C6 Sway Bars on a C5???
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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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
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From: Coconut Creek FL
from what I was told the end links DO NOT come with the C6 Z51 bars- I just ordered as set from GMPartshouse.com and Gene Culley- I also ordered the C5 metal end links to go with them.
Hopefully I will have them by next week sometime and get them on ASAP.
Hopefully I will have them by next week sometime and get them on ASAP.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Riverside, California
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Texas Hill Country
I have a C5Z and I am running C6Z sways. The front is the same stiffness and the rear is considerably stiffer according to Pfadt's swaybar comparison chart, which I don't have handy.
Installed, they feel how they are rated. They bolted right in without massaging.
Installed, they feel how they are rated. They bolted right in without massaging.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
C6 Z51 rear bar and C5Z06 end links on my C5 vert
I dont think its unreasonable to install C6 parts on a C5, especially when they are far cheaper and perform well.
I have C6Z51 rear bar (see table below, you'll notice that its bigger than the C5 Z06 rear bar) and C5Z06 end links on my C5 vert. The C6Z51 bar is hollow and very light. I'm running C6 Z06 shocks and 20in wheels in the rear. The C6 bar is shorter than the stock C5 bar that I removed. Since the bar is shorter, the end links are now slightly angled (not plumb). My local corvette shop said this is bad. I installed it anyway. I noticed that the angled end links are actually more in line (parallel) with the arch of travel of the wheel. The results are phenomenal. I am going to buy the C6Z51/Z06 front bar from Gene Culley next.
Here is my research on bar diameters FYI...
Rear in. mm
C5 Base 0.75 19.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 0.93 23.6
C5 Z06 0.93 23.6
C6 Z51 1.00 25.4
C6 Z06 1.14 28.8
Front in. mm
C5 Base 0.91 23.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 1.13 28.6
C5 Z06 1.18 30.0
C6 Z51 1.22 30.9
C5 Hotchkis 1.25 31.8
C5 T1 1.51 38.4
I have C6Z51 rear bar (see table below, you'll notice that its bigger than the C5 Z06 rear bar) and C5Z06 end links on my C5 vert. The C6Z51 bar is hollow and very light. I'm running C6 Z06 shocks and 20in wheels in the rear. The C6 bar is shorter than the stock C5 bar that I removed. Since the bar is shorter, the end links are now slightly angled (not plumb). My local corvette shop said this is bad. I installed it anyway. I noticed that the angled end links are actually more in line (parallel) with the arch of travel of the wheel. The results are phenomenal. I am going to buy the C6Z51/Z06 front bar from Gene Culley next.
Here is my research on bar diameters FYI...
Rear in. mm
C5 Base 0.75 19.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 0.93 23.6
C5 Z06 0.93 23.6
C6 Z51 1.00 25.4
C6 Z06 1.14 28.8
Front in. mm
C5 Base 0.91 23.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 1.13 28.6
C5 Z06 1.18 30.0
C6 Z51 1.22 30.9
C5 Hotchkis 1.25 31.8
C5 T1 1.51 38.4
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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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
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Joined: May 2001
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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
I dont think its unreasonable to install C6 parts on a C5, especially when they are far cheaper and perform well.
I have C6Z51 rear bar (see table below, you'll notice that its bigger than the C5 Z06 rear bar) and C5Z06 end links on my C5 vert. The C6Z51 bar is hollow and very light. I'm running C6 Z06 shocks and 20in wheels in the rear. The C6 bar is shorter than the stock C5 bar that I removed. Since the bar is shorter, the end links are now slightly angled (not plumb). My local corvette shop said this is bad. I installed it anyway. I noticed that the angled end links are actually more in line (parallel) with the arch of travel of the wheel. The results are phenomenal. I am going to buy the C6Z51/Z06 front bar from Gene Culley next.
Here is my research on bar diameters FYI...
Rear in. mm
C5 Base 0.75 19.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00? 21.7
C5 FE3 2000-04 0.93 23.6
C5 Z06 0.93 23.6
C6 Z51 1.00 25.4
C6 Z06 1.14 28.8
Front in. mm
C5 Base 0.91 23.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 1.13 28.6
C5 Z06 1.18 30.0
C6 Z51 1.22 30.9
C5 Hotchkis 1.25 31.8
C5 T1 1.51 38.4
I have C6Z51 rear bar (see table below, you'll notice that its bigger than the C5 Z06 rear bar) and C5Z06 end links on my C5 vert. The C6Z51 bar is hollow and very light. I'm running C6 Z06 shocks and 20in wheels in the rear. The C6 bar is shorter than the stock C5 bar that I removed. Since the bar is shorter, the end links are now slightly angled (not plumb). My local corvette shop said this is bad. I installed it anyway. I noticed that the angled end links are actually more in line (parallel) with the arch of travel of the wheel. The results are phenomenal. I am going to buy the C6Z51/Z06 front bar from Gene Culley next.
