Quick question about suspension
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 6
From: Orlando FL
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!
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
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 6
From: Redmond WA
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.
But the springs and sways are independent. You don't need to change one if you change the other.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 6
From: Orlando FL
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!
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!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
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!
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!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
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.
But the springs and sways are independent. You don't need to change one if you change the other.
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.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks Commiefornia
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.
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.
