Jawnathin

Just a heads up to keep your eye on your rear sway bar bracket bolts. I was doing my autocross event earlier today and near the end of the day for one of my last runs, I heard something a small 'pop' from the rear, but wasn't sure what it was. Thought maybe I drove over a rock or something.

On the drive back home, the car did feel a little different, maybe slightly lighter steering & more body roll. Decided I'd go check the car when I got back home and yup, the sway bar bolt somehow backed out and my bracket is all bent.



Don't think it will be an expensive repair, just need a new bracket and bolt. Not sure exactly how it popped out just yet, but I'm hoping the threads aren't stripped.

Did some research and here is a thread from 2006 that seems to cover this issue. Did not know about this, but seems to be common from what that thread shows. Had I known, I would have checked this a while back. Just want to give heads up to owners who were not around during that time...

erichg1000

Thanks for the heads up *pulls out red loctite*

Turbosixx

It's a known issue. Happened to me as well. Red loctite and check it every few months.

Jawnathin

No problem. Wish I had known, so I figure I'd share for some of the more recent owners who may not have been around to see that thread.

Heck, I wish I would have checked before leaving the event, I know exactly where it 'popped' out too. I probably could salvage the bracket, just need to bend it back in place, but I'll see what a new one costs first.

I did see your post in that thread, bummer.

Yup, known as there was a previous thread, but probably not discussed often. I've been regularly on this section since I got my car and lurked for some time before that, never saw this discussed.

Good advice on the loctite. I'll add some on the replacement and on the drivers side.

Also, for FWIW, according to the other thread, 49 ft/lbs for the upper bolt, 70 ft/lbs for the lower nut. The upper bolt is an 18mm.

jph331

I don't think you need loctite. If it eases your mind then use the blue 242 loctite. I personally think they were just not torqued properly from the factory. I had one fall out at under 20,000 miles. 86,000 miles on the car now. New bolt without loctite has never loosened.

I have noticed other fasteners that were not tighten such as the ones holding on the rear quarter panels. Inside trunk handle.

Also another annoying rattle noise from the 2 L shaped aluminum brackets attached on the left and right of the lower rear bumper. Both have broke on me at different times. Less then $10. It is part number 35.

dmuellenberg

Unless they added it back in later, AFAIK the only year that had the inside trunk handle was 2006.

jph331

My car is a 2007 with the trunk handle.

Jawnathin

Well, I do have an 06, so the handle is applicable to me too

I'll just torque them and check down the road. Otherwise I have some blue loctite I can use.

Jawnathin

I've got a new bracket and bolt on the way. But does anyone know what thread/pitch that bolt is? I figure I can pick one up at the store until the replacement arrives.

EDIT: I guess I should have searched before I posted.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...bolt-size.html

REAR sway bar attaching bolts: M12 x 1.75

dmuellenberg

I know the 2007 has the recessed area for the trunk handle, but do you actually have a handle as shown in the following photo? I've got a friend who has a 2007 and he doesn't have the handle.

jph331

Mine was built in late 06 but it is an 07 Z

dmuellenberg

They must have deleted the trunk handle mid year 07 then.

Jawnathin

Well. I mended it...

Dale1990

Looks familiar. I had the same thing happen with the bracket on the other side but I was lucky enough to catch it before I lost the hardware. I just retorqued it to spec and all's been well for the last 10k or so. I make it a point, now, to take a good look around the suspension and brakes during oil changes and such for things that look out of place.

dmuellenberg

I also had this issue but I noticed it before the bolt completely came out. After reading some posts about the rear sway bar I checked mine and saw that the one on the diver's side was about 1/2 inch out. Since I was taking the car in for an oil change and a few other minor warranty issues, I told them the rear sway bar bracket was loose and they put it on the work order. After I got it home I checked the bolt and it was still loose. I took it back and told the service writer that they didn't tighten it and showed him what the issue was. His response was 'Well, maybe that's the way it supposed to be." !!! I had to take him out to the lot and look at another Corvette to convince him that the bolt wasn't tight - then he finally agreed. The work order showed that they tightened the sway bar brackets, so I'm not sure what they originally tightened, but it sure wasn't the bracket bolts. Moral of the story is to double check your vehicle after getting it serviced to make sure the dealership did what they were supposed to do.

DevilMan02

The same thing happened to my C5 recently. I lost the bolt and my car looks just like the original post except the entire bracket broke off. I called GM Parts House and the person on the phone told me it's a discontinued part no longer available for my 2002 C5.

It looks EXACTLY the same. Can anyone help me with a part number for this? Is it truly a discontinued part? Can one be found for a C5 corvette?

Jawnathin

The bracket's may look similar, but they could be different. The bracket is shaped to cover the bushing, which may be different sizes across the different models. What fit on mine might be different from yours.

I'd try a few other vendors and see if they have anything for you.

Worst case, you can buy a replacement swaybar with brackets and bushings included. Or find someone who pulled off their OE swaybar and is willing to part with the OE brackets

Mark2009

For a 2006 C6 Z06 the P/N is 25933429. List price $9.86.


For a 2002 C5 Base the P/N is **426591 (incomplete) which shows superceded by 25933429. List price $9.86.

DevilMan02

Mark thank you so much! So the part is basically the same but replaced by an updated version? This will fit my c5, correct?

Would you also happen to have the part number for the top bolt?

Mark2009

It would seem that it should fit according to the parts manual I looked at (045 **426591 CLAMP,RR STAB SHF INSL Replaced by: **933429 Y 97-02 02 ). Edit: Yeah, same part as used on the C6, maybe some minor change but they quit making the older version and supposedly the new version will work.

The bolt is p/n 11515807. List price $4.43. Or a M12 X 1.75 X 30 at your local hardware store.
.