Performance Sway Bar ...Question

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Nov 4, 2002 | 12:52 PM

LIGHTNING

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 2,263

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From: NJ

Performance Sway Bar ...Question

Any great advantage (or disadvantage) to replacing stock Sway Bar with Hotchkis Performance Sway Bar (1 1/4" Front & 1" Rear)? i have the Z51 Suspension.

Nov 4, 2002 | 07:40 PM

KingTut

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 1,206

Likes: 21

From: Roswell GA

Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (LIGHTNING)

Hotchkis is way out there on the end of the stiffness meter - meaning a flater turn but rougher ride. Z51 is generally considered real nice for street. To go above that you would need autocross desires.

Advise - if you buy used and do not like them - you wont lose much. You can change them yourself - so minimal risk to give it a try and be your own judge.

Nov 4, 2002 | 09:30 PM

Chris@East Coast Supercharging

Premium Supporting Vendor

Joined: Jan 2001

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From: Central Jersey

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Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (LIGHTNING)

Hey Joe, if you have the Z-51 bars there are no need to upgrade to the Hotchkis ones. The only thing you can do is get the newer style metal endlinks :seeya :seeya

Nov 4, 2002 | 09:57 PM

C5 Tweaker

Racer

Joined: May 2000

Posts: 405

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From: Dallas

Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (CHRIS NJ C5)

Quote:

Hey Joe, if you have the Z-51 bars there are no need to upgrade to the Hotchkis ones. The only thing you can do is get the newer style metal endlinks :seeya :seeya

I do not agree with that. For Z06 perhaps, but when compared to Z51 it is a significant improvement.

(fingers crossed for this paste)
Std. Z51 Z51 Y2K T1 Hotchkis Z06
Front Rear Front Rear Front Rear Front Rear Front Rear Front Rear
Diameter 23.1mm 19.1mm 25.4mm 21.7mm 28.6mm 21.7mm 38.4mm 27.5mm 31.75mm 25.4mm 30mm 23.6mm
Thickness 3.81mm 2mm 4mm 3mm 4.15mm 3mm 6mm 5mm 4.5mm 4.0mm 4.5mm 3.5mm

[Modified by C5 Tweaker, 7:59 PM 11/4/2002]

Nov 5, 2002 | 04:11 AM

MRWHOOPPEE

Safety Car

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 4,122

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Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (C5 Tweaker)

I have a Z51 and went to the ADDCO / BMR sway bars and there is a big difference. MUCH , MUCH BETTER. They are realitivly inexpensive also. I did alot of looking and went with these because they are not as stiff as T1 bars and a better deal than Hotchkis.

Nov 5, 2002 | 03:05 PM

aces

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 2,192

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Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (MRWHOOPPEE)

addco bars are a great deal :D

Nov 5, 2002 | 09:46 PM

MySea6

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 2,361

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From: Sugar Land, TX USA

Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (LIGHTNING)

I have Hotchkis bars on my 01' Z51 and they are awesome. They do not affect the ride quality. Also added Bilstein sport shocks.

Although, I believe the new BMR bars a considerably heavier for the same resistance, their cost is much lower than the Hotchkis. [hollow vs solid] Not sure that I would not have gone with them if they had been available.

You will not be sorry and should, at minimum, upgrade to the Z06 bars IMHO.
BTW - regarding the upgrade to new style GM aluminum links, I did before the Hotchkis setup and noticed no real gain. Maybe a bit less rear end sway. The advantage is that you don't loose performance when the plastic endlinks decide to fold up on you. :cheers:

Nov 5, 2002 | 10:10 PM

BluFRC

Racer

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 281

Likes: 2

From: Henderson, NV

Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (LIGHTNING)

I installed Hotchkis earlier this year. I started with the Z51 on my 2000 FRC. They definitely helped my autocross and track times. I also like them on the street -- I can feel the difference but I would not say that the difference is a bad thing on the street.