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I think it's shock time: Re-fresh Bilstein Sports, '04 Z06 Sachs, or go coil-over?

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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 10:29 PM
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Default I think it's shock time: Re-fresh Bilstein Sports, '04 Z06 Sachs, or go coil-over?

Go w/ the Bilsteins again? Go w/ the GM developed '04 Sachs that helped the '04 Z so much. Or.... pony up the dough for coil-overs and do it once and be done w/ it.

What wold you do? Obviously coil-overs are $1800-$2000 vs. the $400 for new shocks.

However I could dial in the ride-height and it'd clean up the cars suspension by getting rid of the leafs... might make the car easier to work on in cases.

EDIT: I replaced my stock '01Z shocks w/ the Bilstein sports at 40k in February '05, the car now has just under 80k on it now.
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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 10:57 PM
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I'll be following this one cause I'm in the same boat looking for the same answers.

I guess the first question should be is; what are you using you car for? Just street, some DE or drags, this all plays in to the setup.

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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 11:04 PM
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DE/street use... run 4-6+ HPDEs a year. It'd be nice to ditch the oem leafs and BS sports and lower the car a bit more.
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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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I was in the same boat a year ago and roadrace 8+ times/yr....I decided to go with the PFADT coilovers.....it was the best decision I've made on the car! They work great on the track...no more nose diving under heavy braking or squating on acceleration....much less body roll in the turns...they really make the car easier to drive on track while preserving the daily driveability of the car with easy adjustability. I dial 'em up for the track and soften em all the way up for the road. I was able to cornerbalance the car which made a HUGE improvement itself. The only choice in my opinion.
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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 11:22 PM
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Cool.. and I can sell my oem springs for $350-$400ish to offset some of the cost.

I'm really leaning toward Pfadts... I have poly bushings allready so the ride is on the firm side.

I figure if I have to buy new shocks for $400 and I can sell my springs for $400 that means it's really an extra $1000 than what'd I'd have to spend.
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Old Oct 8, 2007 | 11:41 PM
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Bilstein Sports are 300.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 12:59 AM
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You could have the Bilstein shocks revalved.
$65 - $70 per shock plus shipping.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Carolina C4 Racer
You could have the Bilstein shocks revalved.
$65 - $70 per shock plus shipping.



you can also look for some used VBP springs
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 08:35 AM
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We could do a non-adjustable Penske 7500 shock with our dual rate Hyperco coilovers. It wont be as cheap as a Bilstien setup, but not that bad, and it will be infinitely rebuildable have very good resale value (probably cost less when you consider the resale value).
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 08:52 AM
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I'm listening... is this something that could be put together in the short-term?
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 09:05 AM
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Richard (my Penske guy) is coming over this morning, let me get back to you with price and schedule info later today.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 09:13 AM
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No rush.... I'm still in research mode.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 12:52 PM
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We can do the Penske 7500 with the dual rate coilovers for $600 a corner complete, from now to Thankgiving. That is $2400 (plus shipping) for the car complete with dyno charts for each shock, and we can do this for C4, C5, and C6.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 02:58 PM
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I'm in

Other vendors want $2000 for coilovers, and they're using cheap steal bodied shocks!

Dual rate coilovers with real Penskes



http://www.penskeshocks.co.uk/cardamper/1way.htm

Last edited by BrianCunningham; Oct 9, 2007 at 03:09 PM.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 03:12 PM
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I'm out... too rich for me. Going to get new Bilstiens and spend the rest of the $$$ torward my waxer side.
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Cobra4B
I'm out... too rich for me. Going to get new Bilstiens and spend the rest of the $$$ torward my waxer side.
Rebuild and revalve!!!! If you need specs, I can help you out. You will spend about 50 more dollars then buying a new set at 300 bucks

Randy
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 03:16 PM
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Sending PM.
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To I think it's shock time: Re-fresh Bilstein Sports, '04 Z06 Sachs, or go coil-over?

Old Oct 9, 2007 | 10:15 PM
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BTW
The coilovers are real good deal, especially if your looking to change your spring rates.

A set of new transverse leafs is at least $1500

BTW2
Penske are the only shock I've seen for Corvettes that put the end with the most mass at the SPRUNG end, the correct end?

Everyone else is putting it at the bottom, the UNSPRUNG end!
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Old Oct 9, 2007 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
BTW
The coilovers are real good deal, especially if your looking to change your spring rates.

A set of new transverse leafs is at least $1500

BTW2
Penske are the only shock I've seen for Corvettes that put the end with the most mass at the SPRUNG end, the correct end?

Everyone else is putting it at the bottom, the UNSPRUNG end!
Clearence is the main reason for this. Springs hitting major parts on the suspension is not a good plan either. It cost more money to make it "right" and when we did our package that came into play. We have to look at longivity, price, weight and of course performance. Looking at our target market, most can't swing the 7000-10000 to make it "perfect" in every way. How heavy is the average HDPE, club racer's wheel and tire comb??? Why not spend 2000-5000 a wheel on something super light?

Randy
PS Penske makes a good shock, there is no debating that.
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Old Oct 10, 2007 | 12:18 PM
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Personally, if you have the $$$ I think coilovers are the way to go. I bought the Pfadts and will be installing them this winter along with other mods.

My brother has them on his car and they are a definite improvement over stock.

To me the main benefit of the coilovers is adjustability and I don't just mean compression and rebound rates. You can also raise or lower the car. Also, as Randy mentioned no longer have to worry about rubbing the springs. There is a little weight savings as well.
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