sway bars
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 56
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From: Summerville SC
sway bars
so i was playing around under my car last night and noticed that the end links were going bad and could be replaced. so that sparked my interest to wonder if it would be worth investing in a new set of sway bars while im at it!!! any thoughts on this or experiences with this thanks!!!!
i have a 98 z51 a4 with 70k miles on it
i have a 98 z51 a4 with 70k miles on it
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 3
From: Summerville SC
so i was playing around under my car last night and noticed that the end links were going bad and could be replaced. so that sparked my interest to wonder if it would be worth investing in a new set of sway bars while im at it!!! any thoughts on this or experiences with this thanks!!!!
i have a 98 z51 a4 with 70k miles on it
i have a 98 z51 a4 with 70k miles on it
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 50
From: Bradenton, FL
I am not an expert in sway bars, but I recently went through a replacement of shocks and sway bars to Alden American coil overs and Steinjager sways. Mine is a daily driver.
After about a month of usage I am STILL dialing in the coilovers. I am not saying that they were a bad choice, but I am beginning to think that the cost and install were not worth the effort. Time will tell as I continue to work the settings.
But the sways, a far different story. These have been well worth the cost and effort. If memory serves, the front is slightly larger than the stock C6 Z06 version and the rear is slightly smaller than the same. But for $200-odd dollars, the price for the sways AND the bushings can't be beat.
After about a month of usage I am STILL dialing in the coilovers. I am not saying that they were a bad choice, but I am beginning to think that the cost and install were not worth the effort. Time will tell as I continue to work the settings.
But the sways, a far different story. These have been well worth the cost and effort. If memory serves, the front is slightly larger than the stock C6 Z06 version and the rear is slightly smaller than the same. But for $200-odd dollars, the price for the sways AND the bushings can't be beat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
The sway bars are a great upgrade from the stock ones.
I did it on two '99 Z51 cars.
On one I used the stock C6 Z51 sway bars. It worked great and is my first choice.
On the other I used the stock C6 Z06 sway bars. (Note that they are the same as the C6 Grand Sport bars. Also note that the front sway bar is the same as the Z51 bar. The rear C6 Z06 bar is bigger than the C6 Z51 bar.) In my street driving they felt the same as the C6 Z51 bars.
However, many people suggest that the C6 Z06/GS bars have a rear bar that is too big and will cause oversteer unless you have large rear tires over 325's. In my case I didn't notice that, but I also only drove on the street and didn't push it hard enough to find if it had oversteer or not.
Also use the metal end links. The early cars had plastic ones that fail quickly.
Try looking in the used parts section as they come up for sale periodically. I got both sets pretty reasonable with end links for about $125-$150 per set.
Good luck.
I did it on two '99 Z51 cars.
On one I used the stock C6 Z51 sway bars. It worked great and is my first choice.
On the other I used the stock C6 Z06 sway bars. (Note that they are the same as the C6 Grand Sport bars. Also note that the front sway bar is the same as the Z51 bar. The rear C6 Z06 bar is bigger than the C6 Z51 bar.) In my street driving they felt the same as the C6 Z51 bars.
However, many people suggest that the C6 Z06/GS bars have a rear bar that is too big and will cause oversteer unless you have large rear tires over 325's. In my case I didn't notice that, but I also only drove on the street and didn't push it hard enough to find if it had oversteer or not.
Also use the metal end links. The early cars had plastic ones that fail quickly.
Try looking in the used parts section as they come up for sale periodically. I got both sets pretty reasonable with end links for about $125-$150 per set.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
The early Z51 sway bars were much smaller than the 00-04 Z51. In autocrossing many of the C5 Corvettes changed only the front bars as a result and went from the plastic sway bar links to the later metal links. one of the best handling set ups was the 24mm rear bar (stock) and a 32-33mm front bar (C6 Z/Z51). As I recall your rear bar is around 19mm and the front around 24 mm.
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
ALL the F-45 chasssi came stock with a BASE FE-1 suspension. 
Unless someone changed out the sawbars, are you sure that's what you have?????
