Sway bars
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 142
From: Lynn MA
Sway bars
I've been looking around for replacement front and rear sway bars for my 99 vert.'Nothing over the top but a nice upgrade. I have C6 Z06 shocks and metal end links about 3 years old. Suggestions please for sway bars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 760
Likes: 242
From: All Over The Place
ZZ
This is what I did for the set-up on my 04 stick vert. Street and no tracking in the selection of parts. Keep in mind that suspension geometry/ratios must be kept relatively proportionate to spec in order to prevent understeer/oversteer concerns.
I assembled the following for my car and it handles very well for a Vert:
C6 base wheels (I am not going to disclose my tire choice as your thread will get hijacked)
C6 Z06 shocks (AC Delco)
C6 Z51 front spring
C5 Z51 rear spring
C5 Z06 front sway bar
C6 Z51 rear sway bar
Poly bushings
Metal end links (if not already equipped)
I sourced the wheels, springs, and sways used. The shocks and end links were new.
This is what I did for the set-up on my 04 stick vert. Street and no tracking in the selection of parts. Keep in mind that suspension geometry/ratios must be kept relatively proportionate to spec in order to prevent understeer/oversteer concerns.
I assembled the following for my car and it handles very well for a Vert:
C6 base wheels (I am not going to disclose my tire choice as your thread will get hijacked)
C6 Z06 shocks (AC Delco)
C6 Z51 front spring
C5 Z51 rear spring
C5 Z06 front sway bar
C6 Z51 rear sway bar
Poly bushings
Metal end links (if not already equipped)
I sourced the wheels, springs, and sways used. The shocks and end links were new.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 331
Likes: 74
From: Florida
A real nice upgrade is the C6 Z51 sway bars
They didn't end up being roll-resistant enough for my uses (track, spirited driving) but they are great for keeping the car more planted and about the cheapest way to go about it
They didn't end up being roll-resistant enough for my uses (track, spirited driving) but they are great for keeping the car more planted and about the cheapest way to go about it
Last edited by 02torchred; Feb 9, 2020 at 01:15 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 226
From: Coast of San Mateo CA
C6 Z51 Bars are the hands down best value especially used for your application (vert) & goals.
I put those on my C5, and the TPS Steinjager HD sway bars (a hair larger front 33 VS 31 mm & hollow along with 3 way adjustable
in the rear, with spherical end links, $399.00) on my C6 DD combined with Bilstein B6s, a great upgrade but overkill
for a convertible street car imo.
I would also suggest the TPS tunnel brace, good value compared to the elite brace. This will help stiffen
the convertable chassis with your upgraded shocks & sways.
I put those on my C5, and the TPS Steinjager HD sway bars (a hair larger front 33 VS 31 mm & hollow along with 3 way adjustable
in the rear, with spherical end links, $399.00) on my C6 DD combined with Bilstein B6s, a great upgrade but overkill
for a convertible street car imo.
I would also suggest the TPS tunnel brace, good value compared to the elite brace. This will help stiffen
the convertable chassis with your upgraded shocks & sways.
Last edited by Navy Blue 210; Feb 9, 2020 at 12:21 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 819
Likes: 645
From: Beautiful Springboro, OH
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I replaced my original 2000 rotted endlinks with these from Moog -
I replaced the OEM sway bars with Eibach sway bars. The car takes curves a lot better, and I'll be replacing the shocks this summer to really get a better experience.
Here is a link to the rear sway bar--https://eibach.com/us/i-2386-rear-an...-bar-only.html
Here is a link to the rear sway bar--https://eibach.com/us/i-2386-rear-an...-bar-only.html
Last edited by Edmund Iverson; Feb 9, 2020 at 12:12 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 226
From: Coast of San Mateo CA
I replaced my original 2000 rotted endlinks with these from Moog -https://www.amazon.com/Moog-K750136-.../dp/B003B2YRJO
I replaced the OEM sway bars with Eibach sway bars. The car takes curves a lot better, and I'll be replacing the shocks this summer to really get a better experience.
Here is a link to the rear sway bar--https://eibach.com/us/i-2386-rear-an...-bar-only.html
I replaced the OEM sway bars with Eibach sway bars. The car takes curves a lot better, and I'll be replacing the shocks this summer to really get a better experience.
