Explain Sway Bars please:)
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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) was when my local mod shop recommended upgrading from my stock sway bars to the Z06 sway bars when I upgraded my wheels/tires to larger diameters. As mentioned, you won't know the difference in a straight line, however I noticed a considerable increase in control and a decrease in body sway in corners. 
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,081
Likes: 1
From: Lewes DE
Just in case anyone is interested.
Z51 Front and Rear Sway Bar Kit - Our most popular bar kit. Kit includes front and rear stabilizer bars for Z51 - $191.84
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
Z51 Front and Rear Sway Bar Kit - Our most popular bar kit. Kit includes front and rear stabilizer bars for Z51 - $191.84
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 5
From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
The only downside to stiffer sway bars is that they will chatter more when turning over uneven pavement. A minor downside to vastly improved cornering.
The true answer to how "well" a sway bar will work (ie. how much body roll it will eliminate) is dependent on how much it resists twisting. That is a factor of material type and cross sectional shape of the bar. Since some bars are solid and some are tubular, you can't directly compare diameter or weight.
C6Z51 bars are cheaper than C5Z bars and are a similar size. This is why I chose this route. I avoided C6Z bars as I do not have a 12" rear tire and did not want oversteer. My car, a base C5 with C5Z tire sizes and C6Z51 sway bars, was as neutral as can be on the track.
The true answer to how "well" a sway bar will work (ie. how much body roll it will eliminate) is dependent on how much it resists twisting. That is a factor of material type and cross sectional shape of the bar. Since some bars are solid and some are tubular, you can't directly compare diameter or weight.
C6Z51 bars are cheaper than C5Z bars and are a similar size. This is why I chose this route. I avoided C6Z bars as I do not have a 12" rear tire and did not want oversteer. My car, a base C5 with C5Z tire sizes and C6Z51 sway bars, was as neutral as can be on the track.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Fort Wayne IN
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I'm now contemplating the C6 Z51 bars after riding in my buddies 05 GTO and seeing the AMAZING improvement the Hotchkis bars made in his car. Made his car nearly feel like mine, and we can't be having that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
I got lucky on the Gene Z51 Bars deal. Huge handling difference. No dip in cornering. If you don't have metal endlinks you have plastic. Mine were twisted and distorted. By swapping to metal links that firms every thing up. I push every on ramp and off ramp to the limits and I love these bars.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
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Went with the T1's (4 yrs ago) thinking it will add all positives and no negatives and boy i was so wrong. On rough or broken pavement I feel side by side motion, wheels lift off the ground when going on road bumbs from the side. Ride in general is very stiff compared to what I had before (F45). All in all , T1's are over kill for street use but if you track your car you gonna love them.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: 972 and 405
Lots of good information here guys. I have stock suspension on my 2001 with F45 handling and bigger wheels/tires. Tire widths are 265/35/18 front and 295/35/18 rears so I am considering C5Z bars for my car since it is a DD but would like to compliment the tire selection I have. Any confirmations if the C5Z and C6Z51 are both solid or tubular?
-Alex
. I have stock suspension on my 2001 with F45 handling and bigger wheels/tires. Tire widths are 265/35/18 front and 295/35/18 rears so I am considering C5Z bars for my car since it is a DD but would like to compliment the tire selection I have. Any confirmations if the C5Z and C6Z51 are both solid or tubular?-Alex
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 16
From: Katy Tx
Lots of good information here guys. I have stock suspension on my 2001 with F45 handling and bigger wheels/tires. Tire widths are 265/35/18 front and 295/35/18 rears so I am considering C5Z bars for my car since it is a DD but would like to compliment the tire selection I have. Any confirmations if the C5Z and C6Z51 are both solid or tubular?
-Alex
. I have stock suspension on my 2001 with F45 handling and bigger wheels/tires. Tire widths are 265/35/18 front and 295/35/18 rears so I am considering C5Z bars for my car since it is a DD but would like to compliment the tire selection I have. Any confirmations if the C5Z and C6Z51 are both solid or tubular?-Alex
So what are the T1s or rather, what model did they come on to be considerably larger than the ZO6 ones?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 470
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From: Round Rock Texas
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I had Callaway sways on my 02' vert and the handling was a substantial improvement over my 01' coupe. After experiencing the difference, this will be one of the first mods I do on my next car.
I have been working on an S10 truck project since last spring and this was one of the mods I did on the truck. Made a huge difference in the way the truck handles. I would highly recommend this mod to anyone, even if you’re not looking at high performance type driving. They just give the car a firmer more confident feel.
I have been working on an S10 truck project since last spring and this was one of the mods I did on the truck. Made a huge difference in the way the truck handles. I would highly recommend this mod to anyone, even if you’re not looking at high performance type driving. They just give the car a firmer more confident feel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
T1s don't come on any factory Corvette. They are what are developed by GM for track Vettes. I don't think they are very desirable for cars that see a lot of street use.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I would like to throw out an additional question (if I may) how does the sway bar, or the selection of a sway bar impact the wear/tear on other parts of the suspension? Shocks? Is this a mod where it has that domino effect we are all too familiar with when modding other parts of the car..where if you upgrade this, then you have to upgrade that
Sorry for hijax
) how does the sway bar, or the selection of a sway bar impact the wear/tear on other parts of the suspension? Shocks? Is this a mod where it has that domino effect we are all too familiar with when modding other parts of the car..where if you upgrade this, then you have to upgrade thatSorry for hijax
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,361
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From: Bonita Springs, Florida
From sticky:
Swaybars
23mm, front; 19.1mm, rear --- FE1/Base
25.4mm, front; 21.7mm, rear --- FE3/Z51 97-99
28.6mm, front; 23.6mm, rear --- FE3/Z51 00-04
30.0mm, front; 23.6mm, rear --- FE4/Z06
31.75mm, front; 25.4mm, rear --- Hotchkis
38.4mm, front; 27.5mm, rear --- GM T1
Swaybars
23mm, front; 19.1mm, rear --- FE1/Base
25.4mm, front; 21.7mm, rear --- FE3/Z51 97-99
28.6mm, front; 23.6mm, rear --- FE3/Z51 00-04
30.0mm, front; 23.6mm, rear --- FE4/Z06
31.75mm, front; 25.4mm, rear --- Hotchkis
38.4mm, front; 27.5mm, rear --- GM T1
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,081
Likes: 1
From: Lewes DE
The T1 are from the performance group, specifically designed for SCCA, but other sanctioning bodies use them as well. They are TERRIBLE for the street!!
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Just in case anyone is interested.
Z51 Front and Rear Sway Bar Kit - Our most popular bar kit. Kit includes front and rear stabilizer bars for Z51 - $191.84
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
Z51 Front and Rear Sway Bar Kit - Our most popular bar kit. Kit includes front and rear stabilizer bars for Z51 - $191.84
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
These are solid OEM GM bars.
The T1 are from the performance group, specifically designed for SCCA, but other sanctioning bodies use them as well. They are TERRIBLE for the street!!
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
The T1 are from the performance group, specifically designed for SCCA, but other sanctioning bodies use them as well. They are TERRIBLE for the street!!
Thanks
Kevin
www.PartsTaxi.com
