I want to upgrade my sways for better spirited street performance (live in a mountainous area). Want reduced C5 base body lean but won't be tracking car. I will also be going to Z06 shocks sometime in the future. I know Gene on the Forum has the kit:

||--Genuine GM C6Z51 Sway Bar Kit--||

25919502 – Front stabilizer bar
10339124 – Rear stabilizer bar
10387838 – Front stabilizer bar bushings (2)
15241135 – Rear stabilizer bar bushings (2)

Complete kit front and rear is $249.20


But I wonder how that kit compares to just upgrading to some good used C5Z06 sways since I'm on a budget .

Below are the various bar specs. Anyone have experienced input as to the best value/performance upgrade for spirited street use?

Suspension Front (mm) Rear(mm)

C5 base 23.0 19.1
C5Z51 (97-99) 25.4 21.7
C5Z51 (00-04) 28.6 23.6
C5Z06 30.0 23.6
C6 base 25.5 17.5
C6Z51 31.0 25.4
C6Z06 31.0 28.0

 

all bars will give you noticeable results.

My setup is front c5z and rear 3 way pfadt adjustable bar. Sweet combo.

 

I put on like low mileage used C5 Z51 springs and C6 Z06 bars (not the usual set up but I like it). The used bars came with bushings and end links. Be careful, if your used bar came from salvage, that it wasn't bent in a crash.

Is your car a Z51 by chance?

 

I put C6 Z06 bars (C6 GS bars are the same) on one '99 and C6 Z51 bars on another '99. On both I found used parts with the metal end links.

In normal driving they both feel the same and are a big improvement over the stock bars.

The only difference between the C6 Z06 bars and the C6 Z51 bars is the rear bar is bigger diameter on the Z06. I have read that the Z06 bars need a big rear tire (325+) or else they cause oversteer when pushing it hard.

In practice the C6 Z51 bars work very well on my '99. I have not pushed my '99 with the C6 Z06 bars hard enough to see if I get oversteer or not.

Personally, my first choice is the C6 Z51 bars.

 

This is from the RR Section:

[/QUOTE]

HTH.

 

Springs, bars and shocks and wheel and tire size all work together, if you want to change bars you should look for a package that has been engineered to work with your particular setup.

If you can't find that, you would be best to change to a complete package that works for your wheel and tire sizes.

In the old days you could just slap on stiffer bars and that would make a huge difference in handling, but car nowadays are much better balanced and are, in general stiffer than they used to be.

An upgraded set of matched bars (like the Johnny O bars) are a good starting place, but in any case it is always a good thing to have some adjustability to dial the car in and fine tune the handling.

If you're going to start mixing and trying to match different bars you will need to plan on doing a good bit of testing to get it to all work together.

As noted above, slapping a set of bars intended for a C6z, with its much wider rear tires in the back and more weight up front isn't going to give you a balanced setup on a C5 with soft springs.

Suspension setup is like a Rubix cube. If you know what to do and how to tune it, it's pretty easy to get it sorted out. If you don't you can end up twisting and turning and never get it right. In addition, testing is mandatory if you're trying to make the car handle properly as the only way to know what its doing is to take it to the limit in a controlled situation.

 

C6Z51 vs C5Z06 would be so close you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference on the street. Go with whichever set you find for the best deal.

 

^Especially with the softer rear spring of the C5 Z51 spring. Springs effect over-steer and under-steer as well. I prefer the C6 Z06 bars with the C5 Z51 combo.

The reason I didn't use the stiffer Z06 rear spring is that I like it to squat a little during acceleration. The thicker rear bar levels things out.

This is a personal choice and not necessarily a recommendation.

 

No, I have a base model. Just looking for a budget upgrade for a little less lean in the twisties. Drove the Dragon last year for the Book of Records and threw myself and passenger all over the car. Plus it's an A4 so cornering isn't elegant!

 

If your planning on keeping your springs then I would go with C6 Z51 bars as others have said. I also have an A4 but with an ECS tune. The tune livens things up in the trans safely.

 

I'm doing a Paxton supercharger now with built A4 (shifter kit included). Also will have tune.

I want to keep the stock17/18" rims (may even go to a 17" on rear for tire selection and gearing for playing at the 1/8th mile).

The car is at 58,XXX miles so I'm keeping the springs and probably going to Z06 shocks. I like your suggestion of the C6 Z51 bars. Looking at rate chart another member sent those bars make sense.

What do you think about shocks for the Z6 Z51 setup? Anyone?

 

I have the Z shocks and for the price, about as good as it gets. There are marginally better shocks but they are expensive.

Actually I ordered the Euro spec C6 Z06 shocks for less money. I cant tell you the difference other than they have a different part number. I have searched and cannot find any info as to why the Euro shocks would be different. I know the government there has some strict laws regarding specs.

 

Day 1)
So I'm upgrading the suspension in my C5.
To C6.Z51 sway bar four new shocks 4 end links and bushings. Also my Vette has F45 magnetic ride. Suspension so I had to fool the Computer (BCM). And cut the Hanes and install a 10ohm 10watt.resistor. three wheels are done. Tomorrow I look to finish the driver side.


2 . I completed the shock replacements w>the the resistors. Car is riding like new string and handling has very much improved.
I'll do the sway bar and ends later in the week. But for now it's done. P.S No Codes.I also include pictures of old and new shocks.

Resistor 10watt 10 ohms



Front old&new



Rear



Resistor installed



Only code

 

It's a historical code so if you erase it, It may not come back.

Thanks for the review. I never drove mine without them. It will be interesting to hear what you think of the sways.

 

Looked it up. found it to be Switch malfunction. Guess it the ride control switch.

 

Anyone in your area have a Tech2?

 

No I did not need one.
I have to thank Gene from Cultrag. For the great sevice and making life easy by putting together these suspension packages.

 

Smoken1 means to use a Tech II diagnostic computer gadget thingy to program out the shocks completely.

 

Yes sorry power is going on and off here

 

AS someone interested in a suspension upgrade I was looking at the Pfadt chart and noticed that the ZR1 sway bars are measurably more stiff than the Z06 but still relatively more streetable than the T1's. I haven't found many articles on upgrading to the ZR1. I'm figuring there is a reason but am considering all options before I throw my money down. My vette is a 2000 with the FE1 option. 70,000 miles.