Z06 Sway Bar Install Tips
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
Z06 Sway Bar Install Tips
I just purchsed a pair of new Z06 sway bars with metal links and bushings for my 02 MN6 coupe. Anyone have install instructions or tips? It looks like a pretty easy install but sometimes it is the installs that look easy which end up being the biggest PITA.......
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Since the "arms" of the bars should be paralell with the road when installed, and the car at ride height, you should probably have the wheels with weight on them.
Also, MAKE SURE that you have the links set so they're the same length. If not, you'll preload the suspension, and the car will handle "weirdly".
Also, MAKE SURE that you have the links set so they're the same length. If not, you'll preload the suspension, and the car will handle "weirdly".
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
I thought the 02s already had metal endlinks or are you going to adjustable?some good advice is to take a pic of the current setup then remove the current sways. put them on the ground the same way and match up the new sways then install. IF you get confused you can look at your pic. I have heard of people installing them upside down and you dont want to do that.
It is a real easy install just be safe while under the car...
BTW this site will help somewhat
http://www.z06vette.com/diy_endlinks.php
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; Sep 6, 2006 at 09:05 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
hold studs with torx socket and remove nuts. if after all the lubes on the planet it still grunts use anti seize . if youre running non run craps youre bump oversteer will come back but not as much if on run craps i guess it will be worse. z bars made my coup feel much better in turns
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Hot Springs AR
Originally Posted by tompugh
I have a set to install too. When lifted, do the wheels need to be supporting the weight of the car or can they hang in the air? Is either way acceptable for installing the bars? Tom
Make sure you torque the end links down properly. Don't have the specific torque value with me, but if you don't torque them enough they'll start banging/clunking when you go over an uneven surface.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
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From: Montara Ca
Get the Eckler's Poly bushing's for the front at least. After I installed the Z06 sways in my 99 I had creaking, groaning and poping when going over speed bumps or when accelerating away from a stop. I tried everthing, spacing the sway bar bushing clamps with washers ( bars were totally bound up in bushings) greased the heck out of them. The bushings were brand new rubber type from GM and yes they were the correct ones. Finally a forum member suggested the Poly bushings so I ordered front and backs. Installed the backs first and still had all the friggin noise, sounded like it was coming from both front and back of car. Finally got around to installing the fronts a couple weeks later and BINGO quite as a mouse.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by dudleyd
Get the Eckler's Poly bushing's for the front at least. After I installed the Z06 sways in my 99 I had creaking, groaning and poping when going over speed bumps or when accelerating away from a stop. I tried everthing, spacing the sway bar bushing clamps with washers ( bars were totally bound up in bushings) greased the heck out of them. The bushings were brand new rubber type from GM and yes they were the correct ones. Finally a forum member suggested the Poly bushings so I ordered front and backs. Installed the backs first and still had all the friggin noise, sounded like it was coming from both front and back of car. Finally got around to installing the fronts a couple weeks later and BINGO quite as a mouse.
Same thing with me, get the poly bushing's,
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
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From: Tampa FL
I just received my Z06 sway bars and metal end links the other day and I have a 2002 hatchback. Do I not need these endlinks?
Do the rubber front bushings really groan that much? I know I had that problem on my 98 Z28 when I changed the swaybars but when I did the bushings I used engine oil as grease
which caused the bars to ruin the bushings. I replaced with greasable poly energy suspension bushings and it was better.
So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
Do the rubber front bushings really groan that much? I know I had that problem on my 98 Z28 when I changed the swaybars but when I did the bushings I used engine oil as grease
which caused the bars to ruin the bushings. I replaced with greasable poly energy suspension bushings and it was better.So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by ryoder
I just received my Z06 sway bars and metal end links the other day and I have a 2002 hatchback. Do I not need these endlinks?
Do the rubber front bushings really groan that much? I know I had that problem on my 98 Z28 when I changed the swaybars but when I did the bushings I used engine oil as grease which caused the bars to ruin the bushings. I replaced with greasable poly energy suspension bushings and it was better.
So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
Do the rubber front bushings really groan that much? I know I had that problem on my 98 Z28 when I changed the swaybars but when I did the bushings I used engine oil as grease
which caused the bars to ruin the bushings. I replaced with greasable poly energy suspension bushings and it was better.So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
In 2001 the Z06 had metal endlinks and if I remeber correctly in 2002 the C5 got them. You can easily tell when you look at them.
As far as the bushings I would try the stock ones first with plenty of grease and then if you dont like it order the others. I had no problems with the stock ones on the Z06 sways, but I did have some problems with the stock ones for the T1 bars...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
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From: Montara Ca
Originally Posted by ryoder
I
So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
So do I need to sell these metal endlinks and order poly bushings right now? For the front and back? Can I buy them in town?
Endlinks tie the sway bar to the cotrol arms, yours are plastic, Z06 are metal, the plastic will probably snap with the stiffer Z06 bar.
The GM rubber or Ecklers Poly bushings support the sway bar and are mounted to the front and rear cradle's via a bushing retainer bracket.
You want to keep the metal endlinks to replace the crappy plastic one's that are with your stock sway bar's and if needed get the Poly bushings if you get a bunch of noise coming from the suspension after you change over to the Z06 bars and use the GM rubber bushings.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by dudleyd
NO,they are two different parts.
Endlinks tie the sway bar to the cotrol arms, yours are plastic, Z06 are metal, the plastic will probably snap with the stiffer Z06 bar.
Endlinks tie the sway bar to the cotrol arms, yours are plastic, Z06 are metal, the plastic will probably snap with the stiffer Z06 bar.
Metal endlinks replaced plastic
C5 Coupe/Vert 2002 and up
Z06 2001 (only front rears were done in 2002) and up
Team Owner
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
I believe you are incorrect an 02 C5 has metal endlinks already.
Metal endlinks replaced plastic
C5 Coupe/Vert 2002 and up
Z06 2001 (only front rears were done in 2002) and up
Metal endlinks replaced plastic
C5 Coupe/Vert 2002 and up
Z06 2001 (only front rears were done in 2002) and up
His '02 already has the metals front and rear. For lubing any of the bushings on the bars I use synthetic caliper grease. It's cheap, very available (the brand I found was "Sta-Lube" I believe), it's rubber friendly and very resistant to water washout.HTH,
Robert
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,339
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From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
I believe you are incorrect an 02 C5 has metal endlinks already.
Metal endlinks replaced plastic
C5 Coupe/Vert 2002 and up
Z06 2001 (only front rears were done in 2002) and up
Metal endlinks replaced plastic
C5 Coupe/Vert 2002 and up
Z06 2001 (only front rears were done in 2002) and up
My 04 Coupe had the metal ones.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by ryoder
I wish I had known that when I ordered I think those endlinks were expensive.
you can sell them, but first make sure all of yours are good (not that I have seen bad metal endlinks, but you never know).