C5 Sway Bar size oddity...???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 49
From: Westcliffe CO
C5 Sway Bar size oddity...???
My car is fairly new to me and I was thinking about adding new C6 Z51 sway bars. I've been doing research and I also measured my sway bars today to see what I actually have.
My understanding is that a C5 2002 Base Vert should have front sway bars at 1.125" dia. (28.6 mm) and the rears at .90" (22.9 mm), At least that's what I found somewhere.
In measuring my bars I found that the fronts are 1.140" (28.96 mm) and rears are .950" (24.13 mm).
Are these maybe C5 Z06 or Z51 bars? I believe they were added at some time because the end links look similar to the Moogs, not like GM type. I cannot find any references to the sizes I have.
Any thoughts on what I have. or can anyone point me to the sizes (diameters) of the C5 Z06 or Z51 bars?
BTW - GMpartsonline.net has the best prices and shipping costs for the sway bar parts anywhere online. (i did find the adjustable end links by Steinjager on eBay were better than GMs standard links.)
My understanding is that a C5 2002 Base Vert should have front sway bars at 1.125" dia. (28.6 mm) and the rears at .90" (22.9 mm), At least that's what I found somewhere.
In measuring my bars I found that the fronts are 1.140" (28.96 mm) and rears are .950" (24.13 mm).
Are these maybe C5 Z06 or Z51 bars? I believe they were added at some time because the end links look similar to the Moogs, not like GM type. I cannot find any references to the sizes I have.
Any thoughts on what I have. or can anyone point me to the sizes (diameters) of the C5 Z06 or Z51 bars?
BTW - GMpartsonline.net has the best prices and shipping costs for the sway bar parts anywhere online. (i did find the adjustable end links by Steinjager on eBay were better than GMs standard links.)
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 696
From: Avon Lake OH
This is the data that I have collected on the factory sway bar sizes;
* C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C6 Base: 25.5 mm-front / 17.5mm rear
* C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.6 mm -rear
* C6 Z06 & GS: 31 mm-front / 27.9 mm-rear
* C6 ZR1: 33 mm-front / 31 mm-rear
I would have to presume you have the '00-04 C5 Z51 bars on your car.
* C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C6 Base: 25.5 mm-front / 17.5mm rear
* C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.6 mm -rear
* C6 Z06 & GS: 31 mm-front / 27.9 mm-rear
* C6 ZR1: 33 mm-front / 31 mm-rear
I would have to presume you have the '00-04 C5 Z51 bars on your car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 49
From: Westcliffe CO
This is the data that I have collected on the factory sway bar sizes;
* C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C6 Base: 25.5 mm-front / 17.5mm rear
* C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.6 mm -rear
* C6 Z06 & GS: 31 mm-front / 27.9 mm-rear
* C6 ZR1: 33 mm-front / 31 mm-rear
I would have to presume you have the '00-04 C5 Z51 bars on your car.
* C5 Base Suspension: 23 mm-front / 19.1 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (97-99): 25.4 mm-front / 21.7 mm-rear
* C5 Z51 (00-04): 28.6 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C5 Z06: 30.0 mm-front / 23.6 mm-rear
* C6 Base: 25.5 mm-front / 17.5mm rear
* C6 Z51: 31 mm-front / 25.6 mm -rear
* C6 Z06 & GS: 31 mm-front / 27.9 mm-rear
* C6 ZR1: 33 mm-front / 31 mm-rear
I would have to presume you have the '00-04 C5 Z51 bars on your car.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 699
Likes: 20
I assume that's probably right, they are pretty close. I measured about three times on each bar because the numbers just didn't jive with any on the chart. I guess rounded off one way or the other they fit the C5 Z51 bars the closest. About 1/2 mm or less difference.
FYI...the research I’ve done indicates the combination of the two show significant upgraded road behavior.
Last edited by C5 for life; Apr 8, 2018 at 07:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 49
From: Westcliffe CO
Mark,
I hear ya!
I've about come to the conclusion that I really don't NEED the upgrade. The bars, and links I have look good so there's no rush I guesss. Plus, this being my 3rd car, not a daily driver, a fair wearher car, and I really have only about 6 months of minimal drive time in CO, it's probably NOT a necesitty. The upgrade might be really nice for mountain driving (what I do), but the car handles pretty darn good as is. I'd have to drive a car with the upgrades to see if it's worth the money and labor to do it.
I hear ya!
I've about come to the conclusion that I really don't NEED the upgrade. The bars, and links I have look good so there's no rush I guesss. Plus, this being my 3rd car, not a daily driver, a fair wearher car, and I really have only about 6 months of minimal drive time in CO, it's probably NOT a necesitty. The upgrade might be really nice for mountain driving (what I do), but the car handles pretty darn good as is. I'd have to drive a car with the upgrades to see if it's worth the money and labor to do it.
