Z06 sways on the vert... no more cushy ride...

[Cobra4B]

Drove the car to work today for the first time since putting on some Z06 sways during the snow. I was quite surprised at how much the new bars degraded ride quality. Car is still on base shocks/springs and at stock ride height. Tires are nearly new BFG KDWs in stock sizes (non runflat) @ 30psi cold.

I have some Z06 springs on the way and some Koni FSDs in the garage to swap in.

For the record I'm not complaining, just surprised at how much difference the bars made w/o any other changes. The base suspension soaks up the crappy roads around here with ease.

Will report back as I install parts.

[Munch]

Are those C6 or C5 Z06 sways?

[Cobra4B]

C5 Z06... C6Z sways are overkill. Bigger /= better in all cases.

[zz4vetteguy]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

C5 Z06... C6Z sways are overkill. Bigger /= better in all cases.

[Vet4jdc]

Overkill....????

I put C6 Z06 sways on my coupe about a year ago. Couldn't be happier!

[tomurphjr]

Originally Posted by Vet4jdc

Overkill....????

I put C6 Z06 sways on my coupe about a year ago. Couldn't be happier!

I put the C6 Z51 bars on mine last year and couldn't be happier.

The ride was abit more harsh, but the coilovers helped even it out.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by Vet4jdc

Overkill....????

I put C6 Z06 sways on my coupe about a year ago. Couldn't be happier!

When setting up a car for optimal handling you can easily "over-bar" a car. The general rule is to setup the car up to accomplish it's goals with as little bar as possible. It is prefered to use spring/shock settings more than huge bars. At the end of the day it all depends on track surface, the car of course, and driver preferences.

The C6Z bars were setup to work with a specific spring rate, shock valving, and a car with a wider track than a C5 and standard C6... anyway.

Basically if the bars are too big for the car it'll still corner flat, but the shocks/springs won't be able to do their job as intended and you can actually decrease available traction if the car starts to lift a wheel.

So yes driving around on the street and taking onramps will indeed be improved. But if your running around VIR for time you might find that you can decrease laptimes with a smaller bar.

The reason I'm going with C5Z components is because GM developed them to get the C5Z to a sub 8 minute Nurburgring time while maintaining civil street manners. All the bits worth together as intended.



Oh... this is a great book if you ever want to delve into the physics of chassis design, setup, etc. I picked it up when we got the Panoz.

[illmac77]

Just keep on feeding the mod bug Brian... next up just a stage one blower huh?

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by illmac77

Just keep on feeding the mod bug Brian... next up just a stage one blower huh?

Buying Toque's Z06 springs, then installing those w/ my Koni shocks. This weekend going to do the '03Z h-pipe w/ Corsa X and the tunnel plate and change all the fluids

Going to install my gauge bezels, stereo, and C6Z shifter from the yellow car too Then nothing to do until I order wheels.

Oh will do 4300k HID fogs

[illmac77]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Buying Toque's Z06 springs, then installing those w/ my Koni shocks. This weekend going to do the '03Z h-pipe w/ Corsa X and the tunnel plate and change all the fluids

Going to install my gauge bezels, stereo, and C6Z shifter from the yellow car too Then nothing to do until I order wheels.

Oh will do 4300k HID fogs

yep, keeping it simple... u might as well do HID's in the headlights too... oh an i would go with 6000k... unless u like the slight tint of yellow of the 4300k. i just swaped 6k out on Ambras and what a diff... also picked up the relay from JW to make sure the headlights open and close properly... works like a charm...

[Cobra4B]

Yeah don't want to futz w/ the headlights or do the relay... the 4300ks are pure white from a color hue standpoint. They'll match the Silverstart bulbs I have in the regular lights.

[Sneaks]

When we did Kevin's coilovers, I got his C5 Z06 springs, sways, and the Bilstien shocks off the "Cruiser". I added a set of BFG Super Sports when we switched over the suspension components. Made a huge difference in handling! Car corners flat, and holds the turns much better.
I actually got an improvement in ride quality. With the Bilstiens and non-runflat tires, it rides far better than with the stock shocks and runflats. Even with the Z06 suspension under it.
The Z06 components are a great upgrade for the coupes and verts.

[Cobra4B]

^ 99.9% of your ride improvement was ditching the runcraps

[Garb55]

Originally Posted by illmac77

yep, keeping it simple... u might as well do HID's in the headlights too... oh an i would go with 6000k... unless u like the slight tint of yellow of the 4300k. i just swaped 6k out on Ambras and what a diff... also picked up the relay from JW to make sure the headlights open and close properly... works like a charm...

Are you running 6k in the stock Lamp Housing in Ambras? If so how are they working out. I would like to pick up a set but not ready to change out the stock housing? I think I read that you did on yours?

[Sneaks]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

^ 99.9% of your ride improvement was ditching the runcraps

The improvement in ride quality was deffinately the tires. Not feeling every little rock in the road, and bouncing over every expansion joint/bump in the road is great. But, the flatter cornering, and better handling was the components.

[illmac77]

Originally Posted by Garb55

Are you running 6k in the stock Lamp Housing in Ambras? If so how are they working out. I would like to pick up a set but not ready to change out the stock housing? I think I read that you did on yours?

Yes, 6k in the stock housing. She's says and i know its a 100% improvement in the crappy light the stock bulbs put out. I do have the euro housings (glass) in mine and the cutoff is a little better. Oh and in 3 years i have not been flashed once from oncoming traffic and have passed the last 2 years of state inspections with them in.

[Peter Pan]

The combo I run on my C6 Coupe are Koni FSD shocks with C6 Z51 sways with stock springs, great street combo for me and on the boosted Vette PFADT coil overs with C6Z sways are awesome and I can see that your Verts combo will be a great setup

[chargedc5]

I felt like my vert would start to float a little or seemed unstable at higher speed until I put on the new Z sway bars and shocks...It was a big difference!