F-45
Its most likely wore out and NOT providing you all the wheel dampening that you need to have FUN! I hated EVERY minute of my 98 with F-45.. If it were me, I would find some C6 Z51 bars, get a set of C6 ZO6 shocks from CULTRAG, have that silly F-45 tuned out of the BCM using a TECH2.
That will put a great big grin on your face!
OH. I lowered my 02 Zo6 on stock bolts and noticed that it significantly reduces the amount of suspension travel. I bottomed out my cars suspension on a dip in the road and it almost caused me to loose control (going a little faster than normal road speeds)
. MAN, 
what a BUTT PUCKERING SURPRISE that was!!!!!!! 
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Feb 22, 2018 at 02:51 PM.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 3
From: Summerville SC
QUOTE!! "i also have the magnetic ride control if that makes a difference"
ALL the F-45 chasssi came stock with a BASE FE-1 suspension.
Unless someone changed out the sawbars, are you sure that's what you have?????
F-45 Its most likely wore out and NOT providing you all the wheel dampening that you need to have FUN! I hated EVERY minute of my 98 with F-45..
If it were me, I would find some C6 Z51 bars, get a set of C6 ZO6 shocks from CULTRAG, have that silly F-45 tuned out of the BCM using a TECH2.
That will put a great big grin on your face!
OH. I lowered my 02 Zo6 on stock bolts and noticed that it significantly reduces the amount of suspension travel. I bottomed out my cars suspension on a dip in the road and it almost caused me to loose control (going a little faster than normal road speeds). MAN, what a BUTT PUCKERING SURPRISE that was!!!!!!!
ALL the F-45 chasssi came stock with a BASE FE-1 suspension. Unless someone changed out the sawbars, are you sure that's what you have?????
F-45
Its most likely wore out and NOT providing you all the wheel dampening that you need to have FUN! I hated EVERY minute of my 98 with F-45.. If it were me, I would find some C6 Z51 bars, get a set of C6 ZO6 shocks from CULTRAG, have that silly F-45 tuned out of the BCM using a TECH2.
That will put a great big grin on your face!
OH. I lowered my 02 Zo6 on stock bolts and noticed that it significantly reduces the amount of suspension travel. I bottomed out my cars suspension on a dip in the road and it almost caused me to loose control (going a little faster than normal road speeds)
. MAN, what a BUTT PUCKERING SURPRISE that was!!!!!!! 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 365
From: SF Bay Area
Those are definitely F45 shocks. Unlike Bill, I have not had a bad experience with them, and rather enjoy the ability to change settings in a daily driver. Comfortable cruising on the highway, tighten up for relatively high speed cornering.
I did change out the sway bars to C6 Z51 sway bars with metal endlinks. It tightened up the steering feel and reduced body roll in turns while not having too much of an impact on the ride. If you're running base C5 tire sizes, I would recommend C6 Z51 sway bars. C6 Z06 sway bars are for running wider tires from what I have read.
I did change out the sway bars to C6 Z51 sway bars with metal endlinks. It tightened up the steering feel and reduced body roll in turns while not having too much of an impact on the ride. If you're running base C5 tire sizes, I would recommend C6 Z51 sway bars. C6 Z06 sway bars are for running wider tires from what I have read.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Those are definitely F45 shocks. Unlike Bill, I have not had a bad experience with them, and rather enjoy the ability to change settings in a daily driver. Comfortable cruising on the highway, tighten up for relatively high speed cornering.
I did change out the sway bars to C6 Z51 sway bars with metal endlinks. It tightened up the steering feel and reduced body roll in turns while not having too much of an impact on the ride. If you're running base C5 tire sizes, I would recommend C6 Z51 sway bars. C6 Z06 sway bars are for running wider tires from what I have read.
I did change out the sway bars to C6 Z51 sway bars with metal endlinks. It tightened up the steering feel and reduced body roll in turns while not having too much of an impact on the ride. If you're running base C5 tire sizes, I would recommend C6 Z51 sway bars. C6 Z06 sway bars are for running wider tires from what I have read.