Eibach swaybars
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,323
Likes: 2,873
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Thanks for the comparison list!!!
I'm never good at figuring out sway bar settings, but I'd like to add 2 points from my experience messing it up:
(1) Front and rear bars should be increased in similar ballpark, or else it makes a 'twisting' effect on the car, and upsets handling. It can even introduce the reverse of expected impact if the difference is too much. In this case, if one goes with a stiff bar like AFE at rear, they should also do so up front, and only then consider making marginal changes (with adjustable bars) for balance.
(2) Very stiff bars often improve road course lap time in my experience, even though people say that stiffer bars reduce traction. Again, I don't know exactly why, but it might be the reduction of lag in car responding to directional changes..
Thanks again for the info!
I'm never good at figuring out sway bar settings, but I'd like to add 2 points from my experience messing it up:
(1) Front and rear bars should be increased in similar ballpark, or else it makes a 'twisting' effect on the car, and upsets handling. It can even introduce the reverse of expected impact if the difference is too much. In this case, if one goes with a stiff bar like AFE at rear, they should also do so up front, and only then consider making marginal changes (with adjustable bars) for balance.
(2) Very stiff bars often improve road course lap time in my experience, even though people say that stiffer bars reduce traction. Again, I don't know exactly why, but it might be the reduction of lag in car responding to directional changes..
Thanks again for the info!
Last edited by PRE-Z06; Jan 1, 2024 at 05:53 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 328
From: Key Largo Florida
So, killing a little time this AM looking at part numbers for sway bars. I was specifically interested in the ZO6 parts. Take these for what they're worth, I spent my life in IT not behind a parts counter and sometimes finding the correct parts number online can be a challenge.
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
So, killing a little time this AM looking at part numbers for sway bars. I was specifically interested in the ZO6 parts. Take these for what they're worth, I spent my life in IT not behind a parts counter and sometimes finding the correct parts number online can be a challenge.
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
I havent seen anyone post results of Eibach endlinks with the Eibach bars, they may work fine together. The example shown with the endlinks was the AFE bars and the front had the issue of less than ideal alignment with the aftermarket endlink. I did not check to see if my AFE bar was the exact length as my stock bar in the front.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 328
From: Key Largo Florida
Not as simple as just looking at bar rates across the models as they dont function independently of rest of the suspension. Spring rates get progressively higher as you go up in models potentially requiring less sway bar for same end result. Tire sizes also change for the Z06 increasing more in the rear than the front (+30mm front and +40mm rear). Would be important to compare spring rate of each combination to understand bar rate used.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
If you have or can find someone with a lift it wasnt bad. I didnt have to remove any of the subframe bolts completely to get the AFE bar in. Needed about 1.5" of space though and took some time to snake it through.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 328
From: Key Largo Florida
I'm afraid my car is a base without Z51, but will have the FE3 shocks with Z06 springs shortly. The notion that the front Z06 bar is smaller than base just makes no sense to me. I wonder if they left the front Z06 springs a bit softer requiring a larger bar than the base/Z51 front bar? I reviewed the specs and the spring wire diameter is different, 0.59 versus 0.63 between the two. Looking at the two springs they look pretty close to each other (height aside). Food for thought I guess. I am sending Z06 springs and Z51 shocks out tomorrow to Speedway for testing.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,323
Likes: 2,873
From: Fort Worth, Texas
So, killing a little time this AM looking at part numbers for sway bars. I was specifically interested in the ZO6 parts. Take these for what they're worth, I spent my life in IT not behind a parts counter and sometimes finding the correct parts number online can be a challenge.
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
It would appear the base and Z51 share the same front bar, but the Z51 has a different rear bar (stiffer?). Seems I've read a few comments implying the front Z51 bar might be different from the base. Can anyone add something one way or the other on this??
Also, rear bar on base and Z06 are the same, front Z06 is different. This seems to go along with the comments made by GM engineers in a few articles. I'd sure like to understand what the Z06 front bar is rated at. Would a bar softer than base make any sense? Stiffer?
Base
Front 23428455
Rear 23428465
Z51
Front 23428455
Rear 84808976
Z06
Front 85516685
Rear 23428465
Also, can anyone comment on Z06 handling as compared to base models?
Last edited by PRE-Z06; Jan 1, 2024 at 10:55 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
I'm afraid my car is a base without Z51, but will have the FE3 shocks with Z06 springs shortly. The notion that the front Z06 bar is smaller than base just makes no sense to me. I wonder if they left the front Z06 springs a bit softer requiring a larger bar than the base/Z51 front bar? I reviewed the specs and the spring wire diameter is different, 0.59 versus 0.63 between the two. Looking at the two springs they look pretty close to each other (height aside). Food for thought I guess. I am sending Z06 springs and Z51 shocks out tomorrow to Speedway for testing.
I am running very high rate springs (700lb front and 750lb rear I believe) with stiffer afe bars and love the way it handles. My shock is set up to handle these rates though.
Sr.Random input generator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,777
Likes: 2,210
From: Sammamish, WA
Below are Viper rates. Even though ACR's spring rates are much higher than other models', they did not feel the need to soften it up. This is similar to my experience playing with these things on cars like Miata, etc., too; stiff sway bars are great for track. I don't know GM's reasons, but they might have softened it up on Z06 to make it a more comfortable ride, which is not my priority at all...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,323
Likes: 2,873
From: Fort Worth, Texas
I have used a lot of Hyperco springs on different coilover set ups ranging from 250-750lb. They did not physically look any different. I would not read anything into spring rates based on coil diameter or anything like that. Will be interesting what you find out on measured rate. From what I have seen written, z51 is about 30% stiffer than base as z06 is about 30% stiffer than z51. Curious if that’s true.
I am running very high rate springs (700lb front and 750lb rear I believe) with stiffer afe bars and love the way it handles. My shock is set up to handle these rates though.
I am running very high rate springs (700lb front and 750lb rear I believe) with stiffer afe bars and love the way it handles. My shock is set up to handle these rates though.
Below are Viper rates. Even though ACR's spring rates are much higher than other models', they did not feel the need to soften it up. This is similar to my experience playing with these things on cars like Miata, etc., too; stiff sway bars are great for track. I don't know GM's reasons, but they might have softened it up on Z06 to make it a more comfortable ride, which is not my priority at all...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
What tires do you run as that’s a big determining factor isn’t it? I don’t consider 700/750 high for a C8 being it’s not exactly light, I run 700/650 on my C6GS with 200tw tires and no aero which I kept it on the softer side as some tracks like Hallett are not very smooth plus I like to autocross.
last car was an AC cobra that weight about 2500# and I ran R7 with similar spring rates to these. Worked really well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 328
From: Key Largo Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 848
Likes: 419
From: Ma
I run my car on street too, it rides similar to my car in track mode when I dial down the shocks but a bit smoother
this was my backdraft, traded it for the C8 after having it about 7 years
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 20
From: SoCal
Thanks for your posting as it points out that the swaybar is just ONE part of a suspension system. Suspensions needed to be looked at for Wheel-Rate: the Spring and the Swaybar.....and that's before shock absorbers are brought into the equation