Here is a link to the rear sway bar--https://eibach.com/us/i-2386-rear-an...-bar-only.html
My recomendation to the OP would be to get the $40.00 Metal endlinks which were the factory Upgrade
to the original (which are similar to the $20.00 Moog endlinks, listed) to combine with C6 Z51 bars.
The original C5 end links had breakage/durability issues which is why the factory upgraded those,
Especially with upgraded sways & shocks.
Just my .02
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,058
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
C6 Z51 Bars are the hands down best value especially used for your application (vert) & goals.
I put those on my C5, and the TPS Steinjager HD sway bars (a hair larger front 33 VS 31 mm & hollow along with 3 way adjustable
in the rear, with spherical end links, $399.00) on my C6 DD combined with Bilstein B6s, a great upgrade but overkill
for a convertible street car imo.
I would also suggest the TPS tunnel brace, good value compared to the elite brace. This will help stiffen
the convertable chassis with your upgraded shocks & sways.
I put those on my C5, and the TPS Steinjager HD sway bars (a hair larger front 33 VS 31 mm & hollow along with 3 way adjustable
in the rear, with spherical end links, $399.00) on my C6 DD combined with Bilstein B6s, a great upgrade but overkill
for a convertible street car imo.
I would also suggest the TPS tunnel brace, good value compared to the elite brace. This will help stiffen
the convertable chassis with your upgraded shocks & sways.
...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The sway bar/shocks/springs available on the C5 have been discussed hundreds or maybe thousands of time. For a stock c5 wheels or even Z06 sizes, most of the recommendations is sticking with the C5 Z51/Z06 rear bar, C6 Z51 front bar, C5 2004 metal endlinks, and for an economy shock the C6 Z06 shocks. For those who are looking for better shock, the Bilstein b6/8, 2004 Z06, DRM Bilsteins are better. If you are interested by the best setup for your particular car you should contact stanosports (forum vendor) for advise. He has tested almost every possible combination at one time or another.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 226
From: Coast of San Mateo CA
The elite Engineering thermal abs of steel tunnel plate is what I put on years ago and was a good investment in addition to C6 Z51 sway bars and C6Z06 shocks...total of about $600....not even the cost of a set of tires, and now my 2004 vert handles so good I wanna cry......
...The TPS thermal plate is $40.00 less and is the same 1/4" Aluminum as Elite's
(2 X OE C6 thickness & 4 X OE C5 Thickness! ) with a thermal heat shield as well.
I would consider the tunnel plate a must for any suspension upgrades
Especially a convertible.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 1,657
From: Arizona
I replaced ADDCO Sway Bars with T1 Sway Bars and notice zero difference.
The ADDCO Sway Bars are a huge improvement.
I have a set I would sell.
I had them listed for sale but realized the bolts were mismatched. Since then, I purchased an entire set of Grade 8 bolts, washers, and nuts.
I should repost for sale but been lazy.
The ADDCO Sway Bars are a huge improvement.
I have a set I would sell.
I had them listed for sale but realized the bolts were mismatched. Since then, I purchased an entire set of Grade 8 bolts, washers, and nuts.
I should repost for sale but been lazy.
Administrator
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c6 Z51 sway bars would be a very good upgrade.
Cruising
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NU
I ordered the sway bars from cultrag also, will take about a month to get and at times it was hard getting ahold Someone to just get order status.I ordered on May 11 supposed to get them this Wednesday June 9th...they did say it was longer to get because of the COVID-19 good luck
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
Steinjager makes a very affordable set front/rear that is an upgrade over any C5 stock setup - I believe the front bar is only incrementally larger than stock Z06, but lighter weight - and they provide prothane poly bushings....Steinjager is a much bigger name in the Jeep/truck world, but their custom made tie rods & their adjustable 3 piece heimlinks are very nice - I have their heimlinks in the front & moog non-adjustable in the rear.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I ordered the sway bars from cultrag also, will take about a month to get and at times it was hard getting ahold Someone to just get order status.I ordered on May 11 supposed to get them this Wednesday June 9th...they did say it was longer to get because of the COVID-19 good luck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 142
From: Lynn MA
I got the C6 Z51 sway bars and bought new end links even though the ones on there were just a couple years old. Went on easy, I had the car up on my recently purchased Quickjack. They are much beefier than stock sways. Also painted my rotor hubs and calipers. Did the anti-venom mod while I had it up. Haven't been able to drive it yet due to still waiting on my new CCW's I ordered. I've already sold my old wheels and tires hence not being able to test things out.