2000 C5 Convertible sway bar mod question
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7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 7
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2000 C5 Convertible sway bar mod question
I have just purchased a new for me, C 5 convertible with 5000 miles and would like to improve the cornering ability (flatter) without a detrimental effect to street ride. Was thinking of Zo6 sway bars, what do you think? Thanks,
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
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From: Orange County California
I recently bought a 98 Vert...Welcome to the club ;-)
I went with the Hotchkis Sport...they are signifigantly stiffer than the Z51 stock bar and the rear one is adjustible...they have them at at partTaxi.com for about $389 and are a big improvement over the Z51.
as a side note...resist the urge to set the rear one at it stiffests setting...go for the lightest setting in the rear as this is still50% stiffer than the z51 and have a stiffer front than back makes the car less likely to oversteer
it rides great by the way...no real loss of daily ride quality...just much better steering response....really feels good when getting into the peddle a bit out of a curve
I went with the Hotchkis Sport...they are signifigantly stiffer than the Z51 stock bar and the rear one is adjustible...they have them at at partTaxi.com for about $389 and are a big improvement over the Z51.
as a side note...resist the urge to set the rear one at it stiffests setting...go for the lightest setting in the rear as this is still50% stiffer than the z51 and have a stiffer front than back makes the car less likely to oversteer
it rides great by the way...no real loss of daily ride quality...just much better steering response....really feels good when getting into the peddle a bit out of a curve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
I always hear people doing the z51 bars, c6 bars, and zo6 ones etc. Not sure if its for price, or if they really are that good. I shopped around and bought Eibach front and rears with poly bushings for $240 for the complete set. It is a very nice upgrade over stock and was a great fit. Car handles extremely well around corners now. Hotchkins and Pfadt are way to expensive for a street car IMO. I'd upgrade to the GM metal end-links too if your car doesn't have them already.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
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I know money can be an issue for almost all of us, but if you can do it I would 100% go with the Pfadt Johnny O'Connell stage 1 kit. Front and rear sway bars with all 4 shocks for $1000. It is an amazing kit and rides very nice on the road. Just installed it on my daily driver C5Z. If not wanting to go with shocks, you could always just buy the Pfadt front and rear sway bars and I believe they come as a set for $500 (I think). Happy hunting though, upgrading the suspension even the slightest is always very rewarding and makes the car so much more fun to drive.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
I know money can be an issue for almost all of us, but if you can do it I would 100% go with the Pfadt Johnny O'Connell stage 1 kit. Front and rear sway bars with all 4 shocks for $1000. It is an amazing kit and rides very nice on the road. Just installed it on my daily driver C5Z. If not wanting to go with shocks, you could always just buy the Pfadt front and rear sway bars and I believe they come as a set for $500 (I think). Happy hunting though, upgrading the suspension even the slightest is always very rewarding and makes the car so much more fun to drive.
We feel the same way, if you've got a little extra cash the Johnny O'Connell package really is a fantastic way to go. You can also purchase the Johnny O'Connell sway bar package seperately for 625, which includes sway bars, poly sway bar bushings and upgraded metal endlinks.
With our Johnny O'Connell sway bar package you will find that the car becomes easier to drive because of the shift in overall balance of the two bars, and turn in response will be excellent for street use!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If you up-grade the Sway bars, make sure that you also purchase the up graded metal end links if what you purchase doesn’t come with them.
If you can also get a poly sway bar bushing set, DO IT!
I highly recommend also changing your shocks. What shocks do you have now?
A great budget upgrade that will make a really nice handling improvement and complement the new sway bars is the C6 ZO6 shocks. They are a direct OEM bolt in and work excellent!!
Gene Culley www.gmpartshouse.com sells a set of FOUR New in the box for $250~
Bill C
If you can also get a poly sway bar bushing set, DO IT!
I highly recommend also changing your shocks. What shocks do you have now?
A great budget upgrade that will make a really nice handling improvement and complement the new sway bars is the C6 ZO6 shocks. They are a direct OEM bolt in and work excellent!!
Gene Culley www.gmpartshouse.com sells a set of FOUR New in the box for $250~
Bill C
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 4
From: Little Compton, RI
If your '00 vert is a daily driver like mine, go with the C6 Z51 sway bars, its what i put on mine to do just want you want to do.
The sways themselves were a vast improvement over the stock FE1 base suspension.
Shock wise, I have 2 sets, 2004 C5 Z06, these are absolutely the best for high speed handling but I had to pull them in favor of C6 Z06 because the '04 shocks were simply too much for your typical bumpy back road.....
Hope it helps
The sways themselves were a vast improvement over the stock FE1 base suspension.
Shock wise, I have 2 sets, 2004 C5 Z06, these are absolutely the best for high speed handling but I had to pull them in favor of C6 Z06 because the '04 shocks were simply too much for your typical bumpy back road.....
Hope it helps