C5 sway bar question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
C5 sway bar question
I ordered some sway bars for my C5s - one set is a Z06 set and the other is a Z51 set. They are GM parts.
The Z06 front bar is PN 10419094 and has a green paint mark near each end.
The Z51 front bar is PN 10424741 and has a white paint mark near each end.
The Z51 bar looks smaller in diameter than the Z06 bar.
I want to put the stiffer bar on my 99 track car.
Shouldn't the Z51 bar be stiffer than the Z06 bar?
I thought the Z51 bar would be larger than the Z06 bar.
The Z06 front bar is PN 10419094 and has a green paint mark near each end.
The Z51 front bar is PN 10424741 and has a white paint mark near each end.
The Z51 bar looks smaller in diameter than the Z06 bar.
I want to put the stiffer bar on my 99 track car.
Shouldn't the Z51 bar be stiffer than the Z06 bar?
I thought the Z51 bar would be larger than the Z06 bar.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
From: CT
Z51 was the only performance suspension package until Z06 cars showed up in 2001. Z51 is stiffer than stock, but not as stiff as Z06. The Z06 parts are probably less money due to production volume. One factor contributing to that is the number of people upgrading their non-Z06 equipped cars to the Z06 suspension pieces to get the "best" (stiffest) handling package available from the factory.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,950
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette LA
I have an 2004 Z51 car. I upgraded the front Z51 bar to the Z06 bar. The Z06 bar is slightly larger, but not much. I couldn't really feel the difference.
As stated above, the Z51 and Z06 shard the same rear sway bar, so if you have a Z51, don't bother buying a new rear sway bar.
If you want to really feel better handling without spending a lot of money, get the 2004 Z06 shocks. Make sure you get them for the 2004 model, as they have better valving than the 2001-2003 shocks. I upgraded those as well, and that made a world of difference. Best suspension mod I have done!
As stated above, the Z51 and Z06 shard the same rear sway bar, so if you have a Z51, don't bother buying a new rear sway bar.
If you want to really feel better handling without spending a lot of money, get the 2004 Z06 shocks. Make sure you get them for the 2004 model, as they have better valving than the 2001-2003 shocks. I upgraded those as well, and that made a world of difference. Best suspension mod I have done!
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Sway Bar -- Diameter Front / Rear Thickness Front/ rear
Base / FE1 23 mm 19.1 mm 3.81mm/2.0mm
Z51 / FE3 - '97-'99 25.4 mm 21.7 mm ??
Z51 / FE3 - '00-'04 28.6 mm 23.6 mm 4.15mm/3mm
rear same as Z06 rear, and both updated from earlier Z51 bars.
Z06 / FE4 30.0 mm 23.6 mm 4.5mm/3.5mm
ADDCO/BMR 31? mm 21? mm ?? ??
Hotchkis 31.75 mm 25.4 mm 4mm/4mm
GM T1 38.4 mm 27.5 mm 6.35mm/6.35mm
Much stiffer ride. Works with stock endlinks if you want to.
Base / FE1 23 mm 19.1 mm 3.81mm/2.0mm
Z51 / FE3 - '97-'99 25.4 mm 21.7 mm ??
Z51 / FE3 - '00-'04 28.6 mm 23.6 mm 4.15mm/3mm
rear same as Z06 rear, and both updated from earlier Z51 bars.
Z06 / FE4 30.0 mm 23.6 mm 4.5mm/3.5mm
ADDCO/BMR 31? mm 21? mm ?? ??
Hotchkis 31.75 mm 25.4 mm 4mm/4mm
GM T1 38.4 mm 27.5 mm 6.35mm/6.35mm
Much stiffer ride. Works with stock endlinks if you want to.
