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Sway bar differences

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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 10:40 AM
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Default Sway bar differences

What is the difference between 2005 Z51 and 2006 Z06 sway bars?
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 10:47 AM
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I believe the diameter of the front stabilizer bar for both the Z51 and the Z06 is 31mm. The rear anti-sway bar on the Z51 is 25.6mm and the Z06 it is 27.9mm. The base C6 anti-sway bars are 25.5mm front and the rear is 17.5mm. Otherwise, I don't know of any differences between 2005 and 2006 stabilizer bars.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 10:50 AM
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Thanks!
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 11:31 AM
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can we throw in hotchkis swaybars too?
i have the base suspension.. thinking about upgrading, but not sure whether to go with z51, z06, or pony up some additional money for hotchkis. worth the money?
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 11:32 AM
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with the Z06 or hotchkis rear bar I would but considerably wider tires to avoid the large amounts of oversteer you will get.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 06:53 PM
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Here are some diameters. Keep in mind that wall thickness and lever length also play a role in sway bar rate. The graph shows our current Pfadt offerings versus the GM bars. The Hotchkis bars fall roughly where the diameters would lead you.

Wayne O is probably right about the C6 base diameters, the Base C6 ones listed in my chart are copied from the C5. I generally do not pay much attention to those bars. The chart is accurate.





-Aaron
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Aaron Pfadt
Here are some diameters. Keep in mind that wall thickness and lever length also play a role in sway bar rate. The graph shows our current Pfadt offerings versus the GM bars. The Hotchkis bars fall roughly where the diameters would lead you.

Wayne O is probably right about the C6 base diameters, the Base C6 ones listed in my chart are copied from the C5. I generally do not pay much attention to those bars.

-Aaron

Your bars are without a doubt the finest I have ever seen. I just wish I could stay married if I bought them.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 07:41 PM
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I had Z06 swaybars installed last week on my base 06 a6. I have to say the back end wants to get away from ya if you nail the gas on a turn. Even stock the backend would come around, but the Z06 sways really make it worse. I plan on doing shocks and springs also.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by CHASLS2
I had Z06 swaybars installed last week on my base 06 a6. I have to say the back end wants to get away from ya if you nail the gas on a turn. Even stock the backend would come around, but the Z06 sways really make it worse. I plan on doing shocks and springs also.
Thats why I always tell people to put more meat on the rear-end when upgrading the rear bar...it steps out really easily and can get away from you.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by FloydSummerOf68
Thats why I always tell people to put more meat on the rear-end when upgrading the rear bar...it steps out really easily and can get away from you.
I found out just the other day how easy it can get away from me.

Was driving back to work from lunch and made a left turn at the light just as i came out of my turn, i kinda gave it too much gas the car downshifted and backend was all over the road.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by FloydSummerOf68
Thats why I always tell people to put more meat on the rear-end when upgrading the rear bar...it steps out really easily and can get away from you.
A good solution is to use the Z51 rear bar instead of the Z06 one. I find the C6 cars to have great balance with Z51 bars.

later,
Aaron
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 10:57 PM
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Aaron, you may want to indicate adjustment ranges on your bars, which are their big advantage (well...and they look awesome too!).

FWIW, relative to Z51 The Hotchkis bars add 20% up front and have three rear adjustments: 0, +15, +50. Overall, I don't think these bars would do much.

Their C5 product, which increased stiffness 50% all around, was great.

I also agree with Aaron that the C6 Z51 roll couple (F/R stiffness ratio) is about perfect for the street and roadcourse, but it wouldn't hurt to stiffen things up 50% overall. More rear stiffness is probably appropriate for Autox to get that rear end rotated.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Aaron Pfadt
Here are some diameters. Keep in mind that wall thickness and lever length also play a role in sway bar rate. The graph shows our current Pfadt offerings versus the GM bars. The Hotchkis bars fall roughly where the diameters would lead you.

Wayne O is probably right about the C6 base diameters, the Base C6 ones listed in my chart are copied from the C5. I generally do not pay much attention to those bars. The chart is accurate.





-Aaron
Not to hijack the thread, but how do the GM T1 bars compare, diameter wise?
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Old Oct 18, 2007 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by TTRotary
Aaron, you may want to indicate adjustment ranges on your bars, which are their big advantage (well...and they look awesome too!).

FWIW, relative to Z51 The Hotchkis bars add 20% up front and have three rear adjustments: 0, +15, +50. Overall, I don't think these bars would do much.

Their C5 product, which increased stiffness 50% all around, was great.

I also agree with Aaron that the C6 Z51 roll couple (F/R stiffness ratio) is about perfect for the street and roadcourse, but it wouldn't hurt to stiffen things up 50% overall. More rear stiffness is probably appropriate for Autox to get that rear end rotated.
The adjustment range is shown on the graph. Each tick is a hole. It is hard to get a handle on otherwise. You'll also see the adjustment on the rear T1 bar on the chart.

T1 bars are 38 mm front and 28 mm rear I believe. The important thing to note is the relative rate of the T1 front to rear. The C6Z varies from that ratio by a large amount. Not an advantage in my opinion.

TTRotary is right that 50% increase in stiffness over the C6 Z51 bars is a good thing. 100% is probably better. The adjust ability of the Pfadt bars allows you to balance the car out for your particular combo of tires, track and driving style.

-Aaron
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Old Oct 18, 2007 | 10:02 PM
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.

Originally Posted by CHASLS2
I had Z06 swaybars installed last week on my base 06 a6. I have to say the back end wants to get away from ya if you nail the gas on a turn. Even stock the backend would come around, but the Z06 sways really make it worse. I plan on doing shocks and springs also.

I found out just the other day how easy it can get away from me.

Was driving back to work from lunch and made a left turn at the light just as i came out of my turn, i kinda gave it too much gas the car downshifted and backend was all over the road.
Unless you are going change to the larger Z06 rear tires
please seriously considered changing to the smaller Z51 rear bar.

Right now you may have made your car
way more dangerous.

.

Last edited by FLY US; Oct 19, 2007 at 09:38 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2007 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by FLY US
Unless you are going change to the larger Z06 tires
please considered changing the to the Z51 rear bar.

Right now you've actually made your car
way more dangerous.
Definatley.

The ONLY reason I have a Z06 rear bar waiting to go on my car in my garage is because I'll be getting 325 tires when mine run out.
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Old Oct 19, 2007 | 12:22 PM
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I may change over to a Z51 swaybar, unless i can find two z06 rear fenders in LMB .
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Old Apr 24, 2019 | 08:29 PM
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Z06 Front Sway Bar sold
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