Base Suspension Upgrade Question
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
Sway bars and other suspension parts are not going to increase your steering weight. Not sure what you mean my directional stability. The base Stingray is very stable in terms of mid corner balance. I expect that is what GM intended when they deleted the rear sway bar. Adding the sway bar to the base Stingray will actually reduce the stability which gives increased performance when driving at the limit (as in autocross or racing conditions - not street driving) - with greater risk of spinning the car. If by directional stability, you mean you want to reduce the floaty feel of the car, Z51 shocks will do that for you.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 31
Sway bars and other suspension parts are not going to increase your steering weight. Not sure what you mean my directional stability. The base Stingray is very stable in terms of mid corner balance. I expect that is what GM intended when they deleted the rear sway bar. Adding the sway bar to the base Stingray will actually reduce the stability which gives increased performance when driving at the limit (as in autocross or racing conditions - not street driving) - with greater risk of spinning the car. If by directional stability, you mean you want to reduce the floaty feel of the car, Z51 shocks will do that for you.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
You certainly can and in fact that is the best way to make changes. That way you get to see what the results are from your change. Please post back with your results if you do that so others can learn also.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 31
also, any idea part number for Z51 shocks?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
No need for any bushings - the shocks are complete units and they are easy to change. I do not know the latest shock part numbers. GM seems to change the numbers every year, but the actual parts do not change. No idea why they do this.
Rock Auto shows part # 84513884 for the Rear Sport Suspension (FE3) shocks. And 84513885 for the Front. FE3 is the designation for the Z51 Non-Mag Ride Suspension so that is what you want. They are only about $83 each.
Rock Auto shows part # 84513884 for the Rear Sport Suspension (FE3) shocks. And 84513885 for the Front. FE3 is the designation for the Z51 Non-Mag Ride Suspension so that is what you want. They are only about $83 each.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 31
You bring up a good point. I was able to finally find a shop in South FL that has the C7 caster tool to handle the alignment. I plan to have them install the Z51 shocks and do the alignment.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 243
Likes: 87
From: Raleigh, NC
Changing the shocks will not require an alignment afterward but it’s not a bad idea to have it checked. The z51 or Bilstein B6 shocks make a base FE1 vette feel so much more responsive and planted. For the cost and ease of installation, it should be one of the first things to consider. I went with the B6 set when one of my rear shocks sprung a leak years ago on my FE1 vette and never regretted it.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 910
Likes: 430
From: MN
The key is to find a shop that understands more than just "align it so it goes straight" or whatever the shop manual states. My local shop can align to minimize tire wear, or for better turn-in, or for highway stability etc. if the vehicle supports those adjustments. If the stock car doesn't have the adjustments needed, consider aftermarket parts like adjustable length control arms, adjustable position shock mounts, etc.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 31
The key is to find a shop that understands more than just "align it so it goes straight" or whatever the shop manual states. My local shop can align to minimize tire wear, or for better turn-in, or for highway stability etc. if the vehicle supports those adjustments. If the stock car doesn't have the adjustments needed, consider aftermarket parts like adjustable length control arms, adjustable position shock mounts, etc.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
The C7 Corvette has fully adjustable suspension. You do not need any aftermarket parts. Steering weight, and to a small degree, stability will increase with more positive caster (top of steering center line is back farther than bottom).. The Corvette already has more positive caster than most cars. You could try maxing it out to see if you like it. That will result in a bit more inner tire wear due to more camber change when cornering (tires will "lean into" the turn more).
To max out caster, adjust lower control arm front adjuster to most inboard position as possible. Then set camber by adjusting lower control arm rear adjuster as needed to get desired camber. This approach will only allow a small amount of negative camber so this alignment will not be suited for aggressive driving. So it will be a trade off for you to get more heavily weighted steering at the cost of some cornering performance and additional tire wear.
Driving my own base Stingray, even in autocross events, I find the steering weight just fine and I certainly have no on-center play in mine. Perhaps, something is wrong with you steering rack? Or maybe you are just used to something different? What car did you drive before the Corvette?
To max out caster, adjust lower control arm front adjuster to most inboard position as possible. Then set camber by adjusting lower control arm rear adjuster as needed to get desired camber. This approach will only allow a small amount of negative camber so this alignment will not be suited for aggressive driving. So it will be a trade off for you to get more heavily weighted steering at the cost of some cornering performance and additional tire wear.
Driving my own base Stingray, even in autocross events, I find the steering weight just fine and I certainly have no on-center play in mine. Perhaps, something is wrong with you steering rack? Or maybe you are just used to something different? What car did you drive before the Corvette?
