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Who is satisfied with their Base C7 with Z51 Sway Bars? Let's get a tally.
I found my 2015 C7 Base to have been little bit, in back of car, floaty, very slight before I added the Z51 front and back sway bars. Wow, car feels perfect to me now. Handles better, especially in turns, feels more planted but also has nice compliant ride. Now I feel the car would be neck and neck with a Base 911 non s car of equal year. Actually I feel that all things being equal that my car would be quicker on most road courses. Also M3 would not fare well. 911S not so sure but think my car would be able to keep up. Share you experience and thoughts before and after you added z51 sway bars to your base c7? Please share. Ger.
Last edited by mungodrums; 11-21-2015 at 12:02 AM.
I had PFADT sways on for a couple of weeks. OUTSTANDING handling!! Removed those for the Z51's.Handling is still very good but quite as good as the PFADT but still better then stock. I added front and rear z51's.
I had PFADT sways on for a couple of weeks. OUTSTANDING handling!! Removed those for the Z51's.Handling is still very good but quite as good as the PFADT but still better then stock. I added front and rear z51's.
Why did you remove the PFADTs? Was there a downside? Would you recommend them over the Z51s?
I have had mine for two full summer seasons - about 3,000 miles.
They improved the handling quite a bit - overall the car is flatter in the turns, but it also takes it from the base cars slight understeer to very slight oversteer, which I prefer.
It doesn't affect the ride, so that is a big plus - I also don't think it increases overall grip any, but you would need to skid pad test before and after to make that judgment.
But since I added the Z51 sway bars to it I personally enjoy the C7 ZF1 over the Z. But since I haven't tracked my Stingray I can't provide any empirical facts other than how it feels on the street.
But since the ZF1 already came with the Z51 tires/wheels adding the sway bars was only natural.
Why did you remove the PFADTs? Was there a downside? Would you recommend them over the Z51s?
The PFADT'S are thicker then the z51's.They made the car feel like it was on rails and flat in curves like nothing i've experienced. The only downside,and it's possible it was just my luck,was the knocking under the car.The installers at Carlisle put the end links in wrong.Sounded like knocking on the door under there.Had it corrected at the dealer and there was still an occasional knock although not as bad. It put a sour taste in my mouth regarding those sways so I swapped out for the z51's. The z51's aren't in the same league as the PFADT as far as flat in turns but they work for me and what I do.
I might be in the minority here, but I added to the Z51 front and rear sways to my base- and the improvement isn't as noticeable as I've experienced with other cars.
It's usually a subtle difference- especially day to day driving. You won't feel it at all on the freeway, except maybe ramps.
However, I raced the car HARD at a SCCA autocross track all today today....was really fun! Not sure if the sway bars made that much of a difference (although never ran an autoX before the change)- but nice to have the confidence they had been upgraded.
Last edited by 05XLRtoC7_San Diego; 11-21-2015 at 09:14 PM.
I'm completely satisfied with the addition. In normal driving there is no difference from the base suspension. How do I know it's better in the twisties? Because that's how GM designed it.
I installed Z-51 sways on my base C6 and have done the same on my base C7. It improved the cornering so much on my C6 I just had to do the same on my C7. However, I have noticed much more of an improvement on the C7. Although it cornered very well before adding the sways, it corners much better now with them.
I installed Z-51 sways on my base C6 and have done the same on my base C7. It improved the cornering so much on my C6 is just had to do the same on my C7. However, I have noticed much more of an improvement on the C7. Although it cornered very well before adding the sways, it corners much better now with them.
I'm very please with the base C7 ride quality for daily driving coming from a C-6 GS but there sure seemed to be a little more body roll in the C7, especially in the rear, which the Z51 sway bars have nicely improved.
Not sure everyone has experienced the same but have had the z51 sway bars for over a year
on 2014 C7 and yes the turns are much improved but the one difference I have noticed is off the line from a dead stop. When I gave it too much gas in the past the car felt like the rear was going to sway all over the road now I feel the rear end sway locking down the rear end and preventing the car from sideways motion and making it more planted.
Replaced the front and added a rear z51 sway on my 15 coupe. As others have stated the improvement is fantastic. The ride is still soft but more under control in turns, less nose dive on quick starts and stops. I am considering trying the z51 shocks for a firmer ride.
FROM Automobilemag Vette Engineering Manager Explains C7 Chassis
MN: What are the core differences between the standard car and the Z51? JH: The biggest difference is roll stiffness. The base car has no rear anti-roll bar and a smaller front bar for a better ride. The base car also comes with a taller [aspect ratio] tire. Overall diameter is the same. The base car has an 18-inch front/19-inch rear setup. The Z51 has 19-inch front/20-inch rear. The Z51 has more on-center feel and more response, but it’s more sensitive to road disturbances. The standard passive dampers are tuned largely for the track. The Z51’s optional MR dampers, in their extreme setting, are just a touch stiffer than the passive damper, while the softest setting is much, much softer. We look at the active-damper-equipped Z51 as the no-compromises car. You get the ultimate in track performance and handling without a harsh ride.
But since I added the Z51 sway bars to it I personally enjoy the C7 ZF1 over the Z. But since I haven't tracked my Stingray I can't provide any empirical facts other than how it feels on the street.
But since the ZF1 already came with the Z51 tires/wheels adding the sway bars was only natural.
I have 2014 base convertible, coming from a C6 with magnetic ride. Overall I am very pleased with the base suspension, only noticed lack of magnetic shocks twice. Both times I was in a moderate turn just crowning a slight grade. The mechanical suspension couldn't compensate fast enough and a slight loss of front tire traction ensued, coming from magnetic ride I sensed tire traction loss more than I felt it, nothing scary. Wondering if Z51 sways will keep the tires from rebounding rapidly causing more traction issues, sway bars are installed to equalize suspension loads across the axle preventing body roll.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Originally Posted by Glen e
Parts needed from cultrag here:
Yeah, Gene has an entire kit with all the goodies put together. The big question in my mind is would this be overkill for a street only car. Bought for long distance touring. No HPDE or AutoX.
11-21-2015, 12:01 AM
Who is satisfied with their Base C7 with Z51 Sway Bars? Let's get a tally.
