Sway bars

[TOL8IWIN]

As part of my to do list the 04 Z shocks will be added to the car and I was wodering if anyone knew what sway bar upgrade options there are?

Thanks

[Morzoff]

I just bought a set of the Hotchkis sway bars, there are also the TI bars out there, I'm thinking I should of bought those

Mike

[ZO6 AL-X]

I think I read the stock Z sway bars do a better job than the Hotchkis... sorry to break the news.

The T1 sway bars/end links are a very good choice. It's actually the setup I'm looking into myself.

[blkZ06]

I have T1's

they're great on a roadcourse

[TT Z06]

I got the T1's, love em!

[kmagvette]

I have been thinking about doing the T1 bars with adjustable end links as well. I hear all the marketing propaganda, but I am unsure what I should expect from the car on the track.

Will they prevent the inside front tire from coming off the pavement in high G turns?

Will the stiffer roll rate cause the car to oversteer more when turn-in is less than graceful? OR, does the stiffer roll rate smooth out setting the car into the turn?

With the stock bars (perhaps with all bars) the body seems to roll freely to the outside of the turn and then roll resistance quickly increases making it feel like there is abrupt weight transfer to the outside tires.

For those familiar with Watkins Glen, I feel this most as I enter the esses (turn 2). This is limiting my comfortable entrance speed to around 105 - from after the apex of 2, I can comfortably hold full throttle to the bus stop. Will T1 bars help in turn 2? I am running 315x17's on all four corners with a mild track alignment.

Any other handling changes I should expect?

[speedpup]

T-1's help but will not by any means stop all body roll. Huge difference over other bars. My car is set up stiff so if I drove a regular car it would be rolly polly to me.

[DJWorm]

For low speed AutoX I recommend FIRST upgrading to DA shocks and possibly VB&P Extreme springs before upgrading to a stiffer bar. But T1 bars can be used on an AutoX car if set up correctly. For AutoX you want to maintain quick transition rates, especially in Slalom, and then progressive roll resistance.

For high speed track work I recommend T1 bars be added with DA shocks initially.

I do not recommend the Hotchkis bars. Not because they are inferior; it's just because although they are slightly larger in dia. than OEM C5 Z06 bars thay have thinner walls which nets almost equal roll resistance. The only thing they might have is being slightly more progressive. The difference is almost imperceptable.

I also recommend that you use teflon lined Adjustable Heim Jointed spherical bearing end links. The non teflon lined need more maintainance and are noisier.

Besides roll resistance control in a stiffer bar the Adjustable end links allow more suspension adjustment. The OEM set up does not allow independant setting of ride heiight and corner weight. The Adjustable sway bar end links allow you to preload the corners somewhat and have a less dependant ride height. (Of course coilovers is the ultimate answer to independant adjustability of all suspension parameters).

A few cautions here about installation:
- Without the endlinks attatched the bar should rotate in it's mounts freely, by hand without effort.
- The mount bushings should be greased with a Lithium or Silicon based grease. They should be removed, cleaned, inspected and regreased at least once a year. I prefer the white Lithium grease for the bushings.
- OEM mounts can be used with the larger T1 bushings BUT they MUST be shimmed. Use 3-4 stainless steel fender washers.
- Adjustable heim jointed end links need weekly maintainance including cleaning and reapplication of a light grease coating. I prefer the red spray Silicon grease.
- Initially, the adjustable end links should be installed at their Shortest length. They are then 1/4" longer than OEM. They can be adjusted longer as need be to increase static preload or roll resistance as necessary.
- When measuring or setting corner weight or Cross Corner Weight % Difference anything other than an OEM bar with OEM end links MUST be dissconnected.

Some sway bar pearls:
- You can safely install either just the front bar or both bars of a matched set, such as T1 bars
- NEVER run a rear bar that is stiffer than the front UNLESS the front spring rate has been increased measurably. Ie. NEVER install a just a T1 rear bar without the T1 front bar or incresed front spring rate.

For basic tuning consult:
http://www.wtrscca.org/tech.htm

Some applicable available sway bars are:
1. Hotchkis - only slightly stiffer than OEM
2. OEM C6 Z06 - in between OEM C5 Z06 & T1
3. T1 bars
4. Pfadt Engineering Bars Custom adjustable bars and end links

[ZO6 AL-X]

You got my attention with the recommendation of the OEM C6 Z06 sway bar. Do you know many drivers using this setup? Does the C6 Z sway bar make a good match with the '04 shocks?

TIA,
Alex

[DJWorm]

I did NOT recommend the C6 Z06 bar. I only listed it as a possible solution and its availability.

In fact the C6 Z06 bar or end links may need to be modified to be used on the C5 Z06. ?

I recommend the T1 bars if the C5 Z06 needs to be upgraded.

It's just interesting to note that the C6 Z06 bar is about half way between a C5 Z06 and the T1 bars in stiffness,

[ZO6 AL-X]

Ohhhh... gotcha.

[TOL8IWIN]

Great info thanks!

[cnc]

Keep in mind the basics. It's all about the stiffness of the bar, and steel is steel. You change the stiffness by upping the bending moment. Most of the bar manufacturers list the inside and outside diameters of their bars. From there you can compare the relative stiffnesses.

[drivinhard]

What's the weight of OEM bar/links vs T1 bar/links?

kmagvette what wheels are you using for your 315/17? also what lap times at the glen?