Shock and sway help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Shock and sway help
Car is an 05 non-z51 convertible, would like to upgrade for general street performance and maybe an autocross here and there. Have read the old posts, yet still overwhelmed with the options.
Leaning Bilstein (B6 or B8) plus Z51 sways. Would this be a good combo? Seems like this is the most economical option, but willing to spend more to get if the results are worth it.
Should I do an alignment after? From what I understand, if you do the zip tie method it won't screw it up.
Thanks for the help.
Leaning Bilstein (B6 or B8) plus Z51 sways. Would this be a good combo? Seems like this is the most economical option, but willing to spend more to get if the results are worth it.
Should I do an alignment after? From what I understand, if you do the zip tie method it won't screw it up.
Thanks for the help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
I would do the Z-51 shocks and sways and springs. GM did a good job dialing this combination in, I've run it on a road course and it felt pretty well balanced. Given street tires, no need for more sway bars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 816
Likes: 40
From: Sacto Calif
I would give strong consideration to the Z06 shocks, you can buy a good set for + or - $200 " I see them on sale on Craig's List, eBay, Corvette Forum for sale " all the time and there at least %90 of the performance of the Bilstein shocks at a much cheaper price and if your determined to spend money try DRM shocks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
I added new Z51 sways along with gently used Z06 shocks to my 2013 base model. I really like it, but just be aware that the Z shocks tighten things up quite a bit. Way more of a real sports car ride vs the smoother ride that the stock car exhibited. On crappy roads, you definitely feel more of the bumps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
Interesting...I would look at replacing the base springs with the Z-51's first. This addresses the basic platform meaning it gets you to a different playing field from which to fine tune using shocks and sway bars all the while remaining with the narrow body tire sets - your biggest determinant for traction.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 429
Likes: 66
From: Plymouth MA
Car is an 05 non-z51 convertible, would like to upgrade for general street performance and maybe an autocross here and there. Have read the old posts, yet still overwhelmed with the options.
Leaning Bilstein (B6 or B8) plus Z51 sways. Would this be a good combo? Seems like this is the most economical option, but willing to spend more to get if the results are worth it.
Should I do an alignment after? From what I understand, if you do the zip tie method it won't screw it up.
Thanks for the help.
Leaning Bilstein (B6 or B8) plus Z51 sways. Would this be a good combo? Seems like this is the most economical option, but willing to spend more to get if the results are worth it.
Should I do an alignment after? From what I understand, if you do the zip tie method it won't screw it up.
Thanks for the help.
It really transformed my cara and well worth the money.
Immediately I noticed regular driving car steering felt tighter and car is more planted. In the corners my car has no body roll and I can corner much faster.
Going over bumps car feels more compliant and less cross talk. I have my car rear sway bar in middle setting and love this mod.
Also, car does not float at 100 mph like with base suspension.
I believe is this a match setup is the way to go.
Keith
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
You guys might want to think about a spring upgrade too. The JOC package was tuned on a Z06, so bigger tires and stiffer springs. For suspension, springs are the base, the fine tune is shocks and bars.
