C5 Sway Bars
10-25-2018, 01:10 AM
#1
8th Gear
Thread Starter
C5 Sway Bars
Would somebody please give me some good info about sway bars? eg: which ones to buy! sway bar end links! please help! Just bought my first Corvette (C5). End links are worn out and I don't mind the idea of posibly buying new aftermarket bars and links, but I need help!
10-25-2018, 01:27 AM
#2
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,972
Received 19,298 Likes
on
13,971 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I would recommend going with the C6 Z06 sway bars and end links.
The following users liked this post:
glazierglen (10-25-2018)
10-25-2018, 01:38 AM
#3
Safety Car
Jack is the ,man and has helped many, but unless something has changed.....the better sway bars for a C5 with standard sized tires are the C6 Z51 bars. The C6 Z06 bars are too stiff for the adhesion you get out of standard sized tires and actually leave some handeling on the table.
Just a point.
You're going to replace the end links with metal (aluminum) ones......and that is unscrewuppable <== technical term, any are good. If you get around to shocks, the C6 Z06 shocks are fine for the C5.
Just a point.
You're going to replace the end links with metal (aluminum) ones......and that is unscrewuppable <== technical term, any are good. If you get around to shocks, the C6 Z06 shocks are fine for the C5.
The following users liked this post:
glazierglen (10-25-2018)
10-25-2018, 02:36 AM
#5
Instructor
Hotchkis makes great sway bars for the C5 and they are adjustable. Pretty safe bet that if your front links are shot the back ones are as well. I really can't fathom why GM thought plastic sway bar end links on these cars was a good idea. Definitely go with aluminum ones with polyurethane bushings.
The following users liked this post:
glazierglen (10-25-2018)
10-25-2018, 08:03 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Posts: 5,213
Received 184 Likes
on
133 Posts
Would somebody please give me some good info about sway bars? eg: which ones to buy! sway bar end links! please help! Just bought my first Corvette (C5). End links are worn out and I don't mind the idea of posibly buying new aftermarket bars and links, but I need help!
10-25-2018, 08:47 AM
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2002
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
Posts: 21,886
Received 3,054 Likes
on
2,030 Posts
My car has the F45 suspension. I went with stock OEM C5 Z06 sway bars and stock GM OEM C6 metal end links with Prothane polyurethane sway bar bushings. I found this set-up to have improved the feel and handling very noticeably without any negative impact on the ride or handling. I also retained stock size rims and tires. There is no feeling of the car skipping around tight corners.
10-25-2018, 09:23 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Jack is the ,man and has helped many, but unless something has changed.....the better sway bars for a C5 with standard sized tires are the C6 Z51 bars. The C6 Z06 bars are too stiff for the adhesion you get out of standard sized tires and actually leave some handeling on the table.
Just a point.
You're going to replace the end links with metal (aluminum) ones......and that is unscrewuppable <== technical term, any are good. If you get around to shocks, the C6 Z06 shocks are fine for the C5.
Just a point.
You're going to replace the end links with metal (aluminum) ones......and that is unscrewuppable <== technical term, any are good. If you get around to shocks, the C6 Z06 shocks are fine for the C5.
10-25-2018, 09:31 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
I suggest keep the stock bars, replace the bushings, replace the endlinks with greasable Moogs, and install DRM valved Bilstein shocks. then and only then consider different bars.
The following users liked this post:
STALION (10-25-2018)
10-25-2018, 09:36 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Posts: 5,213
Received 184 Likes
on
133 Posts
BAM!!!
Keep it simple! Poor guy is going to end up buying everything out of the Jegs catalog that he may not need! lol
Last edited by STALION; 10-25-2018 at 09:37 AM.
10-25-2018, 10:03 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
10-25-2018, 12:28 PM
#14
I went with these and love them! Had them on for a couple of years now. I got them for $250 at the time.
Looks like the price has gone up but still a killer deal! These are the same size as C6 Z06 bars
https://www.ebay.com/p/1997-2004-Che...7452137&chn=ps
Looks like the price has gone up but still a killer deal! These are the same size as C6 Z06 bars
https://www.ebay.com/p/1997-2004-Che...7452137&chn=ps
10-25-2018, 10:10 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
How you will use the car should help guide your decision. I don't track the car, just fun top down driving. I went with base C6 shocks (stiffer then C5 but less than C6Zo6), GM metal end-links and poly bushings on the factory bars. Very nice improvement.
10-26-2018, 07:12 AM
#17
Team Owner
I also have the F-45 suspension on my '01 coupe. Shortly after buying the car, in 2001, I installed polyurethane sway bar bushings and the "rod-end" style end links. Because I made the swap so soon after buying the car, I can't really give an accurate "before and after" comparison, but it seems to work well for me.
10-26-2018, 08:22 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2017
Location: Hickory NC
Posts: 10,211
Received 863 Likes
on
667 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I think this is a good approach. Make changes incrementally and stop when you get the suspension feel you are looking for. Replacing old plastic end links with metal ones will make a noticeable change.
But, as others have pointed out, your end use should guide the changes you make.
Best wishes with getting your ride where you want it to be.
Cheers, Larry