C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

C4 Handling

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 30, 2005 | 09:58 PM
  #1  
for yayo's Avatar
for yayo
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
Default C4 Handling

I want to make my 88 handle a bit better, so I am going to go buy bigger and better anti-sway bars, put new Bilstein shocks in, and lower using lowering bolts (coilovers are too expensive). Now my question is this, what size ant-sway bars do I have in my Vette (88 auto) now and what size in the front and rear would all of you recommend me getting? I am thinking a good amount to lower is 1” in the front and 1.5” in the rear. Thank you all for your help!

Tony
Reply
Old May 30, 2005 | 10:46 PM
  #2  
65Z01's Avatar
65Z01
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Does it have RPO Z-52 or Z-51?
Reply
Old May 30, 2005 | 11:54 PM
  #3  
for yayo's Avatar
for yayo
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
Default

Z-52 i think
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2005 | 10:53 PM
  #4  
for yayo's Avatar
for yayo
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
Default

Anyone?
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2005 | 11:13 PM
  #5  
kwik_ta's Avatar
kwik_ta
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Default

check your RPO codes under the storage latch just behind the passenger seat. The Z51 and Z52 had different suspension components and sway bar sizes as did plain cars. It make a difference in what is recommended
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2005 | 11:14 PM
  #6  
kwik_ta's Avatar
kwik_ta
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Default

also check www.p-s-t.com
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2005 | 11:24 PM
  #7  
for yayo's Avatar
for yayo
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
Default

its Z52
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2005 | 01:59 AM
  #8  
skeet's Avatar
skeet
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: prescott AZ
Default

For best handling the front needs to be slightly lower than the rear. GM knew what they were doing when they put in a 30mm front bar and 26mm rear bar for max handling. Get them from Superior Chevy and they may install the end link bushings like they did for me. Z51 Bilsteins are a great choice but make sure they are for a 88 - it has an unique shock requirement just for that year. You might want to think about the Z51 springs while you are lowering it and even a quick Z51 steering rack. You should already have the 17" wheels?
Again, Superior Chevy had great prices and service (total shipping was $12) when I got my bars and may have springs too but I am not sure.My front 30mm GM bar was $121, frame bushings (2) $19.16 and end link bushings were (2) $11.74. I did not use poly because the GM bushings for the big bars are harder rubber and I found Energy Suspension bushings were off center and the company never answered my e-mails.
Ask for John or Chris at 800 728 8267
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 2, 2005 | 04:49 AM
  #9  
for yayo's Avatar
for yayo
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
Default

wait, i am confuised, do you mean that the front end is suspost to be lower then the rear, so i should lower 1" all around instead of 1.5" in the back, or do u mean by lower a 30mm swar bar in the front?
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2005 | 07:37 AM
  #10  
Casethecorvetteman's Avatar
Casethecorvetteman
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Default

how good can you drive?? you may not notice any difference between having the front and rear the same, or the front a bit lower, unless youre a very very skilled driver, you will hardly be able to tell.
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2005 | 04:09 PM
  #11  
rocco16's Avatar
rocco16
Race Director
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Default

Originally Posted by for yayo
wait, i am confuised, do you mean that the front end is suspost to be lower then the rear, so i should lower 1" all around instead of 1.5" in the back, or do u mean by lower a 30mm swar bar in the front?
I think he means "don't lower it more in the rear". He's not talking about sway bars.

Skeet is giving good advice, IMHO. Just use the Z51 bars. Going heavier will just jack up the ride without giving you any noticeable handling benefit. (Michael Shumacher might notice, but you or I wouldn't....)


Larry
code5coupe
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C4 Handling





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:07 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE