Kamil D.

I purchased my vett lest your it has a 98.XXX miles on it but I don’t know if the shocks are old or not how can I tell?

Kamil D.

Gideon's_Test

Usually 100K is the upper limit on most shocks. Otherwise you can do the "Bounce" test...

jacks996

push on each corner a few times and see if it keeps bouncing or if it stops right away

99C5Vert

as stiff as the vette is, that'll be a tough test

Old Man in a C

Billdog350

That is what you could do years ago with a 5000+ lb car with coil spring or leaf spring suspension. The C5 is so tight, I'd be VERY impressed to see someone successfully show a car fail the bounce test. You pretty much would end up cracking the plastic body panels trying to push down hard enough to get the car to bounce. However, on the flip side, I think the stiff suspension helps increase shock life since the shocks aren't moving up and down much at all compared to a truck or passenger car.

I guess you just need to go by handling and mileage. I'm at 136k with what I think are stock shocks (might have been replaced before I bought it, not sure)...I'll be throwing on some C6Z06 shocks this spring since they're cheaper than the stock ones!

0JPM@AutoBuffs

Im wit billdog

BosqueVette98

I just rolled over 70k miles on my 98 and just ordered a set of C6 Z06 shocks...

RoadReady

What they said. The bounce test just doesn't work with Vettes....learned that with a C4. Mechanics kept telling me the shocks were OK at 70,xxx but I knew handling had deteriorated. New Bilsteins and it was a different car. I'm gonna replace the '02 factory shocks before the next alignment, somewhere in the 40,xxxxs. Be hard to go wrong at that mileage.

C5'S LS1

I would look to getting a new set put on.

dgrant3830

Out here in S. Calif, there are a few select areas of the concrete freeways that aren't real flat. If the shocks are bad or dying, the wheels will slap on the concrete as you are driving at normal freeway speeds. Also, as the road dips a bit here and there, check for the car...lets call it sloshing for lack of a better word, sideways a little as it goes through those dips at high speed.
I'm on my 4th set of shocks at 303K miles now. This last set of Bilsteins went on about a year ago.

C5'S LS1

WOW Your Vette is like Visa, "You Never Leave Home Without It".

97C5driver

i have been wondering the same thing about the shocks. i believe mine to be stock and if they haven't been replaced ever, then they are pushing 140k. Im looking into buying another set.

Wop1

When it rides like a C4 and all your fillings are loose.

dgrant3830

Yes, you are due now. I picked up the Bilsteins online at www.eshocks.com... seemed to have the best price around the last time I bought them.

Corvette00Car

Are you guys saying that the C6 Z06 shocks are plug and play on a C5? For a daily drive would you recomend them? I am surprised they are less expensive than OEM purchased from other than the dealership, are you sure? I have about 80k and was thinking about putting new one's one. If you feel I am hijacking the thread sorry, don't mean to, and I'll start a new one but I though we would all be interested. Thanks.

bucwheat

If you got a good ride don't worry bout it.

VETSTYL

Tricky plug and play. I bought a set and I only installed the rears; do'able but it was a little tricky lining everything up. I have a brand new pair of fronts that I did not install. After doing so research, I discovered that they are not recommended for lowered C5s and I am lowered.

DefenderC5

Mine failed that test at 60k. I bought new Bilstein sports after that, fixed it right up.