Anyone that has put Z06 front and rear sways on their Base or F55, please let me know how the over all ride is. Is it more harsh?? I like the comfort of the Base susp but would like a bit more feel responsiveness in turns.

Thanks

 

I've put on the Z51 sways on my F55 and the ride did become a bit more harsh but not so much as to regret the swap. The difference is only really noticed on bumpy local roads. The highway driving remained the same... aside from the tighter control.

 

I've got the ZO6 bars. The ride is slightly stiffer, not so much in a staight line but on turns etc. I have the F55 setup, and it feels like "sport" when in "tour" mode now, and "sport" mode now feels like a true "sport" ride. Not too harsh, but much better than before. Corners very flat now. Made a BIG difference at my last autocross. If you want the "cadillac" type feel base/F55 give, stay stock. If you want a more sports car feel, try the ZO6 bars. Worth every penny IMHO.

 

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM two changes Z06 AND Z51 bars and both claiming a bit more harsh. Looks like you dont get something for nothing.

 

I put the Z06 bars on my F55, and if there is any real increase in harshness, I really cannot tell the difference. A great mod for little money.

 

I guess it is all relative. One person's plush can be another's harsh?

 

I installed the Z06 sways bars onto my F55 suspension 2005 coupe. I also installed the Elite Engineering tunnel plate which adds increased rigidity to the frame.

I'm pleased with the Z06 sway bars. Through one particular (bumpy) corner I use as a test bed, the car is stable, has decreased body roll, decreased side-skip and maintains a nice 'stance' thoughout the curve. The car is tight and controllable.

I had read some debate about Z51 sway bars versus Z06 sways bars with some saying the Z06 sways caused steering issues. Prior to installing my Z06 sways, I asked the LPE-trained mechanic what he thought. This many 'knows' Corvettes and helps setup numerous Corvettes for the track....his opinion was go with the Z06 sway bars.

Again, I'm pleased with the Z06 sways bars with my F55 suspension.

 

no one has reported fillings falling out of their teeth yet

 

Does anyone know the diameter of the Bars, Z51, Z06, F55,?

A Sway bar should not have any effect in the ride in a straight line.

Now stiffer shocks will affect the ride quality.

 

yes but when we are not going straight thats the problem

 

Heavier bars should give you exactly what you want, a more responsive car and less body roll, heavier springs would add harshness not the bars. Some may find more responsive = twitchy

Just make sure you change them as a set, just adding a heavy bar to one end (front or rear) tends to take away traction from that end.

FYI I have played with several sway bars on my track car, (Honda S2000) My fastest laps were with a OEM skinny front bar and no rear bar at all, though I did have much heavier springs to compensate.

 

well since the bars essentially increase spring rate, I would expect that you would feel road bumps more with bigger bars than the stock ones. I dont want to feel every road imperfection while driving. I can sacrafice a little on this but I dont wnat to be beat to death on a moderate distance drive.

 

I put a front sway bar on my track car that was 280% stiffer than OEM, it didnt make lick of difference on road feel or comfort, nothing.

I drove thousands of street miles that way.

 

I may be one of the very few that has installed Z-51 sway bars and then took them back off due to increased harshness. I was looking for that "cornering on rails" feel and the Z-51 bars gave that to me. I absolutely loved the improved cornering with the bars. However, my Vette is my daily driver. I do not take it to the track, and most likely never will. After installing the bars my back actually started to hurt after my 20 mile commute. The increased harshness did not seem like all that much, but it was enough that I could feel every bump in the road. If the roads in my area were better I may have kept them. But I just wanted back that great smooth ride the Vette gave me with the base sway bars.

 

Thanks for your candor

 

I had Z-06 sway bars, front and rear, installed and I can not discern any ride quality difference. Tighter cornering, yes, but my ride does not feel any harsher than before the enhancement.

 

As Knkali deduced,Nothing for Nothing, Plus Gfactor has it generally correct. Bars will not affect ride when both wheels move up and down together,such as found on relatively smooth or evenly rough surfaces such as tracks and most roads.Picture how they are connected,linked tightly from wheel to wheel and pivoting in its support on the chassis.When both wheels lift no force is induced by the floating bar.When one wheel lifts or moves in the opposite direction of the opposing wheel a torque is generated on the bar adding to the spring rate of one wheel and reducing the rate of the other wheel.This will cause a harsher impact on one wheel at a time under a single wheel bumps only witch is why 90% of street driving you will not notice any difference.Car Mf-f-f-gs.put them on soft suspensions to reduce roll bobble for safety.Track cars use them for fine tunning the balance front to rear and driver preference.As Gfactor pointed out more bar reduces traction on that end of the car because as the car loads in the corner force is added to the outside wheel through the chassis by the bar lifting against the inside wheel thus reducing its grip.The roll is reduced,but your picking up the other wheel.Say that was the rear of the car with more bar loading in a turn, also less weight is tranfered from the front to back allowing the front to gain grip.This is the balance thing,more bar in the front will loosen the front (tendency to understeer or push the nose) more bar in the rear will loosen the rear(tendency to oversteer,especially under power).One thing it helps is wheel hop under acceleration by reducing wheel to wheel looseness on independent rears. Currently I have f55 w/z51 bars as a daily driver,and like ride and reduced roll,its balance nicely.I dont like the reduced rear bite, not a plus in cornering,period.Again as per Gfactor,more bar in the front is next. push the nose a little and get a good rear grip.If your tracking or want that max and upper end handling you will have to respring it, bars are not a fix all,not even close.Shock absorbers (bad name)shock inducers would be more fitting)Spring dampeners as they should be called, are not to be used that way ether.But thats another 10 pages of chatter. TWP

 

TWPVETT, thanks for a very well written and informative post. I am going to copy it for a friend of mine who tracks his car. You answered many questions for me. I just installed Z51 bars on my C-6 vert and am very pleased with the results.

Bob

 

The Zo6 sway bars are relatively inexpensive correct?

Changing sway bars is not difficult, from what I have seen of the C6 it should be a simple job.

You could always try them and sell them here if they dont work out.

I don't have a car yet but will be looking to tighen up the handling, with Shocks, bars and even springs.

Off Topic, is changing the leaf springs much of a task?

 

1-Yes 2-Yes 3-Maybe 4-O.K. 5-No