Z06 sway bar install?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield WI
Z06 sway bar install
Hi,
I found this when I was looking - http://www.chazcone.com/corvette/z51/
Not official but looked good.
I ended-up taking mine into the dealer today to have the Z06 anti-sway bars installed (don't have ramps or a good jack). The charge was $140 (1 hour front, .5 hour rear, supposedly priced "by the book" for a R&R of stabilizer bars.
The change in handling was very impressive. I have the F55 (magnetic shock) option and even in sport mode the car leaned quite a bit in hard corners. Not any more! At very slow speeds (25 or less) I can feel bumps a little more. At normal driving speeds you can't notice a difference (except when cornering). At higher speeds on the freeway the car seems to hold the road better on our bumpy WI roads. It handles great.
Probably the best $310 I could have ever spent (installation included).
Chip
I found this when I was looking - http://www.chazcone.com/corvette/z51/
Not official but looked good.
I ended-up taking mine into the dealer today to have the Z06 anti-sway bars installed (don't have ramps or a good jack). The charge was $140 (1 hour front, .5 hour rear, supposedly priced "by the book" for a R&R of stabilizer bars.
The change in handling was very impressive. I have the F55 (magnetic shock) option and even in sport mode the car leaned quite a bit in hard corners. Not any more! At very slow speeds (25 or less) I can feel bumps a little more. At normal driving speeds you can't notice a difference (except when cornering). At higher speeds on the freeway the car seems to hold the road better on our bumpy WI roads. It handles great.
Probably the best $310 I could have ever spent (installation included).
Chip
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
www.ls1howto.com
Very detailed, and contains pics.
The sway bar swap is very simple. Should take an hour if you have access to a lift. And probably less if you have air tools.
Very detailed, and contains pics.
The sway bar swap is very simple. Should take an hour if you have access to a lift. And probably less if you have air tools.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,119
Likes: 0
From: That dam place where it rains all the time
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,567
Likes: 1
From: Edmond, OK...One of the first rules of online forums: If you don't like what is said but can't refute it, attack the poster.
Those are the instructions I used when I installed mine. I put the front on ramps to do the front. I didn't lift the rear up to do the rear bar.
Jeff
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,624
Likes: 18
From: Dover MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Along with upgrading to Z06 size wheels and replacing the Goodyears, one of the best mods you can make with or without F55. 
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,965
Likes: 6,770
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
For others, a lift nor jacks is necessary.
As noted, the back doesn't have to come up at all, unless the car is significantly lowered. The front can be driven onto a stack of two 2-bys on each side. It is tight, so another board or two is helpful but not necessary... ask how I know.
All the best.
As noted, the back doesn't have to come up at all, unless the car is significantly lowered. The front can be driven onto a stack of two 2-bys on each side. It is tight, so another board or two is helpful but not necessary... ask how I know.
All the best.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Originally Posted by Avanti
For others, a lift nor jacks is necessary.
Yea, but crawling around on the ground sucks. Having a lift to put it up at heads height makes it easier to see and manuever pieces around.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,787
Likes: 33
From: Out west in the mountains
Originally Posted by pastorbrad
Along with upgrading to Z06 size wheels and replacing the Goodyears, one of the best mods you can make with or without F55.
Thanks to all who replied.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Richfield MN
Originally Posted by USA-VET
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield WI
How long did it take?
Blue2002,
How long did this take you? Really curious because of the 1.5 hours of labor charged by the dealer (if anyone has access to the standard labor estimates shops use I would be interested as well).
I'm having the Abs-of-Steel installed next week and if this dealer overcharged (which seems to be the case, possibly because I bought the parts from someone else (Fred Beans)) then I will have another dealer install this.
Then again, it might be a good investment to buy a nice set of ramps, a good jack and a torque wrench.
Chip
How long did this take you? Really curious because of the 1.5 hours of labor charged by the dealer (if anyone has access to the standard labor estimates shops use I would be interested as well).
I'm having the Abs-of-Steel installed next week and if this dealer overcharged (which seems to be the case, possibly because I bought the parts from someone else (Fred Beans)) then I will have another dealer install this.
Then again, it might be a good investment to buy a nice set of ramps, a good jack and a torque wrench.
Chip
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,787
Likes: 33
From: Out west in the mountains
I just finished the rear and it took about 1 hour. I took my time. Most of the time was spent scrapping all the shipping and description stickers off the bar. It is pretty straight forward. I'm certainly no mechanic but I managed to get it done. I'll do the front tomarrow.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,787
Likes: 33
From: Out west in the mountains
Finished the front bar install and oil change. Front bar was harder than rear one due to less room for tools. Swearing helped some. But some of that was due to listening to the Pres debate while working on vette. Initial impression is that cornering is improved. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to improve cornering over the stock F55 suspension.
But some of that was due to listening to the Pres debate while working on vette. Initial impression is that cornering is improved. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to improve cornering over the stock F55 suspension.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Richfield MN
Originally Posted by ChipN
Blue2002,
How long did this take you? Really curious because of the 1.5 hours of labor charged by the dealer (if anyone has access to the standard labor estimates shops use I would be interested as well).
Chip
How long did this take you? Really curious because of the 1.5 hours of labor charged by the dealer (if anyone has access to the standard labor estimates shops use I would be interested as well).
Chip
Not sure I would want to try this with jack stands and without an air compressor and air tools.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 1
From: cAshburn VA
I did mine by myself with ramps, jack stands and hand tools. I had already put the front bars and shocks on while doing the h/c swap. I did the rear shocks and swaybar in about 1.5 hours.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
