Performance Sway Bar ...Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
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.
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.
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.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 11
From: Central Jersey
Cruise-In II Veteran
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Cruise-In V Veteran
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
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Dallas
Re: Performance Sway Bar ...Question (CHRIS NJ C5)
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
(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]
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,122
Likes: 0
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.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 0
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:
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:
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.
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