH, DT, PT.

Not looking for coil overs at least not yet. Also planning on adding meth and smaller pulley in the near furture so 650 +RWHP and I do have a set of MT ET streets. Trying to maybe be able to dual purpose with around town roll race killer and then a carver for the moutains.

 

~$650ish I think for a full set of aluminum double adjustable. They are great because you can have caddy smooth, then race hard. Drag settings, road course settings, auto-x settings. Takes <2 minutes to adjust them all. Just turn the ***** that are easy to get to.

 

I started with an 07 base model and changed out the sway bars to z51 first. Then shortly after, I switched the base shocks to Koni FSDs. I found the Koni FSDs to be a better/softer ride than the base shocks over the bumps. They are non-pressurized valved dampers. I can't agree with the hash ride comment based on my results.

Fast forward 5 years, after 2 sets of Firestone WO Tires, I switched to Bridgestone Potenza S04 non-runflat. The ride is even softer!!! Point is, tires make a huge difference in ride quality / harshness.

 

I agree w. tim above that tires may make the most difference + sway bars (and end links). I switched on a Z51 suspension from GY RFTs to Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 RFTs and the ride/handling was quite different. I then switched out the Z51 shocks to Koni FSD and noticed no difference. Take a look at tires' commentary even if they're not the least expensive mod to make.

 

Great thing about adjustable shocks. If you think the setting is too stiff, just turn them down. Change tires and it goes one way or another, turn the ***** and it is back to what you want.

 

Hey guys quick update I decide to go the JOC package of shocks and sways. I am not tracking the car just wanted something that makes gives me a more confident feel when I push the car especially with a lot of HP at my disposal. What really clinched it was a video I watched showing how they developed the package and how it will make the corvette more confident in the corners, keeping the rear planted through the corner and that's what I am looking for.

Marketing fluff? Sure probably, but at least I know it all works together. They have sold hundreds of these and no complaints. They are running a special discount on the kit and I went with it. I still need to get tires so that helps with cost. Is Viking and Racetech adj better? Sure but getting them dialed in can be a lot of work. I just bolt these in and honestly the difference from the kit will be drastic and I wont be able to tell the difference between JOC, Koni or DRM honestly. I do know that the JOC shock was designed and tuned by someone that is a world class driver.

So one final question is about replacing the base front spring with a Z51 front spring. I have seen where some folks here doing that to reduce the dive braking into corners. I spoke with Pdaft yesterday and they had never been asked that question so wanted to get the folks here's input on that final piece. Ill let you guys know how things work out after I get them in.

I appreciate all the input, with so many vendors and choices its hard to make a decision and feel comfortable with it.

 

I have the FSD shocks and am running the Bridgestone Potenza S0-4, like berk4422.

Tires do make a difference.

In my opinion the base shock is to soft for a performance sports car. The Z51 shock I think is a little to harsh for a DD car. The Koni FsD seems to be the best of both worlds.

Tire's are a huge factor in ride.

 

That's the way to go, I ordered the Ride Techs, worth the money. Why do a shock that if you don't like it your stuck with it?

 

I didn't know Pfadt was taking phone calls to ask about their stuff...?

 

Whatever combination you choose, I hope you wind up with a neutral, well balanced ride, that is comfortable on long drives and doesn't lean towards oversteer or understeer. That could be your best possible outcome. Several combinations (springs, tires, sways, shocks) can get you there, but the wrong combination and you may have a tail happy ride or plow into turns. Let us know how it works out.

 

exactly why I went with the JOC package. According to the video where JOC describes what he wanted, it was a neutral car with the nastiness taken out without the harshness. He designed it so you wouldn't have to worry about the rear kicking out in a corner, and some understeer in the mid-corner so you can accelerate out. Again this is from a marketing video by Pdfat, but I am very confident that when I put this on my car I will get those results. If I place the JOC sway bars on and brand X,Y,Z shock what will it really do under the same conditions is really a unknown could be better or worse.

As far as talking with someone at Pdaft, Pdfat was bought by aFE and I called the number on the Pdaft site which is probably handled by aFE control. Knowledgeable folks and answered all my questions except if I should put a Z51 spring on the front they had never had anyone ask that question. They shipped so I should be putting them on this weekend as I am traveling this week.