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Quick question about suspension

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Old Jul 7, 2013 | 10:47 PM
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Default Quick question about suspension

I have a base c6 that has a cracked rear leaf. I found someone who will sell me z06 springs for a good price as they put coilovers on thier car.

I was told by someone else that if I put z06 springs on my car, I would have to put z06 sway bars on it as well. I've never heard of this.

Is this true?

I've done a few searches and found a couple of how to's, but none say anything about swapping the sways as well.

Thanks for any info you guys have!

Last edited by johnnybravothepimp; Jul 7, 2013 at 10:48 PM. Reason: Mis spelling
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 01:42 AM
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The Z06 rear spring is stiffer than your base spring, at 782 lb-in versus 657 lb-in. This will create more oversteer just by itself. Adding a Z06 rear spring would give you a pretty poor handling setup unless you are trying for a pure drift car.

But the springs and sways are independent. You don't need to change one if you change the other.
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 05:53 AM
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Looks like a god reason to upgrade to coilovers!
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 08:17 AM
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I would be replacing both the front and rear springs for z06, not just the rear.

And I thought the same thing about the coilovers, but they are so expensive! I just got new tires and the wife just got a new diamond!

Just don't have $2000 at the moment for coilovers!
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by johnnybravothepimp
I would be replacing both the front and rear springs for z06, not just the rear.

And I thought the same thing about the coilovers, but they are so expensive! I just got new tires and the wife just got a new diamond!

Just don't have $2000 at the moment for coilovers!
Sounds like you are good to go!
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MisterMidlifeCrisis
The Z06 rear spring is stiffer than your base spring, at 782 lb-in versus 657 lb-in. This will create more oversteer just by itself. Adding a Z06 rear spring would give you a pretty poor handling setup unless you are trying for a pure drift car.

But the springs and sways are independent. You don't need to change one if you change the other.
In one sense, that's correct.
But in the C6 sometimes you have different spring rates front and rear, that are compensated for with different sway bar stiffness. For example, the Z51 rear spring is actually softer than base, but the Z51 rear sway bar is much thicker. And the Z51 front spring is much stiffer but the Z51 front sway bar is only moderately stiffer.

I'm not sure how the relationships are on the Z06, but mixing parts from different suspension setups must be done with a lot of research and knowledge. The Z06 also has different wheels/tires from the base car, to complicate things a bit more.


Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Jul 8, 2013 at 08:45 PM.
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 08:55 PM
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I vote for coilovers.
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Old Jul 8, 2013 | 11:53 PM
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Z06 springs will be here Thursday.

I don't know when I'll have a chance to put them in, hopefully within the next two weeks.

I'll let you guys knew if I have any issues!
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Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
In one sense, that's correct.
But in the C6 sometimes you have different spring rates front and rear, that are compensated for with different sway bar stiffness. For example, the Z51 rear spring is actually softer than base, but the Z51 rear sway bar is much thicker. And the Z51 front spring is much stiffer but the Z51 front sway bar is only moderately stiffer.

I'm not sure how the relationships are on the Z06, but mixing parts from different suspension setups must be done with a lot of research and knowledge. The Z06 also has different wheels/tires from the base car, to complicate things a bit more.

Too many relative parts to consider. I vote coil overs or D/R.
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