wallyman424

I'm looking to try some smaller sway bars, since I've upped my spring rates.

Right now I've got big ole springs with the big ole T1 bars, and I figure I can go with a smaller bar to let the suspension do its work. Should I give the C6 Z51 bars a try? Do they even fit a C5?

Or should I just get a set of stock c5 bars? I figure those might be too small, but I'm open to the idea.

LehmanZ06

A common front bar for the C5 Z06 is like the 32mm front addco bar. Stock is 30.

0Vector Vette

Pfadt competition sway bars. Adjustability is always a good thing. I have them in stock and on my racecar.

gkmccready

C6 Z51 bars should fit the C5. The C6 Z51 front bar is the same as the C6 Z06 front bar. Here're the swaybars I've managed to dig up information from --- accuracy is internet quality since I've pulled it together from the internet:

• C5 Base: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear / 3.81mm/2.0mm thickness
• C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
• C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.15mm/3mm thickness
• C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.5mm/3.5mm thickness
• C6 Base: ?? mm-front / 22.0 mm-rear
• C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
• C6 Z06: 31 mm-front / 28.8 mm-rear
• Hotchkis: 31.75 mm-front / 28.575 mm-rear / 4mm/4mm thickness $429
• Pfadt SS Front $550
• Addco: 35 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear F: $239 R: $210 Both: $530
• Pfadt Street: 32 mm-front / 26 mm-rear $845
• Pfadt Pfatty: 35 mm-front / 28.5 mm-rear $1025
• C6 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6.35mm/6.35mm thick $996

And the obligatory Pfadt chart:

wallyman424

I would love a set of pfadt bars, but the goal of this test is cheapness. If I find that the smaller bars make a big difference, I'll save up for a set of pfadt bars.

btw thanks gmkcc, that helps a lot.

ghoffman

I would try to get a set of used C5Z bars and set them up correctly. Since you upped your spring rates, less bar is better.

wallyman424

yeah, I think thats the way Im going to go.

AU N EGL

Wally I have some slightly use C5 Z51 bars just sitting in my basement

C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.15mm/3mm thickness

wallyman424

oh yeah? that could work. Looks like the rear is the same as the z and the fronts only 2mm smaller.

PM me with what you want for them.

AU N EGL

pm sent call me

bowmanized

Looks like you are being well taken care of Wally by your friends. Just wanted to say Eibach just released their new setup.

32mm Front and 29mm Rear

RAFTRACER

Wally needs the inexpensive RAFT set-up.............

BTW 29mm in the rear with a 32mm front will create LOTS of oversteer........

Aardwolf

I keep reading this thread and wondering if you couldn't just slip some rubber bushings on the sway bar and test out how that does. I'm assuming you have poly. Maybe it wouldn't be a large enough change to tell.

spazegun2213

ummm, this makes me think

Wally, i think i have some C5 z51 bars, although i may have chucked them

Z06Fix

Alright Danny, spill it

gkmccready

• Pfadt Street: 32 mm-front / 26 mm-rear $845
• Pfadt Pfatty: 35 mm-front / 28.5 mm-rear $1025

I've been told my numbers are wrong above... although that makes me nervous because I measured the comp bar numbers off my own bars!

The number provided by Jordan@Pfadt are:

• Pfadt Street: 35mm-front / 26mm-rear
• Pfadt Comp: 38mm-front / 32mm-rear

EvilBoffin

yeah Glen, that is what they advertise - so it's worth verifying.

BTW - Did you ever find out what size the Pfadt C5/C6 SS front bar is? If it would help fill out your list, I can go measure mine & report back ...

And remember that there is a specific Pfadt SS front bar for C6Z06's as well, though it seems to have basically identical specs to their front Street bar on the 'obligatory' chart...

NemesisC5

And the inexpensive RAFT set-up is??????

TedDBere

I've seen Danny drive so I'll take a stab: Disconnect the rear swaybar and drive like crazy.

gkmccready

Updated chart:

• C5 Base: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear / 3.81mm/2.0mm thickness
• C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
• C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.15mm/3mm thickness
• C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.5mm/3.5mm thickness
• C6 Base: ?? mm-front / 22.0 mm-rear
• C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
• C6 Z06: 31 mm-front / 28.8 mm-rear
• Eibach: 32 mm-front / 29mm-rear
• Hotchkis: 31.75 mm-front / 28.575 mm-rear / 4mm/4mm thickness $429
• Addco: 35 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear F: $239 R: $210 Both: $530
• Pfadt C6 SS Front: 32mm $550
• Pfadt C6Z SS Front: 35mm $550
• Pfadt Street: 35 mm-front / 26 mm-rear $845
• Pfadt Pfatty: 38 mm-front / 32 mm-rear $1025
• C6 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6.35mm/6.35mm thick $996

It's been explained to me that my original Pfadt Pfatty bars are effectively what are now the Pfadt Street bars and the Comp bars have grown over the years, which explains why they measure out for me differently than the latest and greatest version.

Please remember OD is only part of the story; two 35mm bars can behave entirely different based on wall thickness and arm length!