Last edited by RacerRik; Apr 30, 2023 at 12:28 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 41
Im in the same boat. This floaty up and down motion is unsettling at speed. I traded in a '08 pontiac Solstice GXP 5mt a '14 base 2LT 7M convertible with 16k mi. And I can say my Solstice inspired more confidence when you push it. I have a plan to get rid of the float and improve handling
1. The shocks Do I get the Bilstein B6 or the factory Z51 (FE3). Input on either will be appreciated. I like the ride of my car just not the up and down control.
2. Rear Z51 rear bar (no-MAG ride)
Hopefully this will make the car perform the way I'm look for.
Thanks for any input.
1. The shocks Do I get the Bilstein B6 or the factory Z51 (FE3). Input on either will be appreciated. I like the ride of my car just not the up and down control.
2. Rear Z51 rear bar (no-MAG ride)
Hopefully this will make the car perform the way I'm look for.
Thanks for any input.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
I have not used the Bilstein B6 shocks so i cannot comment on them. The OEM Z51 shocks are perfect in my opinion. And they are not expensive so I think that is your best option. Adding the rear bar will make the car ride stiffer. You should probably try just the shocks first and see if that gets the car where you want. You can always add the rear bar later if you want a stiffer ride and / or want more cornering capability.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 41
I have not used the Bilstein B6 shocks so i cannot comment on them. The OEM Z51 shocks are perfect in my opinion. And they are not expensive so I think that is your best option. Adding the rear bar will make the car ride stiffer. You should probably try just the shocks first and see if that gets the car where you want. You can always add the rear bar later if you want a stiffer ride and / or want more cornering capability.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
They are noticeably stiffer, but to me not harsh at all. It makes the car ride like you expect a Corvette to ride.
I suspect the B6 shocks are stiffer since Bilstein advertises them as a "performance upgrade" to the Stingray shocks - no mention if that means over the base or Z51 shocks - but they do list the Grandsport and Z06 for the same part number shocks. GM paid Bilstein to develop the Z51 OEM shocks. I doubt Bilstein spent a bunch of their own money to develop and test the B6 shocks to actually make them perform better on the Corvette. I would consider the B6 shocks to be more of a generic replacement versus the OEM shocks that were extensively tested for the Corvette platform. They could also be the exact same shock sold directly by Bilstein....
I suspect the B6 shocks are stiffer since Bilstein advertises them as a "performance upgrade" to the Stingray shocks - no mention if that means over the base or Z51 shocks - but they do list the Grandsport and Z06 for the same part number shocks. GM paid Bilstein to develop the Z51 OEM shocks. I doubt Bilstein spent a bunch of their own money to develop and test the B6 shocks to actually make them perform better on the Corvette. I would consider the B6 shocks to be more of a generic replacement versus the OEM shocks that were extensively tested for the Corvette platform. They could also be the exact same shock sold directly by Bilstein....
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 41
They are noticeably stiffer, but to me not harsh at all. It makes the car ride like you expect a Corvette to ride.
I suspect the B6 shocks are stiffer since Bilstein advertises them as a "performance upgrade" to the Stingray shocks - no mention if that means over the base or Z51 shocks - but they do list the Grandsport and Z06 for the same part number shocks. GM paid Bilstein to develop the Z51 OEM shocks. I doubt Bilstein spent a bunch of their own money to develop and test the B6 shocks to actually make them perform better on the Corvette. I would consider the B6 shocks to be more of a generic replacement versus the OEM shocks that were extensively tested for the Corvette platform. They could also be the exact same shock sold directly by Bilstein....
I suspect the B6 shocks are stiffer since Bilstein advertises them as a "performance upgrade" to the Stingray shocks - no mention if that means over the base or Z51 shocks - but they do list the Grandsport and Z06 for the same part number shocks. GM paid Bilstein to develop the Z51 OEM shocks. I doubt Bilstein spent a bunch of their own money to develop and test the B6 shocks to actually make them perform better on the Corvette. I would consider the B6 shocks to be more of a generic replacement versus the OEM shocks that were extensively tested for the Corvette platform. They could also be the exact same shock sold directly by Bilstein....
Thanks again.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 41
Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 566
Likes: 277
From: Amarillo TX
I ordered a set of z51 shocks over the weekend and they shipped out today. Should be in my hands this Thursday! Trying to find the front and rear sway bars/links/hardware for the rest of the suspension upgrade, but finding lots of 'out of stock', 'parts on backorder', etc. I have reached out to Cultrag, but no response yet.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 41
I ordered a set of z51 shocks over the weekend and they shipped out today. Should be in my hands this Thursday! Trying to find the front and rear sway bars/links/hardware for the rest of the suspension upgrade, but finding lots of 'out of stock', 'parts on backorder', etc. I have reached out to Cultrag, but no response yet.
https://www.octanegm.com/ has the sway bar in stock and everything for the rrear is @ $167 front bars are about $90.