z06 sway bars
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 503
Likes: 1
From: WC MO
Mine showed up on my doorstep about 30 mintues ago. Thanks Gene!
From that auction for reference:
Measurements for Comparison:
Base C5 Suspension : 23mm-front / 19.1mm-rear
C5 Z51 (97-99 ): 25.4mm-front / 21.7mm-rear
C5 Z51 (00-04) : 28.6mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
*C5 Z06* (01-04): 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
From that auction for reference:
Measurements for Comparison:
Base C5 Suspension : 23mm-front / 19.1mm-rear
C5 Z51 (97-99 ): 25.4mm-front / 21.7mm-rear
C5 Z51 (00-04) : 28.6mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
*C5 Z06* (01-04): 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 21
From: Roswell GA
Bars Yes - Shocks No
I would do all mods only one at a time. First do the sway bars as they are very easy to do and quite inexpensive for the results. Not sure I ever read where anyone did not like the change - certainly better cornering.
Next I would consider lowering some with the standard bolts - this is free and the only down side is you have to watch how close you come to curbs and "humps" in the road - but it also gives a nice improvement in cornering with little if any change in straight ahead driving.
Shocks are more for wheel bounce and sharp changes in direction. I put in Bilstiens and after only 2 days took them back out. Much rougher ride just going down city streets. Each to his own there.
Consider looking in the used parts section for mods - these both are usually there and if you buy them right and do not like the result you can always pass them on to someone else who's taste is a bit different than yours and not lose money.
Next I would consider lowering some with the standard bolts - this is free and the only down side is you have to watch how close you come to curbs and "humps" in the road - but it also gives a nice improvement in cornering with little if any change in straight ahead driving.
Shocks are more for wheel bounce and sharp changes in direction. I put in Bilstiens and after only 2 days took them back out. Much rougher ride just going down city streets. Each to his own there.
Consider looking in the used parts section for mods - these both are usually there and if you buy them right and do not like the result you can always pass them on to someone else who's taste is a bit different than yours and not lose money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
I'd like to hear why you think they are impractical. Do you have them on your vehicle? Have you ridden in a car equipped with them?
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 10
From: Oakville ON "Real Corvettes have folding tops..."
I put 04 Z06 springs, shocks, and sway bars on mine with stock sway bar busings. I also have it lowered on stock bolts. Rides stiffer but I like it much better than the stock suspension...
Last edited by FOLDNTOP; Feb 16, 2008 at 11:46 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I just bought these... I am curious if anyone else put them on. Is there a big difference?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...208962501&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...208962501&rd=1
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport TN
Be sure to pop for the poly-bushings, $20. For some reason these seem to squeak with the factory ones. I painted mine red for some extra bling!
http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i7...t=CIMG0158.jpg
http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i7...t=CIMG0158.jpg
Thanks the info.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Fresno CA
Poly Bushings
A lot of vendors carry these. Check the Corvette Forum Store. I just looked and they have them $15 front $15 rear. I had issues with noise from the front. I believe I just replaced the front ones, it's been a couple of years and no noise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
I'm going to be getting new sways and shocks soon. I'm dead set on the Bilstein Sport shocks, but am still deciding on sway bars.
I'm still waiting to hear opinions from members who have experience with the T1 Sway Bars. One member said they are impractical. I'd like to know why...
Doing some checking also...
*C5 Z06* (01-04): 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Hotchkiss Measurements:
Front: 31.75mm
Rear: 25.4mm
T1 Measurements:
Front: 38.4mm
Rear: 27.5mm
Also found a link where someone was testing ALL swaybars. He had this to say regarding the T1 and Hotchkiss:
Sounds like the Hotckiss sways might be the way to go for those who don't mind shelling out a bit more dough. Going to dig into it a bit further...
I'm still waiting to hear opinions from members who have experience with the T1 Sway Bars. One member said they are impractical. I'd like to know why...
Doing some checking also...
