Z51 stabilizer on F45
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 6,904
Likes: 6
From: Long Valley NJ
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08,'11 thru '17, '21
Z51 stabilizer on F45
I installed a front Z51 stabilizer bar on my 98 with F45 suspension today, and it's definitely a good thing. I thought the car was pretty flat in the turns before, but this made a noticeable difference, based on the little I was able to test it today.
I used the new (less expensive!) metal Z06 front endlinks; $30 from Ken Fichtner, rather than $80 for the earlier metal links. Here's a pic:
[img]//ourworld.cs.com/slangdo/newlink.jpg[/img]
These links have flats for a wrench on the base of the threaded stud, so it's easy to use a torque wrench to tighten the nut properly. I think the earlier links, like the plastic ones, had an internal Torx socket in the threaded end of the stud, making the use of a torque wrench to tighten the nut difficult.
I have a rear Z51 bar on its way in the mail, maybe I'll get a little more improvement when that one's installed.
One downside: These links say "Made in Japan" on them. Felt strange installing them on an "American Legend"....
Steve.
[Modified by 30yrwait, 5:13 PM 10/20/2001]
[Modified by 30yrwait, 5:16 PM 10/20/2001]
I used the new (less expensive!) metal Z06 front endlinks; $30 from Ken Fichtner, rather than $80 for the earlier metal links. Here's a pic:
[img]//ourworld.cs.com/slangdo/newlink.jpg[/img]
These links have flats for a wrench on the base of the threaded stud, so it's easy to use a torque wrench to tighten the nut properly. I think the earlier links, like the plastic ones, had an internal Torx socket in the threaded end of the stud, making the use of a torque wrench to tighten the nut difficult.
I have a rear Z51 bar on its way in the mail, maybe I'll get a little more improvement when that one's installed.
One downside: These links say "Made in Japan" on them. Felt strange installing them on an "American Legend"....
Steve.
[Modified by 30yrwait, 5:13 PM 10/20/2001]
[Modified by 30yrwait, 5:16 PM 10/20/2001]
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IN USA
Re: Z51 stabilizer on F45 (30yrwait)
I noticed those end links to be cheaper also, didn't know why. I just installed the front Z51 bars on mine - didn't get the right rear bushings so I couldn't finish the rear. So far I can't tell a difference - I must not be driving hard enough.
JohnS
JohnS
