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I have just installed a 2004 Z06 sway bar and C6 2006 Z06 shocks on my 2004 C5. The front sway bars are making contact with something because I hear a clicking noise. The dealer says to add a lift kit for clearence. Is this true??? I thought the Z06 upgrade would be seemless even though the diameter of the front sway bar is greater than stock. Any thoughts??
A lift kit?!? That dealer has no clue, as your current front end geometry was stock on a Z06.
I went throught this just a few weeks ago. I removed the bushings and re-sprayed them liberally w/ while lithium grease...and the "clicking" disappeared. Yes, there is very little clearance between the bars and the lower a-arms, and I was convinced that this was my problem. However, this cured my problem over the course of a few miles.
First of all thanks for the help. My car is at dealer with "Corvette Specialists" he says that sway bar is rubbing on control arm. He recommends Hochkiss adjustable end link kit. Thoughts????
Well....Hotchkis recently stopped using the adjustable end links and now ships all of their bars with solid end links. Solid end links are not the problem unless something is seriously bent. Just my .02 but you should go get your can and keep it away from these morons before they do something you'll regret.
First of all thanks for the help. My car is at dealer with "Corvette Specialists" he says that sway bar is rubbing on control arm. He recommends Hochkiss adjustable end link kit. Thoughts????
Again thanks for the response!!!!!
I can tell you this - I ran Z06 sways with stock shocks and then with 2006 C6 Z06 shocks and never had a problem with any rubbing with the stock metal endlinks.
I then moved over to the T1 bars which are effing huge and went to adjustable endlinks and still no rubbing.
you can get adjustable endlinks from Vette Brakes if you want to try them out.
I still think it is something else (like being in upside down) unless they are bent wrong.
I just replaced the plastic sway bar end links with C5 Z06 metal ones and put in the C6 Z06 shocks on my '99 FRC (Z51 suspension). Great ride, No issues. If you did the installation yourself, go back over all bolts and nuts. Back them off and retorque them to specifications. Make sure your not twisting the end links bolt shaft and boot while tightening. Lubricate your bushings. Make sure the shock mount nut on top of the front shocks is tight and slightly compressing the rubber bushings and they are flush with the mounting bracket. You can not use the front shock C6 Z06 shock bushing (too tall). You must reuse your C5 rubber bushings. The shock shafts on the C6 Z06 shocks are different than C5 shocks in that there's less thread on the shaft. They work fine with the C5 shock bushings. I used washers between the rear shock shaft nut and the cap to make sure I didn't run out of threads for tightening and slightly compressing the bushing. If the nut is not to spec or the bushing is not compressed properly, you could have some up/down play in the shock area possibly making a noise. Like I said, did mine and the ride is awesome. Good luck!