NARIMAN

i autocross from time to time, and need sway bars on my c6
iam hoping to get wider wheel tire, but not sure when
would that be bad to get z06 sway bars? and why?
Thanks

KBoltz

I am going out on a limb here and thinking you have a F55 car? If so, go with the Z51 bars. Z06 bars will be too much. Even the base suspension car, Z06 bars are too much.

I have a Z51 car and I am replacing the shocks with Z06 units along with Z06 rear sways (fronts are the same).

NARIMAN

what exact is to much?

cclive

The stiffer the bar is in the back, the sooner the back will break loose in a corner, so the bigger Z06 bar is designed to work right with the bigger rear tires of the Z06. With the rear tires of the regular C6, the bigger bar will make the car tailhappy; the rear will be wanting to break loose and come around first. The front bars are the same size, Z06 and Z51.

As is so often the case, more is not always better.

Wayne O

Before going to the LG coil-over suspension and T1 sway bars I used the Z06 sway bars on my F55 equipped C6 (initially with OEM C6 wheels and tires and then with Z06 size rubber). I used both configurations on the street and running road courses. FWIW I didn't experience any major problems and never considered the Z06 sway bars as being "too much." Granted, popular opinion is to go with the Z51 sway bars if you use OEM C6 wheels and tires, however, if you plan on going to larger wheels and tires I go right to the Z06 sway bars.

Vasta

BTW: I vadered your little disagree emoticon Wayne.

LTC Z06

I trust Wayne's opinion, and the difference in bars is not that much.

inthehunt2

I also agree with Wayne, however I disagree with you about there not being much difference between the bars. Look at the difference in your chart. In some areas it's huge (diameters and resulting spring rates - moreso in the rear than the front)!

My answer:

If you're going to go with larger rims/tires then go with the Z06 bars.
If you're going to stay with the stock rims/tires then go with the Z51 bars.

AFVETTE

I changed out the rear Z51 bar with a Z06 bar and NEVER experienced any OVERSTEER even on a Road Course with cornering speeds around 70 MPH.




If any road course corner would cause an OVERSTEER condition Canada Corner at Road America would be it. You enter the braking zone at about 140 (for a base vette) and brake down to about 65 MPH as you enter the corner. The car was nice and stable and I never felt the ends wanting to swap.

Cheers

Tom

NARIMAN

thanks

99c54me

I do not see how these sway bar diameter numbers can be compared simply by diameter.

The C6 base rear sway is a solid metal, the other C6 rear sways are hollow. Yes, a larger diameter, but the real question is what is the torsional spring rate of very different bars. Anyone know the metal thickness of the Z51 and Z06 bars? It may not be the same. Diameter means nothing, especially since the metals may be different alloys and thickness yielding none-linear results.

I cannot tell squat from diameter without factoring in additional information needed to determine true torsional spring rate.

Bottom line seems what works is what's best.

LTC Z06

What??? We are only comparing C6 Z51 to C6 Z06 and not the springs, so the fronts are the same and rears are close.

LTC Z06

Always someone like you. Any way it's safe to assume they are made from the same spring steel, and though we may not know all the specs it's a useful chart for comparison.

inthehunt2

The difference in the rear sway bars between Z51 to Z06 is a change in diameter of close to 9%. This is huge in my opinion. Normally when racing, you're tuning numbers within a percent or two to get "just the right" set up (which of course can vary from day to day). So, in my opinion, a 9% change is huge. JMHO.

UNKNOWN

25% increase front
and 50% increase rears

from stock to z51

= enuff IMO

Do it, I did and am happy.

KBoltz

I am going to a rear Z06 sway (along with Z06 shocks all the way around) because I plan on running Z06 width tires and wheels, along with the widebody at a later date (much later if my wife has anything to say!!). And I plan on using R compound tires for autocross and HPDE on stock width wheels, for now.

If you are planning to use R compound tires at an autocross, it shouldn't be much of an issue. The grip of an R compound is so much greater than the Supercar tires. You have never mentioned if you plan on using R compound tires. If using the stock EMT runflats, then the possibility exists for a snap oversteer condition at or near the limits. You will be well past the adhesion limits of the stock tires.

I used to run Mustang GT's in autocross, and they were extremely prone to snap oversteer due to the design of the four link setup that Ford built. 60's technology in a 90's era car. When I went to a Torque arm and panhard bar setup, it drastically decreased the tendecy of the car to swap ends. Consequently, I ran faster and the car was much more stable and predictable. I eventually went to a tubular k member and a arms with coil overs in the front to try and get the car as stable as possible, so I could be smooth at the limits.

When you autocross the car, how close to the limits are you getting? Is the tail sliding out on you, is it trying to snap (assuming of course you are racing in Competition Mode) around on you? Is it plowing into the corner upon braking, or is it washing out on you as you apply power exiting the corner? How bad is the body roll? Does it feel like a dinghy in rough seas, swaying back and forth?

cclive

If you are going to spend actual money on different shocks, spend it on anything but the Z06 shocks. If they are just free take-offs, then OK...but you can do so much better for the same money...

KBoltz

Dirt cheap and the guy is coming down to my house to help me install them (the shocks), the Z06 rear bar, a Hardbar (and pre cut panels), four point harnesses, and new calipers I got from Mike the powdercoater.

He is also going to help lower the car, and give it an alignment as well.

All told, I say I came out pretty good on this deal!!

danl72

The Z51 bars are perfect for the base car.

LIVetteFan

Added Z51 swaybars on mine base coupe and the handling is markedly improved and no hint of bad behaviour even with the base tires.