Z51 vs Z06 bar upgrades?

[CSDMagred01]

Anybody seen a comparison of the 2 kits on the base suspension car or driven both upgrades? Usually people are happy with the upgrade they buy but haven't experienced both. I think they will give different front to rear balance. Here's why I say that and why I've been considering the Z51 kit.

1) it was developed for the coupe
2) the thicker Z06 bar will just give more understeer on a coupe than Z51
3) the front bar is thicker on the Z06 because the Z06 is lighter in the back (less glass). In other words with the rear bar being the same and working against less weight, you need a bigger front bar in the Z06 to restore the front to back balance. Not true in a coupe

This seemed to make sense logically but could be totally wrong. Since no one has done an analysis one way or another I haven't bought either. Ideally I'm looking for a back to back test on one car of both front bars with the rear one. That really won't be hard to do, if you're doing the upgrade. Alternately 2 cars set identically except for Z51/Z06 front bar and compared by the same driver could give an answer.

For me, the cheaper Z06 kit is a good savings, but the importance of $50 fades when one end of my car continually breaks out early when it shouldn't. That would leave a bad taste every day I drove the car.

I guess I could buy both fronts and a rear and try it myself, but I'm not THAT interested in buying a front bar, I know I'm not going to need.

Thanks,

 

[John & Donna]

Hello & Welcome

Yes, the ZO6 weighs less than the Coupe, but it isn't a huge amount. So, the bars will work fine on either a Coupe or a Vert (the Verts are the heaviest, believe it or not).

The ZO6 bars are larger, and thus more stiff, than the Z51 bars. Based upon that, I would recommend the ZO6 bars, and get the new ZO6 aluminum end links.

I've heard of several folks that have made the conversion to ZO6 bars on coupes and love the difference; no report of an "unbalanced feel" or increased understeer.

The only way to go beyond the ZO6 bars, and still have GM parts, would be the T-1 bars. However, they are very expensive.

FWIW, while ours is in getting a re-ring for oil consumption, we are getting the ZO6 bars and end links installed.

 

[EHS]

CSDMagred01:

Just touched on this subject with c4c5specialist yesterday.

I have a 2000 convertible, and started out with the base sway bars.

To get a little less roll and better turn in, I added the Z51 sway bars (no Z06 option available at the time) and metal links all around. The improvement was very noticable (I have the F45 shock option, but I believe these are the same springs as the base). If anything, it got a little more touchy in oversteer (not enough to where it was too unpleasant or dangerous, but definitely noticable).

If you like a bit of oversteer thats great. But for street use, I prefer a balance towards understeer, so about four months ago, we added the Z06 front bar only (Z51 rear is the same size as the Z06 bar -- we measured yesterday).

The change is again noticable, and a more neutral balance is back. I would definitely suggest the Z06 over the Z51 option if you need a more neutrally biased car.

 

[CSDMagred01]

Thanks for the quick responses and personal experiences! This what I was looking for. This a great forum!

Thanks.
Carmen

 

[EHS]

Please be sure to let us know what you decide to do, Z06 or Z51.

Glad to help.