Sway Bar End Links
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: New Baden IL
St. Jude Contributor
Sway Bar End Links
The part number for metal end links for C5's is 10435298 and run in the neighborhood of $14 at GM Parts Direct. Parts Direct also has another part number for end links of 10424745 that runs $37. Does anyone know what this end link is? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 21
From: Roswell GA
Re: Sway Bar End Links (SHOWTIME!)
$37 - Steel as used in Z51 packages
$14 - Aluminum - more recient for use in Z06 - considered equally strong and lighter weight than the steel - and cheaper also.
Plastic - base stock.
$14 - Aluminum - more recient for use in Z06 - considered equally strong and lighter weight than the steel - and cheaper also.
Plastic - base stock.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Re: Sway Bar End Links (Hildy)
A word of warning! :cry
GM Parts Direct has a non-existant customer service policy! :mad
If you have any problems they totally ignore you! :banghead:
Call Fichtner instead. Here's their link! :thumbs:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/kenf...rtspage1.shtml
GM Parts Direct has a non-existant customer service policy! :mad
If you have any problems they totally ignore you! :banghead:
Call Fichtner instead. Here's their link! :thumbs:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/kenf...rtspage1.shtml
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 1
From: Irvine CA
Re: Sway Bar End Links (KingTut)
$37 - Steel as used in Z51 packages
$14 - Aluminum - more recient for use in Z06 - considered equally strong and lighter weight than the steel - and cheaper also.
Plastic - base stock.
$14 - Aluminum - more recient for use in Z06 - considered equally strong and lighter weight than the steel - and cheaper also.
Plastic - base stock.
BTW, why would the sway bar end links be made of plastic? It just makes sense to have them made of metal too since the sway bars are subject to flexing and compression during cornering. :confused:
Anybody notice a difference with the steel or aluminum ones?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,941
Likes: 0
From: Stealth So Cal GOCC ...comming to invade your neighborhood soon
Re: Sway Bar End Links (c5chris)
I had the '02 Z51 package and the links were Aluminum. My best guess is that the $37 links are Aluminum, and the $14 links are the plastic ones that came on the base model.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 21
From: Roswell GA
Re: Sway Bar End Links (c5chris)
Are you sure the $14 ones are the aluminum kind? It might be the base plastic?
Front or Rear Aluminum Links $ 17.97 ea
Front or Rear Steel Links $ 49.61 ea
10423035 Plastic
10424745 Steel
10435298 Aluminum
That should establish the price points for the two "replacement" types as I do not know anyone who would not use the aluminum ones over the "stock" plastic ones.
As for GM Parts Direct - They stock nothing - they just get dealers to ship you the stuff. If they do not ship the same part you ordered - wou will get good service. If YOU had the wrong part number - too bad for you.
Fitchner holds your hand and helps you be sure you get the right stuff, for that there is a small extra fee over GM Parts Direct. Sort of like buying retail and wholesale. Wholesalers do not put up with tire kickers or uneducated buyers like the retailers do - that is why there is a price difference.
I have a parts CD cost about $6.00 and it has all the correct numbers. They are frequently on eBay.
[Modified by KingTut, 4:27 PM 8/6/2003]
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Re: Sway Bar End Links (c5chris)
One would think so, but through 2001 the rear sway bar end links were plastic. You can see the deformation just looking at them even with the car sitting still. The swap is very easy and at least made me feel better. Frankly I'm not sure if it made any real difference, even on a road course. OTH, GM would not have used aluminum on 2002 on up if it didn't matter as I'm sure they're more expensive then plastic.
BTW, GM Parts Direct has perfectly fine customer service. I've resolved a couple issues with them with no difficulty. OTOH, use Ken Fichtner whenever you can and support our sponsor.
BTW, GM Parts Direct has perfectly fine customer service. I've resolved a couple issues with them with no difficulty. OTOH, use Ken Fichtner whenever you can and support our sponsor.
BTW, why would the sway bar end links be made of plastic? It just makes sense to have them made of metal too since the sway bars are subject to flexing and compression during cornering. :confused:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: New Baden IL
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Sway Bar End Links (Hildy)
Hello Ed,
The new links are cast aluminum. GM Parts has even discontinued the
steel links for the aluminum links. We have them in stock, they list for
23.96 ea and your cost is 17.97 ea.
Bob Wendorff
Parts Manager
Fichtner Chevrolet
Laurel MT
406-628-4618
The new links are cast aluminum. GM Parts has even discontinued the
steel links for the aluminum links. We have them in stock, they list for
23.96 ea and your cost is 17.97 ea.
Bob Wendorff
Parts Manager
Fichtner Chevrolet
Laurel MT
406-628-4618
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: Sway Bar End Links (jawsski)
I got Z51 and end links ain't steel..they're plastic
[Modified by jawsski, 9:09 PM 8/7/2003]
[Modified by jawsski, 9:09 PM 8/7/2003]
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Woodbridge Virginia
Re: Sway Bar End Links (jawsski)
I got Z51 and end links ain't steel..they're plastic
[Modified by jawsski, 9:09 PM 8/7/2003]
[Modified by jawsski, 9:09 PM 8/7/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: Sway Bar End Links (bradfordjr)
I got Z51 and end links ain't steel..they're plastic
The Z51 cars have metal end-links in the front and plastic end-links in the rear. All non-Z51 cars have plastic end-links both front and rear. Beginning with the 2002 model year, GM changed to aluminum all around. :yesnod:
The Z51 cars have metal end-links in the front and plastic end-links in the rear. All non-Z51 cars have plastic end-links both front and rear. Beginning with the 2002 model year, GM changed to aluminum all around. :yesnod:
Nope. :nono: Gotta disagree here. I have a '99 w/Z51 and they are plastic front and rear.
The info I have is:
Z51 suspension '97-'99: plastic front and rear
Z51 suspension '00-'01: steel front, plastic rear
Z51 suspension '02 (and '03-'04 I believe): aluminum front and rear
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
The plastic links work fine for the stock sway bar setup on stock vettes. As you increase the sway bar thickness and push the handling, the plastic links can't really handle the stress, so metal or aluminum is needed. If you upgrade your sway bars to either the Z51 or Z06, it is advisable to upgrade to the aluminum links as the stress could break the plastic on track or spirited driving due to less flex on the thicker sway bars... GM is giving the mininum here, you want to track your vette, you have to upgrade accordingly at your cost.. No salesman ever told me my stock vette was ready for the track.. Good luck, I install my Z06 sway bar with aluminum links this coming Sat. (depending on the weather, it's cold in my garage)... Later
