I have the F45 option because I like being able to soften and stiffen the ride as needed. The softest setting is softer than the standard shocks, the middle setting is between the standard and z51 shocks, and the firm setting is stiffer than the z51.

Ripping around a bend, onramp, or corner is awesome in the stiffest setting, yet when I drive over not-so-perfect roads, the softest setting is great. And, at high speed going over freeway dips, the middle setting rocks!

However, when I barrel down a road with quick switchbacks, even in the stiffest setting the car tends to sway during quick switching turns. It seems as though I have to setup for the turns much more than I would think I should have to. I've got run-flats, so I'm sure it's not sidewall flex. I suspect the sway bar is the culprit here.

I don't want to give up my F45 because I wouldn't be able to stand riding in a C5 without it under normal driving conditions.

My questions are:

1) Do you think the swaybar could really make that much of a difference in alleviating this condition?

2) Will a swaybar make the ride more harsh under "normal" conditions?

3) While I doubt it would help much, would simply upgrading swaybar bushings help significantly?

4) Am I expecting too much out of a single car? In other words, should I just get a 911 for the switchbacks, and use my C5 for highway sweepers? (Just kidding.)

Seriously though, if a swaybar is indeed warranted, are there different levels of stiffness, where I might be able to find a compromise, if in fact, stiffer bar will affect normal ride quality?

Incidentally, I have looked under the car, and lubed my stock bushings in the past, and if I recall, swapping the bars should be a cakewalk, even lying on your back in a home garage, correct?

Any feedback in this area would be appreciated.

 

1) I have the F55 suspension and went with the Z06 sway bars... I love them and they really did make a huge difference...

2) no, it won't do anything for your ride quality, just cornering

3) no

4)no, these car are great and even better with performance mods!

On that serious note you were talking about, the normal ride quality is unaffected... If you go with track only T1 bars, then a comprimise might exist, but EnglandGreen did it and loved it...

I used a lift to change mine out and it was a piece of cake, I would defiantely recommend the Z06 bars to anyone! Good luck with your decision!

 

Really???? The Z06 bars are that much different than our stock ones? Do you happen to know the difference?

I also have the plastic style endlinks. What will I need to upgrade? the bars AND the endlinks? OR, do I just need the bars?

 

a word of warning about bars and endlinks. when i bought my c5 last year, the guy who owned it installed the T1 bars and end links, for no particular reason other than to do it. while the handling was great, the car was very "clunky". the T1 package seems to transmit alot of road noise and harshness. i do not know if it was just the bars or just the end links or a combination of the two but i eventually traded bars and endlinks straight across with a member who had a Z06 and while i still hear the suspension, it is more dampened now than before.

 

....Yes.......The Z06 front bar looks twice as thick and the rear is a little larger. The later model metal end links are a must. Poly bushings are real nice too if your going to do the ungrade......Good luck...

 

There's an offramp (on the track of course ) near my house that I used to take around 105 ish... now I can hit it around 120 with the same tires and there is a lot less sway in the car... So yes, I do feel that the Z06 bars do make a lot of difference!

When I took off the bars, I did notice that the Z06 front bar is a LOT bigger than the stock front bar, with the rear being someone bigger (the Z51 rear and the Z06 rear are the same).

 

all this talk about sway bars...im glad i got in on that Hotchkis GP...mine is on route to me as we speak!!!
Aj

 

Your gonna love those hotchkiss! I am glad I didn't go with z06 bars,even though they were quite a bit cheaper.
Unless you have experienced each,or at least 1 upgrade,it's just an uneducated guess

I guessed right IMHO