C6 Base VS. C6 Z51
 

What is the differences between a C6 Base and a C6 Z51

Z51 has larger front rotors, thicker sway bars, thicker springs, oil cooler, trans cooler (on manual trans), power steering cooler, and different gearing in the transmission. The Z51 model is also able to be lowered further down than the base because of the thicker springs.

Thank you so much. I have been lost on this.

I personally prefer the factory z51 option as it offers slightly heavy duty suspension, brakes, amd cooling.

i keep my corvettes and drive them as dailys and have found in my opinion the durability of the z51 package to offer me 132k miles of utter reliability...since I purchased new.

thats not saying non c51 corvettes cant do the same...

just my mind the z51 gives a little higher duty cycle for ever so slightly more performance..and greater durability..

i always buy either z51 or z06 packages...

probably more ego than anything else...but since you asked the question...i gave my opinion...

little firmer ride, little better handling...little better gearing...little better cooling...little better brakes...

its just a tiny bit better but for the cost of the package from the factory...it usually makes sense to purchase it...

many c5 and c6 not to mention c7 owners jjust add the z51 sway bars and they state the handling is greatly improved...

no wrong choice...just slight variances...yet if you were to ask my opinion...

id usually suggest z51, grand sport or z06 packages...(but its not a big deal)

hope this helps

It help a lot, Thank you,

Look for the cross drilled brake rotors to spot a Z51. Also, the ride is somewhere between tour and sport setting - just right!

The J55 brakes were available as a standalone option so they're not necessarily an indication a car has the Z51 package.

Just to clarify the question, Z51 is an option only available on a '05-'09 base C6. It's not a model like a Z06, Grand Sport, ZR1, or 427. The option includes the items that Corvette Ed noted in post #2. The J55 brakes, also called Heavy Duty, were a part of the Z51 option and the only part of the Z51 option that was available as a stand-alone option on base cars (also noted by Corvette Ed), but were also part of the F55 option from '07-'13.

I assume the OP is researching prior to a possible purchase, so I offer this advice. To verify how the car was equipped when it left the factory, take a photo of the sticker on the inside of the glove box door. The 3 character codes can be translated by searching under the year of the car and looking for RPO (Regular Production Order) codes on www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/index.html
Because many cars get modded at some point (I made my first mod the same day I took delivery), you need to compare what you see vs what's on the sticker from the factory

Probably a pretty rare stand-alone. I don't see dealers ordering it that way. Customer order perhaps. F55, IIRC had the J55 brakes as well.

In the end, the glovebox sticker is the conclusive tell.

My Z51 no longer has drilled rotors, opting for DBA slotted when brakes were due.

:iagree: My 2013 has the J55 Heavy Duty Brake Package, but is not a Z51. If you want a C6 with Z51 package from factory, you need to look for an 05-09

I have the Z51 on my ‘08. Frankly, as a daily driver I find it harsh riding if the road surface is other than flat. I would not opt for it for a daily driver.

I like the Z51 as a daily driver. Frankly I have never ridden in a Non Z51, so don't know any better. Doesn't bother me.

Same here.

My GS has the same suspension and it is my daily driver and love it and deal with back roads that have bumps, bridges and the base definitely has its share of bumps. It isn't a cushion benz ride and you feel the road, but I love that aspect of the Vette.

Ed; My 08/Z51 does not have the engine oil cooler (Auto) and also the rear gear is 273's.

I changed my shocks to Belstens after getting beat to death on rough roads for years and now my car has a lot of rattles.

06 z51
 

Bought my Convertible Velocity Yellow 06 Z51 in 2016, third owner, 29k miles, like it just rolled off the showroom.
just to add...doesn’t the Z51 come stock with a special ride Suspension selector? Just love driving ours as much as possible. Took it on a 6,000+ mile drive out west a couple years ago and a found it to be very comfortable ride. Me, wife and 16# dog. Doing a road trip from Northern Mi. to Virginia to Raleigh, NC and back in June. Looking forward to the W. Virginia & Virginia mountains and top down.

The F55 suspension is the magride that has a suspension selector.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9a41c5258.jpeg
My wife thought plates are fitting...her idea.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...626286d55.jpeg
my Z51 has that. Total $11,500+ option for Z51 package. I’ll take a look at my window sticker in glove box for exact upgrade charge. I wouldn’t ever downgrade if buying another vert. Would love to get either a GS, Z06, 427, ZR1. Come on lottery! :D

You can't have both the F55 option and the Z51 option. If you have a "Tour - Sport" knob on your console, it's a F55 suspension.
Production specs from the factory for '06 verts include:
11151 Total
2947 F55 suspension
4149 Z51 suspension (which included J55 brakes)
8127 A6 trans
1594 M6 trans (for Z51 only)
1430 M6 trans (not Z51)
1118 Velocity Yellow
1351 QX3 chrome wheels

So if your car came from the factory with what is shown in the pics and you have the F55 option, it also has the rare (only 63 produced total for all verts) J55 stand alone brake option. It'd be even
more rare if if had a M6 trans or a manual top and extremely rare with both. (like probably the only one)