T1 sway bar question

[Dr.Nick]

Does anyone know of the diameters of a stock '02' Z06 front
and rear sway bars,and the T1's diameters?,and the difference
of the bushing material between both?Thx

[dmtnt]

Z06:
Front 30mm diameter, 4.5mm wall thickness
Rear 23.6mm diameter, 3.5mm wall thickness

T1:
Front = 38.1mm/1.49" diameter, hollow, wall thickness = 6.35mm
Rear = 26.98mm/1.06" diameter, hollow, wall thickness = 6.35mm

Not sure on bushing specs, but the T1's are harder durometer rubber...

[Subdriver]

I think these are right, but can't help you with the bushing question. Maybe DJ knows.
The T1 bushings do appear to be heavy duty rubber and are definitely not poly. I take them out to grease them regularly.

T1:
Front = 38.1mm, hollow, wall thickness = 6.35mm
Rear = 26.98mm, hollow, wall thickness = 6.35mm

Z06:
Front 30mm, hollow, wall thickness = 4.5mm
Rear 23.6mm, hollow, wall thickness = 3.5mm

Base:
Front 23mm, 3.81mm wall thickness
Rear 19.1mm, 2mm wall thickness

Z51: (00 and up)
Front 28.6mm, 4.15mm wall thickness
Rear 23.6mm, 3mm wall thickness

Hotchkis:
Front = 31.75mm diameter, hollow, wall thickness = 4mm
Rear = 25.4mm diameter, hollow, wall thickness = 4mm

[blkZ06]

Subdriver-been doing a lot of DE's in my Zzzz, do you think it would be a good idea to go with a polyurethane bushing?

[MySR71]

Leslie,

Just as an FYI, the labor costs (unless you do it yourself or get a friend to do it) are high. Phoenix wanted 10 hours of labor for the install.

Dan

[DJWorm]

The T1 Sway Bar factory bushings are a harder Dur rubber and are not Poly Graphite or Ureathane. These bushings have an internal fiber web to hold grease. You should use a Silicon or Lithium based grease on these and should maintain them every 6 months or so.

You may get a very slight increase in performance by switching to a Urethane or Poly Graphite. I recommend a Poly Graphite bushing which would be maintainance free.

The important thing is to NOT over torque the bushing clamp bolts. The bar MUST be free to rotate in the bushings. You can check this by rotating it by hand with out the end links attatched.

NOTE: If you install a T1 bar and retain the OEM mounting brackets you MUST shim the OEM brackets with 3-4 SS fender washers to allow for the larger T1 bushing. The OEM bolt length will accomodate the shims.

Also note that the OEM end links are 3 1/4" in length. The T1 end links are 3 1/2" in their shortest adjustment. I recommend installing in the shortest adjustment.

If further tuning/adjustment is necessary then you must use a level setup platform while corner weighting to adjust further and properly depending on what your target is: ride height vs. corner weight vs. pre-load

[Subdriver]

Originally Posted by blkZ06

Subdriver-been doing a lot of DE's in my Zzzz, do you think it would be a good idea to go with a polyurethane bushing?

Leslie,
Probably not worth your time and money for the sway bars. The a-arms are a different story, but a lot more work... meaning more money.

If DJ knows of someone that makes a poly bushing for the T1 sway bars, they would be pretty easy to swap out. Only two bolts per bushing. Easy to get to if the car is up off the ground. But, if you didn't get exactly the right bushing, I'd be afraid of putting to much pressure on the bar in the bushing which would limit its ability to rotate as DJ mentioned.

[blkZ06]

good info, thanks guys

I have been tracking my vette a lot and plan to keep going next yr so am trying to think of parts that might start to go

[dezballs69]

[dezballs69]

Which do you think is better. GM T1 or Hotchkis kit? Also Billstein Heavy Duty or Sport Duty?

[Subdriver]

Originally Posted by dezballs69

Which do you think is better. GM T1 or Hotchkis kit? Also Billstein Heavy Duty or Sport Duty?

"Better" is hard to define. What do you want them for? If on track performance is your only metric, I'd say the T1 sway bars are "better".

If you want improved track performance without sacrificing daily driveability (which is very subjective), the question is much harder to answer.

[dezballs69]

Ya, the second one. It is a hard question that is why I am asking around. What yall think for improved track performance without sacrificing daily driveability.

[dmtnt]

Daily driveability is relative to where you live and the roads you drive on. If I still lived in NY, I wouldn't drive my car with the T1's or they would knock my fillings out! But down here in Florida where the roads are relatively new and smooth, there is a marginal comfort difference between stock and T1. On the track, the T1's are FAR better than stock Z06.

[JOEZ06]

Installing the T-1 this weekend as well as the T-1 Springs... I am tracking 1/30 at Sebring.. I will let you know what I think, as well as how long it takes.

Still recouping from having spent 6 hours yesterday installing stiffer and shorter coil spings in my son's Cobra (Christmas present)...

[dezballs69]

Hey I was looking at getting some poly bushing with either the T1 or the Hotchkis sway bars. But Energy Suspension and VB&P both dont have bushings the right size according to the dimensions subdriver listed above. Here is the link http://www.lgmotorsports.com/shop/pr...d4b2ad17927386. No disrespect subdriver I am just confused as to the proper poly bushings for either of the two sway bar kits.