Seems I caused the recent long thread on using C6 bars on the C5. Let you know next week as my C6Z51 sways are being installed on Tues/Wed of next week. Same time adding the C6Z01 shocks. Proof will be at hand...

 

Keep us posted. What suspension are you running now?

 

Current is a base, stock 1999 suspension. Looking at it nothing has ever been done. I've only had this car for about 6 weeks now. Bought it with 30k miles on the clock so it was really a garage queen. Now that she's a working girl and racking up some 100 miles a day of some highway, some twisties, I decided to up the suspension. First thing I did was dump the Nitto 555's and aftermarket thin spoke chromies and got some Z06 speedline's with Firestone Wide O's. They made a very big difference in ride, handling and noise, all for the better.

 

2000 coupe with base suspension...I added Bilstien sports, frnt & rear
Z06 sway bars with poly bushings, and lowered on stock bolts......
what a dramatic difference....feels like a totally different car... I was going to upgrade springs as well, but don't feel the need to anymore...(I don't track my car....)
the ride is perfect!!

 

Thicker does not equal stiffer............For example, I can show you a thicker paper tube, but we'd both agree that it wouldn't be stiffer.

 

true. the spring rate on the C6Z51 is slightly less on the rear than the C5Zo6.

Anyone have the spring rate on the base C5 sways?

 

I replaced my 03 Coupe sways with Z06 sways and poly bushings. The car seems to float less and definitely rolls less into hard turns. The stock sways look like twigs compared to the Z06's.

...and yes, poly bushings make it even more stiff.

 

Hi TheRadioFlyer -

I put some Z sways on my wifes 99 coupe - a very noticeable improvement.

Her car has 04 Z shocks, z sways and CCW 19" all around -

I do notice a lot more road feedback - that is to say that sharp quick jolts are now more noticeable - the ride is somewhat stiffer etc.

But, the rear end stays planted over bumpy surfaces on acceleration and cornering where before it might hop to the side etc.

Z06 sways are a nice, cost effective upgrade IMO.

best regards -

mqqn

 

Question, would just adding T1 bars themselves be a huge improvement on a 04Z06.

 

just curious: how would having one bar (front or rear) significantly stiffer than the other affect cornering?

 

The front bar is fatter because it takes the majority of the load (engine)in turns. What's better? The fatter bar, the flatter car.

:o Sorry, I just made that up.

 

so essentially what you're saying it's not the size of the sway bar....it's the spring rate that counts....

sorry....it was only so long before I had to make an immature comment

 

While its true the C5 Z06 or Z51 sway bars would be an improvement over the base suspension bars- here is what I can tell you from first hand experience with C5's I have owned.

97 C5 w\Z51 suspension package- Excllent handling car, great flat cornering very firm ride- not harsh at all but you certainly knew you had a tighter suspension.

00 C5 w\F45 suspension package (basically base suspension with adjustible sjocks) Cute idea- not a ton of noticable difference between the 3 settings on the shock dial. Base springs, Base sway bars etc...even on the performance setting the car was no where near the Z51 suspension above period. This would mean stiffer shocks does not a suspension package make.

01 Z06 (Z06 suspension) Excellent handling car- much improved over the Z51 (even though the 97 was an early Z51 package) the Z06 was a very balanced handling car and not harsh or terrible over bumpy roads. There was no question this suspension package was made for a track car and built for cornering. The car stayed extremely flat in turns and all tires were firmly planted squarely on the road. The only time the car was squirrly was when you stepped on the skinny pedal and the power would pull like a freight train and you could roll the rear end out from under you- flatly roll it out mind you.

97 C5 w\Base suspension- nice if you want to drive your grandfathers caddy fleetwood- floating is terrible, you do not get the firm planted feeling in the corners at any speed- fast take off's cause the car to lurch up and pitch down under braking. The car has terrible high speed manors as it feels like it is unsure of itself do to the suspension being not firm at all. Bumpy roads are a dream and you can almost fall asleep due to the subtle rocking motion like rolling waves! Needless to say it has to go!


I am going with a full suspension upgrade- Z06 Springs, Z06 Shocks (found a great deal on a used set in the sale section) along with C6 Z51 sway bars and metal end links. Like I said before- sway bars may increase your initial body roll, but only a complete suspension setup will make the car feel the way youo want it to feel- or the way a Corvette should feel. Don't skimp- do it right or don't do it at all I say!

 

I first put the z06 bars with rubber bushings on my 01 z51 and then later decided to put on the poly bushings front and rear. I could not notice a difference at all on the street. I’m sure it would help at the upper limit of performance (like on a track) and it was NOT firmer/stiffer than before and no noticeable road noise.

 

All of the end links on the c5's are the same size. The 01 - 04 z51 have Front steel links (rear plastic) and the z06 (I think all years) have aluminum front and rear links. So I would get the z06 links.

 

Unbalanced handling - but it would think it would be a slight improvment over base bars anyways. I would not do it. If you HAD TO I would replace the front first. But I would still not do it. Just replace both you will be glad you did.

 

I was referring to the C6-Z51 sways. are these also the same?

 

If your sway bars are all you're going to upgrade, it may make a difference what you now have for shocks... I kept the F-55 shocks and upgraded from stock (03 vert) sways to Z06 and it made a world of difference. Very flat now and no stiffer ride. Not tracking, it's the best of both worlds. Worked for me. Dave

 

I would think they would have to be very close since theres not much extra room in the front. If it was maybe .25 inch longer or shorter it might work. In the back you could get by with more.

I have not researched the c6 bars at all. Perhaps someone that has done this mod can tell us for sure.

 

Bilstein shocks were just installed along with with better sticking tires. From what i'm finding out, the price difference between C6 Z51 and C5 ZO6 sway bars isn't that different if you need to also purchase the metal links. I also plan to drop the car on stock bolts about 3/4" in the front and 1" in the rear...mostly for looks, handling is just an added bonus there.