I have a very low mileage C5 with the F45 adjustable shocks. I'm wanting to change the sways to imporve the handling, but can't decide whether to go with the C6 Z51 or C6 Z06 sways. I'm thinking the Z06 would be the better choice for me based upon what I have read, but GM Partshouse recommends the Z51 sways with tires smaller than 335. I'm running 305 Nittos. I am not planning to change the shocks at this time, but will eventually go with the C6 Z06 shocks, when I have to replace the F45 shocks.

Thoughts?


Phil

 

I would say that the Z06 bar set has too much rear bar for your tire size.

 

I'd try a set of bars with an adjustable rear bar. Hotchkiss, OConnell, etc.

 

C6z51

 

I just installed the C6 Z51 bars on my C5 specifically because I have 305s on my 19x11 rears. The combination of the C6Z51 bars and Bilstein Sport shocks really transformed the vehicle. They really seem to complement each other. Having said that, I found out that I can go to a 325 Nitto on the rear and still not rub the inner fenderwell. Since more is probably better!, I may upgrade to the C6 Z06 bars when I upgrade the rears to a 325.

If you aren't going big rubber on the back, you won't go wrong with the C6 Z51 bars. They are only about $200 at Partstaxi.com and come with the Pfadt poly bushings. You'll really be impressed with the change and won't impact ride quality.

 

I went with the Hotchkiss, love them, great price and allows you to very easily set the stiffness of the rear to balance the car between understeer and oversteer

if you go with O'Connell's they cost a bit more but are specifically tuned to match a shock upgrade that you may want to do later on

 

Same car, F45s, same size wheels, same size tires (PSS), same Hotchkis sways. Couldn't be happier. Combination has yielded a whole new car.

 

Caution:
Become fully informed before buying from Hotchkiss. If you search this forum under c5-pewter you will find a thread from some time ago wherein I complained of not being able to purchase a singular end link - since one of mine went bad.

The factory gave me a lame excuse for no longer selling the links individually - leaving one the only option of buying THE WHOLE SETUP. Worse still, the attachment holes at the bars’ ends are bigger than on stock bars, making replacement with OEM links impossible.

Again, this was a few years (maybe 2) ago, and Hotchkiss policy may have changed; I never followed up. GRT

 

I don't believe in blindly defending a car part just because I bought it. But, neither do I feel that we should post serious criticisms about old possible problems with a car part that are currently unverified.

To my knowledge, Hotchkis does not currently sell end links with their C5 bars. They are designed to be used with stock C5 or C5 ZO6 end links. I have had zero problems with fit or installation and neither have the two other C5 Hotchkis owners that I know.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to go with the C6 Z51 bars. Great price and they should give me the improvement in handling that I want. I don't track the car, just looking for a little improvement in the cornering.

Those running 325, or larger; how are you fitting them in the wheel wells? My 305's on 10.5" C5 Z06 wheels, fits flush with the body. Any wider and the tires would stick out, unless I add flared fenders.

Phil

 

I am running 335/30-19 on 19x12 wheels. I mini tubbed my car so they do not stick out.

 

Phil,
I am running a 19x11 C6Z06 replica on the rears with a +64mm offset. It is as big as you can go and not stick out of the stock fenderwell. Everywhere I looked on CF said that 305/30 was about as big as I could go without rubbing the inner fenderwell at full suspension travel.

Blitzkrieg on CF recently told me that he was running the same wheel but was able to mount a Nitto 325 and still not rub. Evidently the Nittos run a touch smaller than others. The images he showed had the tire filling the wheelwell just a bit more than my 305 Nitto but looked great and is what I will use in the future.

BTW, in addition to the C6Z51 sways/Pfadt poly bushings/Bilstein Sport shocks, I have the stock C5Z51 springs. The car feels really dialed in like it never did in the past. You're gonna dig the difference - even with the softer springs.

 

Thanks for the info guys. looking forward to getting the new sways.

Phil

 

dunno why you would upgrade the sways and keep the junk oem rubber end links?

even without a sway bar upgrade those should be replaced

I bought the metal endlinks from west coast corvette...worked great

 

If you were capable of reading, at least at a High School level, you would not have replied to my posting with your inane counterpoint.

1. To begin with, I suggested a search under c5-pewter to get a clear picture about the discussion I initiated some years ago, with people who appreciated my heads-up.

2. My post was merely a caution to a fellow Forum Member. Helping each other is a major function of this forum. You probably haven’t figured it out yet.

3. Neither did I disparage the product in any way, nor did I mention installation problems. A single end link missed quality control and went bad, that’s all, and Hotchkis refused to sell me a replacement.

4. Hotchkis told me that they had quality problems with their “Replacement Links” and therefore stopped selling them. A reasonable person would think that this is bulls..t, in that the replacements would/should have been the same links they packaged with the bars. They could have helped me by selling me another, since I or they had nothing to lose.

5. My posting rightfully cautioned against the company’s unconscionable marketing strategy, requiring the purchase of the entire setup for the sake of replacing a single end link. It was an outrageous proposition. I reiterate, my bars were packaged with Hotchkis’ own adjustable metal links as a complete set. (These links even had grease fittings, which I serviced faithfully).

6. I am deliriously happy for you and your friends with Hotchkis bars and OEM links. Hip Hip Hurray for you!!!

To help you appreciate that I acknowledged mine as OLD INFORMATION, and that I allowed for possible change in Hotchkis‘ policy and/or engineering, since I was left high and dry, see below.

My posting on the very last line offers the following disclaimer:

“ … THIS WAS A FEW YEARS (maybe 2) AGO, AND HOTCHKIS‘ POLICY MAY HAVE CHANGED; I NEVER FOLLOWED UP.

7. Instead of taking a swipe at me for no discernible reason, an intelligent response would have been to simply inform everyone that Hotchkis now offers bars that will attach with OEM end links, (at least according to you), and I would have thanked you for the Heads-up. GRT

 

I do still recommend the Z51's for your setup as you have already decided. There is a lot of good information in this thread!

 

very satisfied w/ my c6z51 setup w/ 295's in the rear

 

I sincerely didn't mean to so seriously gore your ox. It took me all of 4 minutes after reading your original post above to ascertain on the Internet that your "Caution" was a non-issue in 2013. You could have chosen to spend a couple of minutes to determine the currency and/or validity of your post before making it, but you instead chose to toss out a criticism of the way Hotchkis did business several years ago and exclaim "caution". Seemed like you were trying to get even for an imagined or real wrong years ago ... Kinda like your overboard reply to my post.

Your use of "unconscionable marketing strategy" kind of indicates that you are still quite wound up years later over a couple of end links. You may have indeed had a reasonable complaint some years ago, but maybe it's time to let it go?

If our true intent here is to help others, which is admirable, then shouldn't we post current and accurate information?

And, I did decide to go with the ZO6 links. But, neither the C5 or the ZO6 links were problematic. If I was tracking, I would have likely chosen a different set of links, but for canyons and auto cross it has simply not been an issue.

And, I do agree with others that the C6 Z51 sways are a great solution.

 

I already HAVE metal end links. Put those on some time ago. Realized they were plastic while installing my Corsa exhaust system, so I replaced them. Only need the sway bars.


Phil

 

With OEM sized links in hand, I think that Hotchkiss is a good product. Mine are powder coated, with the company logo emblazoned in the rear bar. Looks nice when car is on a lift. My problem a few years ago was the company’s TOTAL DISINTEREST in helping me to replace a faulty link of theirs. Hence my warning about customer service, so that you do not fall into a similar situation with something else. Regards