*C5 Z06* (01-04): 30.0mm-front / 23.6mm-rear
Hotchkiss Measurements:
Front: 31.75mm
Rear: 25.4mm
T1 Measurements:
Front: 38.4mm
Rear: 27.5mm
Also found a link where someone was testing ALL swaybars. He had this to say regarding the T1 and Hotchkiss:
The T1 bars make for absolutely 100% flat cornering, but are, again, in my opinion, brutal on rough roads. They take all compliance out of the suspension on anything but smooth pavement. Even turning the rebound on my shocks down to *nothing* made no change.
I went back to the Z06 bars after that, but was still having a small amount of rubbing trouble, so I have since installed the Hotchkis bars to see if it will be enough to keep the car off the fenders in long sweepers when autocrossing. The new endlinks Hotchkis supplies make no noise at all, look beautiful, and installation was the same as with the other bars. Ride quality made no perceptible change over the Z06 bars, and the cornering is definitely flatter. Turning up the rebound on the shocks has a far worse impact on ride quality than these bars did. I will be keeping these swaybars
As an extra data point, I talked to SCCA Solo II champ Gary Thomason about his car, and he said that he tried the T1's, and that the car understeered horribly, and that the front bar was simply too big. He said he was going back to an all Hotchkiss swaybar setup to complement his 900# VB&P front spring, which he added since winning on just the Hotchkis bars the year before.
I went back to the Z06 bars after that, but was still having a small amount of rubbing trouble, so I have since installed the Hotchkis bars to see if it will be enough to keep the car off the fenders in long sweepers when autocrossing. The new endlinks Hotchkis supplies make no noise at all, look beautiful, and installation was the same as with the other bars. Ride quality made no perceptible change over the Z06 bars, and the cornering is definitely flatter. Turning up the rebound on the shocks has a far worse impact on ride quality than these bars did. I will be keeping these swaybars
As an extra data point, I talked to SCCA Solo II champ Gary Thomason about his car, and he said that he tried the T1's, and that the car understeered horribly, and that the front bar was simply too big. He said he was going back to an all Hotchkiss swaybar setup to complement his 900# VB&P front spring, which he added since winning on just the Hotchkis bars the year before.
Sounds like the Hotckiss sways might be the way to go for those who don't mind shelling out a bit more dough. Going to dig into it a bit further...
Last edited by Quickshift_C5; Feb 18, 2008 at 05:20 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
I installed the Z06 sway bars about 2 years ago. Great mod! Last spring I added the Z06 springs. It balanced the suspension and didn't make the ride any harsher. I also run Bilstein Sports.
Just do it!
Just do it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: peabody ma
First suspension mod i did was the z06 swaybars and bilstein shocks, loved the handling at the track but driving in the boson area crap roads every day it was a pain in the ****,,(litteraly),,,I then went to z06 leafs and QA1 adjustable shocks, now i have the best of both worlds, nice handling when i want it and the option of really softening up the suspension for every day driving....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
I'm jumping up to the Hotchkis bars myself...
Last edited by Quickshift_C5; Feb 18, 2008 at 08:34 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
I replaced my FE1 (base) suspension with 75k miles on it with ZO6 springs, swaybars, and Bilstein Sports.
I credit the shocks for providing the most positive change. Mid-corner bumps that used to kick my tail-end out by a foot no longer upset the car at all. It is a great confidence booster having the car so settled and poised while travelling over imperfect roads.
The sways did relieve the car of body lean through the corners, but the aggregate effects of the suspension changes have really made my car's handling feel so much more predictable and stable.
It really makes me want to take the car to a road course now!!
(But if something broke, I couldn't afford to fix it)
I credit the shocks for providing the most positive change. Mid-corner bumps that used to kick my tail-end out by a foot no longer upset the car at all. It is a great confidence booster having the car so settled and poised while travelling over imperfect roads.
The sways did relieve the car of body lean through the corners, but the aggregate effects of the suspension changes have really made my car's handling feel so much more predictable and stable.
It really makes me want to take the car to a road course now!!
(But if something broke, I couldn't afford to fix it)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
Mid-corner bumps that used to kick my tail-end out by a foot no longer upset the car at all.