Front/Rear sway bars
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville Fl
Front/Rear sway bars
Hey guys maybe you can help me shed a little bit of light on this subject
I have a 96 LT4 coupe And im wondering what size sway bars i have in the front and the back. im wondering if since i have the LT4 if i have the beefiest available in 96? and even if mine are pretty big is there a better size i can go to to help handleing and prevent more bodyroll? im a little bit dissappointed in the amount of body roll i am gtting in hard turns. maybe you guys can give me some suggestions on how to combat this. as always thanks in advance!
I have a 96 LT4 coupe And im wondering what size sway bars i have in the front and the back. im wondering if since i have the LT4 if i have the beefiest available in 96? and even if mine are pretty big is there a better size i can go to to help handleing and prevent more bodyroll? im a little bit dissappointed in the amount of body roll i am gtting in hard turns. maybe you guys can give me some suggestions on how to combat this. as always thanks in advance!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
http://www.zr1.net/ZR1_suspension.html
Scroll all the way to the bottom for the 96. I dont have my blackbook handy so I couldnt check mandatory options for the LT4. But notice if its a Grand Sport its got specials ones for that.
None of the 96's came with big bars up front., the biggest front avail for the 88-96 is 30mm Solid, biggest for 96 was 26mm Tubular. For rear the biggest avail from 84-96 (rears are interchangable for all years, fronts only 88+) is an option on the 96, the 26mm Solid bar.
You can also look at the camber brace, alot of people say it helps. Or put a roll cage, or an underbrace. All should help make the car stiffer feeling.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Scroll all the way to the bottom for the 96. I dont have my blackbook handy so I couldnt check mandatory options for the LT4. But notice if its a Grand Sport its got specials ones for that.
None of the 96's came with big bars up front., the biggest front avail for the 88-96 is 30mm Solid, biggest for 96 was 26mm Tubular. For rear the biggest avail from 84-96 (rears are interchangable for all years, fronts only 88+) is an option on the 96, the 26mm Solid bar.
You can also look at the camber brace, alot of people say it helps. Or put a roll cage, or an underbrace. All should help make the car stiffer feeling.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville Fl
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (VetteRacer282)
so could i get a 32 for the front and 28 for the back? would that give a little extra stiffness? would hurt anything? are there places that cater to LT1 suspension like this?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
I think TPiS sells 32/28. But from what I have always heard, nobody has been happy with them.
I think if you tried the 30mm up front you would be happy.
The suspension on the 88-96 are the same, so basically any C4 suspension shop would be able to help. Theres Doug Rippie, Guldstrand, Lingenfelter does some I think.
I ordered my rear bar from someone back east, alot of people use him and highly recommend them, just cant remember the name (Jeff Kopp rings a bell though). Search the archives and I am sure you can find his dealer.
Also, install poly bushings when you switch the bars, for that extra help.
Matt
I think if you tried the 30mm up front you would be happy.
The suspension on the 88-96 are the same, so basically any C4 suspension shop would be able to help. Theres Doug Rippie, Guldstrand, Lingenfelter does some I think.
I ordered my rear bar from someone back east, alot of people use him and highly recommend them, just cant remember the name (Jeff Kopp rings a bell though). Search the archives and I am sure you can find his dealer.
Also, install poly bushings when you switch the bars, for that extra help.
Matt
Team Owner
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Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
You wouldnt like the 32/28 combo unless this was a dedicated autocross car. Its a little too stiff, id go with 30/24 or 26mm in the back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
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From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
Running the 30/26 combo. No oversteer with stock FE1 spring rates (I have 96 Z51 is is slightly softer than 92-early 95 FE1). If you want your vette to handle better less body lean, it's the best mod you can do. I also upgraded to poly bushings and swaybar links at the same time.
Mt car is a 8 month a year daly driver rain or shine, if it was oversteering I'd let you know. BTW, my Vette came stock with 26mm hollow in the front 24mm solid in the rear. If the 30mm/26mm combo oversteered I'd expect the stock confing to oversteer too...hmmm.
Eric
Mt car is a 8 month a year daly driver rain or shine, if it was oversteering I'd let you know. BTW, my Vette came stock with 26mm hollow in the front 24mm solid in the rear. If the 30mm/26mm combo oversteered I'd expect the stock confing to oversteer too...hmmm.
Eric
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
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From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
I didn't order mine from the lowest priced place. I would purchase the bars direct from a GM dealer like Jeff (should be ~$150 for both) and purchase the bushing from someone like Doug Rippie or Vette Brakes. I purchased the entire kit from Doug Rippie, cost was ~$250, but I received tech support over the phone, good deal for a bonehead like me.
Did the entire job myself with the Vette up on jackstands, took less than 6 hours including beers.
Eric
Did the entire job myself with the Vette up on jackstands, took less than 6 hours including beers.
Eric
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Re: Front/Rear sway bars (Darkness)
30/24 is the prefered combo, if you go more than 24mm in the back its gonna feel loose and with an oversteer tendency, unless you up the spring rates
Later
Later
I run two lane twisty roads at speed. Back end was too loose. Maybe on a track where you have room to let the back end slide out it is fine.
Also, be prepared, when you upgrade sway bars, to hear squeaks and rattles you never heard before.
:steering: [ I love that Lil Guy!]
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
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From: Ohio
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (1996man)
30/26 is fine. Stay away from those gargantuan swaybars. The C4 is a flexi-flyer to begin with. You end up with lousy handling, (terminal understeer using just a larger front, tail happiness, not, using just the rear) and twisting the backbone.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (jackdaroofer)
...I tried the 26 mm bar in the rear and took it out, replaced with 24mm.
I run two lane twisty roads at speed. Back end was too loose. Maybe on a track where you have room to let the back end slide out it is fine.
I run two lane twisty roads at speed. Back end was too loose. Maybe on a track where you have room to let the back end slide out it is fine.
My Vette came with 26mm hollow front, 24mm solid rear. This stock, faftory spec'ed combo will have more oversteer than your 30mm solid front, 24 mm solid rear, it's the law (of physics). If you believe the 30mm/26mm combo is only good for the track then I'd like to understand how the factory sells a stock 96 FE1 (the mushiest C4 suspension of all time) with 24mm hollow front and 24mm solid rear (again, more oversteer than your 30mm/24mm combo).
My stock set up, 26mm hollow front and 24mm solid rear, suprised me in how nuetral it was, but the body lean was exceessive to say the least. When I upgraded to the 30/26 combo, I still had that nice nuetral steering (which will scare you if all you've ever driven is a pushy sedan), but the body lean was much reduced.
Jack, maybe your alignment is off or your rear suspension's bushings need replacing, maybe your torque tube is loose, just a guess.
Eric
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 610
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From: Bluffton SC
Re: Front/Rear sway bars (silver & red CE)
I bought the solid 30mm front and solid 26mm rear with urethane bushings from VBP. Think I paid around $250 for the pair. Use the right grease (and plenty of it) and squeaks are not an issue with the urethane bushings.
I've got the FE1 on my LT4 and had too much body roll even with the upgraded bars. I bought the VBP lowering kit (front and rear) and after a good alignment the handling is about perfect. Just enough oversteer to be able to direct the car with both the throttle and steering wheel.
I've got the FE1 on my LT4 and had too much body roll even with the upgraded bars. I bought the VBP lowering kit (front and rear) and after a good alignment the handling is about perfect. Just enough oversteer to be able to direct the car with both the throttle and steering wheel.
