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I just purchased pedders coilovers and would like to upgrade my sway bar as well. Any recommendations?
I could look around and try to figure out what you have but it would be easier if you just tell us.
What is your budget?
What is your end goal? Cruising, autocross, Le Mans, other...
I did the steinjager bars last year. They are cost effective and the fit and finish is fine. They are C6 Z51 equivalent. Cost me about 430 for front bar, rear bar, new bushings, new adjustable metal end links. And I did bilstein B6 shocks, which were 100 a piece. Very cost effective. I can drive the car daily if I want to, I also drag at Byron dragway, IL or union grove, WI. I’ve done HPDE as well. Great upgrade for a daily driver or just wanting a little more at a track event. The polyurethane bushings don’t make any noise, use all the grease supplied, and the end links don’t make noise either, make them really tight.
I also did the install myself on a set of quick jacks last year, upgraded my brake pads too to Hawk HP plus, fronts squeal like a mother, but it stops faster then any car I’ve ever driven. Upgraded brake lines and brake fluid too.
Good luck on your sway bar search. If you want the thickest bar out there, I think check out LG or Johnny O’Connell.
I could look around and try to figure out what you have but it would be easier if you just tell us.
What is your budget?
What is your end goal? Cruising, autocross, Le Mans, other...
I did the steinjager bars last year. They are cost effective and the fit and finish is fine.
Steinjager stopped making their C5/C6 sway bars, but still offer the adjustable end links. There may be some sway bars still available with resellers. I've heard plenty of good things about Hotchkis, so I picked up those with adjustable end links.
Seems Hotchkiss does not offer C5 bars, though they offer C6. Would those fit a C5?
I think the Hotchkis website is not working correctly as of March 2024. I was just looking at their C5 sway bars last week.
C5 Sway bars are sku 2285. Here's a link to C5 Hotchkis sway bars on Jegs. https://www.jegs.com/i/Hotchkis/515/2285/10002/-1
Thanks. Nice hearing from another Detroiter! I am having to move back from Florida next month, am going to miss the all year driving season for sure. I think I know why I didn't find anything. Even the Jegs site doesn't show them for a 2000 Base, which is strange as they do show for a 1997 Base model.
I went with the C6 Z51 bars on a '99 Z51 car. I am happy with the result. It corners flatter and just feels more "planted".
I also tried C6 Z06/GS bars on another '99 Z51 car. I am told that this combination can lead to oversteer unless you have large rear tires (>325). In practice I could not tell the difference between the C6 Z06/GS bars vs the C6 Z51 bars in street driving. I suppose if you push hard enough like autocross/track you may notice a difference, but in spirited street driving they seemed the same.
The C6 Z51/Z06/GS use the same front bar. The rear C6 Z51 is smaller than the C6 Z06/GS bar.
I also used the C6 end links instead of the '99 plastic end links.
For me this was a low cost option that had great results.
Years ago I opted for the Hellwig 35mm front and 25.4mm rear set. Both front and rear bars are adjustable. They are also powdercoated in a very nice "hammer finish" metallic grey color, so they match everyone's paint. I originally ran ProForged end links, but when we installed my coilovers we discovered one of them had broken from just street driving. Total junk part. Ended up replacing them with Whiteline end links.
I went with the C6 Z51 bars on a '99 Z51 car. I am happy with the result. It corners flatter and just feels more "planted".
I also tried C6 Z06/GS bars on another '99 Z51 car. I am told that this combination can lead to oversteer unless you have large rear tires (>325). In practice I could not tell the difference between the C6 Z06/GS bars vs the C6 Z51 bars in street driving. I suppose if you push hard enough like autocross/track you may notice a difference, but in spirited street driving they seemed the same.
The C6 Z51/Z06/GS use the same front bar. The rear C6 Z51 is smaller than the C6 Z06/GS bar.
I also used the C6 end links instead of the '99 plastic end links.
For me this was a low cost option that had great results.
Good luck.
Yes on a street driven C5 it is recommend that with a 295/305 rear tire that the safe limit is a 25.4mm rear sway bar. Autocross or road racing is different, but still remember that too big of a rear bar can lead to snap oversteer at the limit.
03-02-2024, 08:52 PM
I originally ran ProForged end links, but when we installed my coilovers we discovered one of them had broken from just street driving. Total junk part. Ended up replacing them with Whiteline end links.
Yes on a street driven C5 it is recommend that with a 295/305 rear tire that the safe limit is a 25.4mm rear sway bar. Autocross or road racing is different, but still remember that too big of a rear bar can lead to snap oversteer at the limit.