Here is my research on bar diameters FYI...
Rear in. mm
C5 Base 0.75 19.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00? 21.7
C5 FE3 2000-04 0.93 23.6
C5 Z06 0.93 23.6
C6 Z51 1.00 25.4
C6 Z06 1.14 28.8
Front in. mm
C5 Base 0.91 23.0
C5 FE3 1997-99 1.00 25.4
C5 FE3 2000-04 1.13 28.6
C5 Z06 1.18 30.0
C6 Z51 1.22 30.9
C5 Hotchkis 1.25 31.8
C5 T1 1.51 38.4
The rear bar on the '97-'99 FE3s suspension was listed incorrectly. BTW, since approx. 25.2mm equals the one inch shown in your chart on that bar, that would mean that the actual correct U.S. size would be also be less than one 1". I just didn't feel like doing the math conversion.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Coconut Creek FL
I am not sure how this can be considered bad- I was under the impression that adjustable end links allowed one to angle them and or adjust their angle or the attitude of the bar to any setting you desired. If one looks at the PFadt sway bars they are actually adjustable at the bar position and the end link settings both...it is supposed to provide more rigidity or less rigidity deending on the bar and link attitude.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
Hmm...Makes me wonder if they are much more torsionally rigid as the C5Z06 bars..If the hollow inner diameter is larger than the C5Z bars, then the gains are not as much as I initially thought (based upon OD alone). The increase in stiffness can be calculated (assuming the same ID) as (new diameter/old diameter)^4
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Hmm...Makes me wonder if they are much more torsionally rigid as the C5Z06 bars..If the hollow inner diameter is larger than the C5Z bars, then the gains are not as much as I initially thought (based upon OD alone). The increase in stiffness can be calculated (assuming the same ID) as (new diameter/old diameter)^4
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 954
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City UT
St. Jude Donor '08
Autocross & Roadrace Forum Sponsor
I am not sure how this can be considered bad- I was under the impression that adjustable end links allowed one to angle them and or adjust their angle or the attitude of the bar to any setting you desired. If one looks at the PFadt sway bars they are actually adjustable at the bar position and the end link settings both...it is supposed to provide more rigidity or less rigidity deending on the bar and link attitude.
Ideally you would like the action to be at a perfect 90 deg to the bar, but with the the different arcs that the control arm and sway bar move with and the rate adjustment you will end up with some variation from 90 deg. You can see the setting in the picture has very good alignment. That will change somewhat with the ride height and suspension position. With our bars the rate adjustment benefits far outweigh any geometry change.
-Aaron
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 675
Likes: 3
From: Riverside, California
Hmm...Makes me wonder if they are much more torsionally rigid as the C5Z06 bars..If the hollow inner diameter is larger than the C5Z bars, then the gains are not as much as I initially thought (based upon OD alone). The increase in stiffness can be calculated (assuming the same ID) as (new diameter/old diameter)^4
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Now, however, that formula may not hold true if the ID's are different. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say...
Nowayman: Did you have the base says installed previous to the C6Z51?
Padrino? Same question..
It would be good to hear from anyone who had FE3 or FE4 bars on an then switched to C6Z51 bars to see the comparison...
Padrino here...car's still with the mech until Tuesday. I'm having my rear hubs replaced also while things are apart as 1 of my bearings was on the way out. I am dying to drive this new setup to find out how it works or doesn't. It will difficult to tell what % of change can be given to which piece as I'm having C6Z06 shocks, the C6Z51 sways and then a lowering done all at once.
Will report back as soon as I can...Padrino
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I've read about 10 posts on this Corvette Forum and other corvette boards and some are claiming the C6 Z51 sway bars (and even the C6 Z06) sway bars will fit a C5. Other posts claim they will not fit.
Does anyone have an absolute confirmation one way or the other????
Padrino
Does anyone have an absolute confirmation one way or the other????
Padrino
I could tell a HUGE difference as soon as I went for a drive
Thanks,Matt
