Hotchkis Sway Bar Question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Hotchkis Sway Bar Question
New owner, and new to this forum. I have an 02 convertable that I have started to order mods for. So far I have the GHL exhaust, Vara Ram VR-1B, and the Hurst Shifter incoming. I bought the car used (1100 miles) and it has the stock suspension. Can anyone who has switched to the Hotchkis system offer me some insight. Also I have been reading the post here and I want to thank all of you, never owned a Corvette before, your posts have helped me alot.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 2
From: san diego ca
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (1Carnut)
I had my car lowered about 1 Inch and a set of Hotchki sway bars installed..One of the best MODS i did.
Now the car has very little lateral roll under hard cornering, The handling is like night and day with the hotchkis.
Personally i found the stock C5 sway bars created a sloppy feeling .
Good Luck !
:cheers:
JEff
Now the car has very little lateral roll under hard cornering, The handling is like night and day with the hotchkis.
Personally i found the stock C5 sway bars created a sloppy feeling .
Good Luck !
:cheers:
JEff
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (1Carnut)
I installed Hotchkis front and rear, Bilstien Sport Shocks and I put a VBP Comp leaf spring on the front. The handling difference was like night and day. To better it, I took off the Run Craps and put on Bridgestone S03's. Best handling car I've ever had ! Advise...as long as you're putting on sway bars, stick new shocks on also. May The Force be With You.!
:cheers: :blueangel: :cheers: :blueangel: :cheers:
:cheers: :blueangel: :cheers: :blueangel: :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 927
Likes: 62
From: Lake Elmo, MN, USA MN
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (1Carnut)
If you order the sway bars,,,, you must buy the shocks. This will complete the set up. I did find the ride was a little harsher but it now feels like a well tuned sports car.
If you look at the diameter of the Hotchkis vs the standard sway bar you can see how much difference it will make.
Look at the standard end bar links. The Hotchkis are solid metal vs. the standard end links on my '00 were plastic.
Good luck
If you look at the diameter of the Hotchkis vs the standard sway bar you can see how much difference it will make.
Look at the standard end bar links. The Hotchkis are solid metal vs. the standard end links on my '00 were plastic.
Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 39
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (cares)
Welcome! I also bought my 1st Corvette and then found CF. I have learned much and now have a fantastic sports car with the mods I've done.
I agree the Hotchkis with the Bilstein Sports are a great package.
[Modified by Gary2KC5, 8:25 PM 3/11/2003]
I agree the Hotchkis with the Bilstein Sports are a great package.
[Modified by Gary2KC5, 8:25 PM 3/11/2003]
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 3
From: Chapel Hill NC
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (1Carnut)
By all means, get a set of Bilstien Sport shocks. High quality shocks are more important to all around good handling and really complement the bars. By the way, the Z06 bars would also be a good choice and may be cheaper.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (1Carnut)
Hold off on the new Hotchkis sway bars there is a problem with them. I have their newest bars and there is something wrong with the design. There was a recent post on here advising the new Hotchkis rear bars are moving over to the extreme left and sticking there causing the end links to be a very different angles. This can logically only mean that there is different tension being applied to each corner of the rear of the car. Mine moved over and stayed to the extreme left. I have been trying to work with Hotchkis but thus far they have no answers. Do a search in the C5 Tech/Performance for "Hotchkis" and read the recent post regarding this problem I'm not the only one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,071
Likes: 297
From: Savannah GA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Hotchkis Sway Bar Question (JFP)
Love mine! Night and day difference over Z51 bars. If you are running the Z51 shocks you do not need to swap to the blistens if you do not want to. The Z51/Hotchkis setup performs very well. Very nice ride and does not move on the corners. My car is lowered about as far as you can safely go.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
A problem?
I ordered a set yesterday, I think I might give the company a call, before I have them installed. I am having the short shift kit, GHL exhaust, the varaam, and the bars all done at the same time. So far only the short shifter is in, so I have some time. Thanks for the heads up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: DFW tx
Re: A problem? (1Carnut)
I would also highly recommend upgrading your shocks. I went with the Bilstein sports, putting them on and driving for a week before I put the sway bars on. Before upgrading the shocks, the car felt floaty, now it feels glued to the road.
I am happy with the Hotchkis bars. There is very little body roll at all, and if you install the bars right, you will not have any noise. I installed mine over a year ago and have not had any problems.
I am happy with the Hotchkis bars. There is very little body roll at all, and if you install the bars right, you will not have any noise. I installed mine over a year ago and have not had any problems.
