*** Hotchkis Sway Bars ***
Thread Starter
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
*** Hotchkis Sway Bars ***
C6 Corvette Sport Sway Bars
Features:
-Lightweight, durable 1.25” (1 ¼”) tubular steel front sway bar. 20% Stiffer than Z51 & ZO6
-Lightweight, durable 1.125” (1 1/8”) adjustable tubular steel rear sway bar. Stiffness increase on Z51 +15%, +45%, +80%. Stiffness increase on ZO6 -15%, Same, +30%
-Factory style oil impregnated rubber bushings included
-Gloss black powder coat finish
$354.95 + Shipping
http://www.thelapd.com/index.php?mai...roducts_id=332
Thank you, Hanna
(818)998-3966
Features:
-Lightweight, durable 1.25” (1 ¼”) tubular steel front sway bar. 20% Stiffer than Z51 & ZO6
-Lightweight, durable 1.125” (1 1/8”) adjustable tubular steel rear sway bar. Stiffness increase on Z51 +15%, +45%, +80%. Stiffness increase on ZO6 -15%, Same, +30%
-Factory style oil impregnated rubber bushings included
-Gloss black powder coat finish
$354.95 + Shipping
http://www.thelapd.com/index.php?mai...roducts_id=332
Thank you, Hanna
(818)998-3966
Last edited by L.A.P.D.; Apr 1, 2008 at 07:35 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mine Hill New Jersey
Diameter alone does not dictate stiffness. The type of material the bar is made from plays a big part in it and also the length of the bar from the pivot point to the link. (shorter span produces a stiffer bar)
Thread Starter
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Los Angeles, CA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
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From: Florida
I know plenty about suspension geometry, thank you. Given that front bar geometry is identical, that leaves only wall thickness to affect stiffness. More or less, a nearly solid bar would be required to produce a 100% increase in stiffness, given same geometry. This seems unlikely, since they are "hollow" bars. So my questions remains: how was the 100% increase in stiffness achieved?
Thank you in advance. Also, are the bushings stiffer and what role do they play.
Thank you in advance. Also, are the bushings stiffer and what role do they play.
Last edited by TTRotary; Apr 1, 2008 at 05:38 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
Lightweight, durable 1.25” (1 ¼”) tubular steel front sway bar. 20% Stiffer than Z51 & ZO6
Lightweight, durable 1.125” (1 1/8”) adjustable tubular steel rear sway bar. Stiffness increase on Z51 +15%, +45%, +80%.
for a good price nonetheless.
Thread Starter
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
I fixed it.... Thank you for the heads up.... Sorry about the confusion.
-Hanna
-Hanna
OK as I suspected, these stiffness increases are not correct. From the Hotchkis website:
Lightweight, durable 1.25” (1 ¼”) tubular steel front sway bar. 20% Stiffer than Z51 & ZO6
Lightweight, durable 1.125” (1 1/8”) adjustable tubular steel rear sway bar. Stiffness increase on Z51 +15%, +45%, +80%.
for a good price nonetheless.
Lightweight, durable 1.25” (1 ¼”) tubular steel front sway bar. 20% Stiffer than Z51 & ZO6
Lightweight, durable 1.125” (1 1/8”) adjustable tubular steel rear sway bar. Stiffness increase on Z51 +15%, +45%, +80%.
for a good price nonetheless.Corvette Stories
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Thread Starter
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,302
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From: Los Angeles, CA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Heres a little more info from the Hotchkis website.
The hollow tube bars measure 1.25-inches in front and 1.125-inches in the rear, and are 20% stiffer than stock in front and are adjustable from +30% to -15% stiffer in the rear. The result is dramatically improved cornering potential, chassis balance and steering response. Besides offering exceptional handling improvements for street driving, Hotchkis sway bars work extremely well in autocross, road course, and open road racing applications. The lightweight hollow sway bars are formed on a CNC machine, powder coated gloss black for durability and come with special high durometer dry lube impregnated rubber bushings. Stock end links are retained to maintain a quiet ride on the street. Thanks to added adjustability, the new Hotchkis C6 sway bar package reduces body roll, increases vehicle control, and adds a new level of driver feedback and control to any late-model Corvette, even razor-sharp Z06 and Z51 models.
If you have any other questions feel free to let me know.
Thank you,Hanna
(818)998-3966
The hollow tube bars measure 1.25-inches in front and 1.125-inches in the rear, and are 20% stiffer than stock in front and are adjustable from +30% to -15% stiffer in the rear. The result is dramatically improved cornering potential, chassis balance and steering response. Besides offering exceptional handling improvements for street driving, Hotchkis sway bars work extremely well in autocross, road course, and open road racing applications. The lightweight hollow sway bars are formed on a CNC machine, powder coated gloss black for durability and come with special high durometer dry lube impregnated rubber bushings. Stock end links are retained to maintain a quiet ride on the street. Thanks to added adjustability, the new Hotchkis C6 sway bar package reduces body roll, increases vehicle control, and adds a new level of driver feedback and control to any late-model Corvette, even razor-sharp Z06 and Z51 models.
