Sway bar upgrade question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 157
Likes: 73
From: Western NY
Sway bar upgrade question
Hello everyone,
I have a 2000 base, 6speed. I'm looking at upgrading the sway bars to the c6 z51 bars. Would it be wise or necessary to upgrade the shocks at the same time? Would it be out of balance with the stock shocks? Only 39k on the car. Or, would it be best to go all in with a coil-over set up. Im hoping I can chip away at upgrades without making something worse.
thanks!
I have a 2000 base, 6speed. I'm looking at upgrading the sway bars to the c6 z51 bars. Would it be wise or necessary to upgrade the shocks at the same time? Would it be out of balance with the stock shocks? Only 39k on the car. Or, would it be best to go all in with a coil-over set up. Im hoping I can chip away at upgrades without making something worse.
thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,185
Likes: 641
From: Garland TX
Hello everyone,
I have a 2000 base, 6speed. I'm looking at upgrading the sway bars to the c6 z51 bars. Would it be wise or necessary to upgrade the shocks at the same time? Would it be out of balance with the stock shocks? Only 39k on the car. Or, would it be best to go all in with a coil-over set up. Im hoping I can chip away at upgrades without making something worse.
thanks!
I have a 2000 base, 6speed. I'm looking at upgrading the sway bars to the c6 z51 bars. Would it be wise or necessary to upgrade the shocks at the same time? Would it be out of balance with the stock shocks? Only 39k on the car. Or, would it be best to go all in with a coil-over set up. Im hoping I can chip away at upgrades without making something worse.
thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
A few years back, shortly after I first got my '99 Hardtop I replaced the shocks and sway bars. I did both at the same time...C6 Z51 sways front and rear with metal end links and replaced the shocks with a set of C6 Z06 shocks front and rear. That combination really made a big difference in handling over the worn original shocks and was still very streetable. I highly recommend doing both at the same time since you're already in there and if your shocks are still the originals they are likely due to be replaced.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 3,313
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I did them both at the same time. I don't think it would hurt anything to do just the sway bars, but the C6Z06 shocks are better than the stock shocks that are getting pretty old. There's no need to go to coil over setup unless you are doing some serious track work or you really want the car slammed to the ground beyond lowering on stock bolts. I'm putting down 500WHP and the C6 Z06 shocks with C6 Z51 sway bars work very well for me. You'll also want to make sure that you have metal end links. The plastic ones are crap.
Last edited by MWWarlord; Jul 13, 2021 at 11:18 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 157
Likes: 73
From: Western NY
Thanks everyone for the responses and knowledge. I have no plans to autocross or track the car (at this time), just a weekend toy. I'll take a look around for a set of shocks too. Should I stick with the c6 z51 shocks or is there another good option that won't be crazy $$?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Thanks everyone for the responses and knowledge. I have no plans to autocross or track the car (at this time), just a weekend toy. I'll take a look around for a set of shocks too. Should I stick with the c6 z51 shocks or is there another good option that won't be crazy $$?
If you are going to switch both shocks and sways, use the C6 Z51 sway bars as you propose (with metal links, as suggested), and C6 Z06 shocks. A very nice upgrade that helps keep the car planted but it is still comfortable on the street.
Agree with the others that coil overs are not needed even if you decide to try out a track occasionally.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 157
Likes: 73
From: Western NY
If you are going to switch both shocks and sways, use the C6 Z51 sway bars as you propose (with metal links, as suggested), and C6 Z06 shocks. A very nice upgrade that helps keep the car planted but it is still comfortable on the street.
Agree with the others that coil overs are not needed even if you decide to try out a track occasionally.
Agree with the others that coil overs are not needed even if you decide to try out a track occasionally.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
Thanks everyone for the responses and knowledge. I have no plans to autocross or track the car (at this time), just a weekend toy. I'll take a look around for a set of shocks too. Should I stick with the c6 z51 shocks or is there another good option that won't be crazy $$?
I don't know if they are still a forum sponsor or not but Cultrag Performance was who I dealt with for my sways and shocks and they were great to deal with and had the best prices at that time. Good luck on the upgrades.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
The part numbers for the C6 Z06 shocks are: 10313647 (Front), and 25819268 (Rear).