I've got an 01 Vert with 35K miles on it - I was planning on replacing the shocks with the Cultrag C6 Z06 shocks but not doing the sway bars as I have the Z51 suspension package. I spoke to Gene today and he suggested doing the upgraded sway bars saying that they were even bigger than the Z51 ones. I'm not looking for a track car but I do enjoy spirited back road driving but I also don't want something that is a harsh ride. Looking for opinions if it's worth just doing the shocks or if it would be worth doing the sway bar upgrade. Price wise it's only about $200 more for parts but it would require more labor (haven't priced that yet) - just wondering if it's worth it. A little worried about if the car will sit much higher. Any and all suggestions valued as I trust the varied opinions on this forum.

 

Shocks control the quality of your ride, sway bars keep it flat while cornering.

Neither should lift your car, unless your current shocks are absolutely shot.

Sway bars are a simple DIY and shocks aren't far behind.

 

This has been posted before by another member:

Swaybars:
C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear / 3.81mm/2.0mm thickness
C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.15mm/3mm thickness
C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear / 4.5mm/3.5mm thickness
C6 Base: ?? mm-front / 22.0 mm (7/8")-rear
C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.4 mm (1")-rear
C6 Z06: 31 mm-front / 28.8 mm-rear
C5 Hotchkis: 31.75 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear / 4mm/4mm thickness
C5/C6 Addco: 32 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
C5/C6 Addco: 35 mm-front / 25.4 mm-rear
C5 Pfadt (Adjustables): 32 mm-front / 26 mm-rear http://www.pfadtracing.com/
C5 Pfadt (Adjustables): 35 mm-front / 28.5 mm-rear (Pfatty)
C5 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6.35/6.35 thickness
C6 T1 (GM Racing): 38.4 mm-front / 27.5 mm-rear / 6mm/?? thick

Springs:
C5 Z06: 526# Front, 714# Rear
C6 Z06: 531# Front, 782# Rear
C6 Z51: 526# Front, 645# Rear
T1 (C6): 582# Front, 850# Rear
C6 Base: 420# Front, 657# Rear (VBP: 400-420 F / 600-620 R)
T1 (C5): 582# Front, 793# Rear
Pfadt Coil-overs: 425# Front, 575# Rear (Remember: Wheel rates!)
Hyperco HPS (Street): 565# Front (12405HPS), #765 Rear (12406HPS)
Hyperco HPT (Track/Solo): 625# Front (12407HPT), #850 Rear (12408HPT)
VBP Sport 990# Front, 650# Rear
VBP Extreme 1050# Front, 855# Rear

part numbers:

GM OEM Z06 Front Swaybar: 10419094
GM OEM Z06 Front swaybar bushings: 10419095 (2 needed)
GM OEM Z51 Front swaybar: 10424741
GM OEM Z51 Front swaybar bushings: 10424742 (2 needed)
GM OEM Z06/Z51 Rear Swaybar: 10424743
GM OEM Z06/Z51 Rear swaybar bushings 10431951 (2 needed)
GM OEM 2002+ Z06 Aluminum endlinks: 10435298

This link tells how to swap the swaybar:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=16

Z06 Front spring: 22178729
Z06 Rear spring: 22188038
Z51 Front spring: 22178729 (note: same as Z06)
Z51 Rear spring: 22179020
Base Front Spring: 22178728
Base Rear Spring: 22179019

How to swap the springs:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=20

I have C5 Z06 Sway Bars with Prothane poly bushings and C6 metal end links along with F45 adjustable shocks. What a nice improvement over the FE3 sway bars and rubber bushings with plastic end links that came with the F45 suspension in 1999.
You can replace your front swaybar for a C5 Z06 front swaybar since your rear bar is the same size as the Z06, replace the rubber bushings with ploy and install fresh new metal endlinks. I felt that the C5 Z06 was fine for the street but makes the car feel more planted and firm similar to how my '02 C5 Z06 felt.

 

Swaybar size is determined by wheel rate, spring rate, travel length and bumpsteer. It's impossible to know what bar you'll need until it's all measured. Typically a harder or more agressive shock and/or spring combo requires less sway bar size, not more. Change shocks and go from there. If you aren't tracking it you'll never know the difference so you might as well keep what you have.

 

I would replace the shocks but hold off on the sway bars. I "upgraded" my Z51 optioned car to bilstein sports. I already upgraded the sway bar end links, the plastic ones in the rear were shot, but the sway bars are stock and the car stays very flat in some tight roads I know well enough to push hard through. So IMO, if you're not tracking it, you're unlikely to exceed the stock sway bars capabilities. There is definitely a trade off in ride quality if you go bigger than you need for your driving style.

 

I went to the C-6 Z06 shocks, and sways. I couldn't be happier. The difference is phenomenal, even my wife could tell the difference.