If you have any other questions feel free to let me know.
Thank you,Hanna
(818)998-3966
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
I had Hotchkis TVS package on my previous car, a 2004 350Z. I really liked the products. Has anyone used these on a Z51 as an upgrade that can comment on their results and what has been found to be the optimum setup for street performance( aka which hole/settings to use)? Lastly would these further benefit from upgraded bushings versus the rubber ones that come with them in the kit? My goal is to improve body roll and high speed turn in while at the same time not overly affecting daily drive comfort.
Last edited by miami08VETTE; Apr 9, 2008 at 02:50 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
St. Jude Donor '08
I had Hotchkis TVS package on my previous car, a 2004 350Z. I really liked the products. Has anyone used these on a Z51 as an upgrade that can comment on their results and what has been found to be the optimum setup for street performance( aka which hole/settings to use)? Lastly would these further benefit from upgraded bushings versus the rubber ones that come with them in the kit? My goal is to improve body roll and high speed turn in while at the same time not overly affecting daily drive comfort.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,463
Likes: 2
From: Santa Barbara, CA
I really like this setup for a couple reasons.
I come from the school where you use spring rate and coilovers to do their job not sway bars to add roll stiffness. Sway bars should be used to tune the overall understeer/oversteer characteristics rather than add tons of wheel rate. When you use a huge bar that adds so much wheel rate that you have to use very soft spring rates to have any compliance in the suspension whatsoever. Then the stofter springs cause a lot of dive and squat. Less than ideal. Quoting Gary "what's the point of having independent suspension if you're going to tie them together with a huge bar.
Furthermore, the stock endlinks are nice and quiet. They have rubber in them for a reason. The other ones are better yes but they cause noise which can be annoying for a street car.
Very nice and for less than 1/2 the price of most you really can't do better.
That said if you think you'll have a dialed suspension with just the bars you're sorely mistaken. However with a proper coilover setup or even an upgraded leaf/shock package they work very well.
Just my .02
I come from the school where you use spring rate and coilovers to do their job not sway bars to add roll stiffness. Sway bars should be used to tune the overall understeer/oversteer characteristics rather than add tons of wheel rate. When you use a huge bar that adds so much wheel rate that you have to use very soft spring rates to have any compliance in the suspension whatsoever. Then the stofter springs cause a lot of dive and squat. Less than ideal. Quoting Gary "what's the point of having independent suspension if you're going to tie them together with a huge bar.
Furthermore, the stock endlinks are nice and quiet. They have rubber in them for a reason. The other ones are better yes but they cause noise which can be annoying for a street car.
Very nice and for less than 1/2 the price of most you really can't do better.
That said if you think you'll have a dialed suspension with just the bars you're sorely mistaken. However with a proper coilover setup or even an upgraded leaf/shock package they work very well.
Just my .02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
I really like this setup for a couple reasons.
I come from the school where you use spring rate and coilovers to do their job not sway bars to add roll stiffness. Sway bars should be used to tune the overall understeer/oversteer characteristics rather than add tons of wheel rate. When you use a huge bar that adds so much wheel rate that you have to use very soft spring rates to have any compliance in the suspension whatsoever. Then the stofter springs cause a lot of dive and squat. Less than ideal. Quoting Gary "what's the point of having independent suspension if you're going to tie them together with a huge bar.
Furthermore, the stock endlinks are nice and quiet. They have rubber in them for a reason. The other ones are better yes but they cause noise which can be annoying for a street car.
Very nice and for less than 1/2 the price of most you really can't do better.
That said if you think you'll have a dialed suspension with just the bars you're sorely mistaken. However with a proper coilover setup or even an upgraded leaf/shock package they work very well.
Just my .02
I come from the school where you use spring rate and coilovers to do their job not sway bars to add roll stiffness. Sway bars should be used to tune the overall understeer/oversteer characteristics rather than add tons of wheel rate. When you use a huge bar that adds so much wheel rate that you have to use very soft spring rates to have any compliance in the suspension whatsoever. Then the stofter springs cause a lot of dive and squat. Less than ideal. Quoting Gary "what's the point of having independent suspension if you're going to tie them together with a huge bar.
Furthermore, the stock endlinks are nice and quiet. They have rubber in them for a reason. The other ones are better yes but they cause noise which can be annoying for a street car.
Very nice and for less than 1/2 the price of most you really can't do better.
That said if you think you'll have a dialed suspension with just the bars you're sorely mistaken. However with a proper coilover setup or even an upgraded leaf/shock package they work very well.
Just my .02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,463
Likes: 2
From: Santa Barbara, CA
I understand and agree with your comments. On my 350Z I used both the Hotchkis bars and springs and they made a significant improvement. Since I already have Z51, I guess the main question is will upgrading to these bars make a significant/woth the money difference to roll resistance and HS turn in? I know it won't be the do-all/end-all of a coilover upgrade.
