Ninjawarrior

Thinking of installing better sway bars front and rear on my 03/C5. Has anyone done so, and if so, can you offer any suggestions on which ones to install?

Any real different feeling in the way it handles after the upgrade?

How about Z51 stock GM type bars.....would like to use GM parts, but am open for the best set.

Not going to be raced, just steet driven in mountain areas where there are lots of turns etc...

Ninja

Soul per4mance

If you're trying to stay gm, try c6 zo6 bars. They are reasonably priced and a decent upgrade over c5 stuff.

QCVette

Try the C6 Z51 bars. I put them on my '99 (originally a Z51 car) and it is a noticeable improvement.

I put the C6 Z06 bars on my FRC.

To tell the truth, I don't feel any difference between the C6 Z06 and C6 Z51 bars. The front bar is the same, but the rear C6 Z06 bars are bigger than the C6 Z51 bars.

Many people recommend the C6 Z51 bars unless your rear tires are about 325 or larger. The thought is that the C6 Z06 bars can make for some oversteer. I haven't pushed my FRC enough yet to tell.

Make sure to use the metal end links too (if you currently have the plastic ones).

I think a forum vendor (GM Parts House) has some threads with a package upgrade for about $200. His thread also has the bar sizes for most C5 and C6 options.

Good luck.

Cybermind

I went with the Eibach swaybar kit which includes poly bushings for about the same price as the GM ones. As a bonus, they are red which looks cool under the car. Huge improvement in handling.

roscoe118

If you plan to track your car, or push it very hard on the street with the stock size tires, don't go bigger than C5-Z06 or C6-Z51 bars. You can induce oversteer in the rear, and understeer in the front.

I replaced stock bars on my '02 Coupe with C5-Z06 bars and noticed an immediate improvement in cornering. You can usually find some for sale in the Parts for Sale section, and save a few bucks as well...

s'noJob

I did this with good luck, but I really noticed a difference after installing Bilstein shocks in addition to the C6 Z51 sways. Add the shocks, either Bilsteins or Z06 shocks, at the same time as the sways and your car will ride on rails.

/2¢

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Corvette_Ed

Unless you have 305 or wider rear tires the C6 Z06 sway bars are not recommended. For most the C6 Z51 bars are the way to go.

Corvette_Ed

The Bilstein shocks are next on my list for suspension upgrades.

I was advised that if you plan on drag racing, the Bilstein's were best, but if planning on autocross or similar road racing the C6 Z06 shocks are the way to go.

Vetteman Jack

and Gene at gmpartshouse.com has good prices on them.

old stingray

I did the C6 Z51 sway bars and C6 Z06 shocks,this made a big improvement in handling.

Cedarberry

if not in a big hurry ill be pullin my C6Z06 sways and shocks next weekend, replacing with pfadt heavy rate adjustible sways and coilovers. id do 225.00 shipped on the sways, they come with metal end links as well.

envyz06

I would say C6 z or pfadt

Ninjawarrior

I can't argue with so many members here who share the same exact opinion...so GM will be getting a call from me Monday and will be ordering the C6Z51 packages in the shock dept. and the Z06 swaybars...

Looking forward to more pronounced control and stability...

Thanks guys for your group input and expertise...

Ninja

Corvette_Ed

You've got that backwards. You want the C6 Z51 sway bars and the C6 Z06 shocks.

Daddyrama31

I have the C6 Z51 bars and the C6Z06 shocks on my C5 Z51 Vert. Much better option and I can feel the difference in cornering. I also replace the plastic end links with the new style metal. Best bang for the buck by far and I think this is your best option for a street driven car. Look no further!

MSG C5

Anyone try Hotchkis bars? I'm currently running C5 Z06 sways and Koni FSD shocks on my 2004 vert. Street driver only. I loved the sways the moment I installed them and noticed an immediate improvement in cornering. I then added the Koni FSD shocks a couple of years later and the car rides like it's on rails, however it seems as though the car has settled a little lower on the Koni FSD shocks than it did on the OEM shocks. It looks great, but I'm wondering if different shocks would match up better with the C5 Z06 sways or vice versa? Or add new sways to match up with the Koni FSD shocks?

Corvette_Ed

If you have wide enough tires for it get the C6 Z06 sway bars. No need to spend a ton of money on race-quality equipment when the car is a daily driver.

I dream of vettes

I was strongly contemplating going with the C6 Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars for my 00 Coupe. The car is mainly street driven. That seems like the best bang for the buck from the research I have done on the topic so far.

On a side note, I remember reading an install thread for the Z51 sway bars where the author had to create a couple of metal spacer brackets to fix a clearance issue for the rear sways. Has anybody else experienced this issue?

Corvette_Ed

Mine is a 2000 coupe and the new sways and end links were straight bolt-on. I didn't have to do anything extra. If someone had to add spacers they've got more going on than OEM.

troyguitar

The Hotchkis bars are supposedly made for street driving. I have not tried them on a C5 but they are what I've run on all my Audi's in the past for better street handling without being as stiff as a track setup. This makes it sound like the C5 Hotchkis bars will fulfill that role well too:

http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_00...s/viewall.html