Hi,

Just a quick question for those running C6 sway bars. (Z51 or Z06)

I know that the bars will fit but are the end-links the same as the ones found on the C5? Or will I need to purchase the C5 end links separately.

Thanks!

Ken.

 

 

Just to follow up, it looks like it's a direct bolt-on according to some other people who've done the mod.

Found a local forum member who was selling his front and rear C6 Z51 sway bars and links for $120.

 

Here is a question for you. Will adding these bars unbalance your vette, creating under or overstear?? If so, you will actually be deminishing the handling of your vette. Sways are just part of the handing equation. I suggest that you look at the front/back spring stiffness of the C6 Z51 and compare that to your C5 springs. Then look at the torsional stiffness of your sway bars and compared them to whatever sways that you are thinking of installing. Try to pick sways that come close to matching the overall stiffnersses (springs + sways) of your stock setup or the setup that you are looking to replicate (like a Z06).

As an example, I added C5 Z51 bars to my stock suspension and found that it unbalanced the car creating overstear. This can be a little scarey as the back end would break loose before the front. I knew this because a C5 Z51 has a front/back spring stiffness ratio higher than the stock C5 and a front/back sway bar stiffness less than the stock C5. Putting the Z51 bars on a stock vette ment that the role stiffness of the front was to low, causing overstear. I checked the C5 Z06 suspension stiffness rations (bars + springs) and they were much closer to those of a stock suspension. I swapped out the front Z51 bar for a C5 Z06 bar and my vette is much more balanced now. Just something to think about!

 

01vetter,

Thanks for your input. Your concerns are very true - stiffer isn't exactly better when it comes to sway bars.

My decision was based mainly on the reviews I've read on this forum. It isn't something I'd normally swap out but in my case, the (non metal) end links on my bars have deteriorated to the point where there's no rubber left. I was about to buy a set of metal end links when I came across an irresistable deal on the C6 bars/end links.

Here's a good thread including a post from Aaron Pfadt which discusses C6 Z51 bars on a C5 :
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1984955

 

It looked to me that the end-links were the same. I think the C5Z06 bars have a good balance with the stock springs so I'd expect the C6Z51 to be a good choice too because they are very close to the same ratio. Of course, others have already confirmed this.

If you have not done so, look at C6Z06 shocks too. They pretty much removed the oversteer I was experiencing with the worn out stockers.

Peter

 

Thanks Peter!

I'm looking forward to installing my C6 bars on the weekend.

The C6 Z06 shocks would be great. I was thinking of getting a set of Bilstein Sports but I'll probably go for the C6 shocks since I noticed that it's possible to buy 4 lightly used shocks for the price of a single Bilstein.