lsilva

Which is better for agressive street driving, ignoring cost: Z06 or BMR sway bars? Also, would Z06 or Bilstein sport shocks be best? Handling not ride is the priority.

Kenny94945

Well, do you have base suspension and are upgrading or Z51.

Is your Vette lowered (yet)?

Either way the Bilstein Sports.

The sway bars....depends.

lsilva

I have the base suspension and plan on lowering it about an inch.

COBrien

I had the stock suspension, and I went with the Bilstein's and BMR sways. Awesome combination!

Good luck!

Collin

lsilva

Did the BMR+Bilsteins eliminate the oversteer of the base suspension? How has the cornering changed? Did you lower your car too?

COBrien

The car corners much better now; there's much less body roll, and it handles changes in pavement, dips, etc. a lot better. I can't say that I ever had much of an issue with oversteer, at least since I've gone to the BFG KD's. They grip so much better than the stock run-flats it's amazing. I actually think the car feels pretty neutral, with maybe a slight tendency towards oversteer (which I'm o.k. with!). I never feel like oversteer is a problem on the car; it doesn't feel like the car is going to break loose, unless I do something really stupid, of course :D. Which can happen :D.

The one thing the Bilstein's didn't solve was the tendency of the back end to get a little light/loose if you hit a bump or pavement buckle at speed. That's the one aspect of handling that I have the biggest issue with; I don't have a lot of confidence in the handling if I do catch a bump in the middle of a high-speed turn. I think I need to go with a better spring to solve that problem.

And my car is lowered, about 1" or so.


[Modified by COBrien, 1:53 PM 5/3/2003]

rgregory

I think you mean eliminate the factory understeer. If you want to reduce understeer this can be done by putting a bigger sway bar on the rear. But you don't want to go too far and make the car oversteer.

John Shiels

T-1 bars are the ticket for handling :thumbs:

dperretti1

On my 98 I went with Sport Bilsteins, (you said you had Bilsteins but where they the Heavy Duty or Sports) and the Hotchkis Sway with the base suspension springs and love the change it made even in high speed turns compared to the Base suspension.

lsilva

Has anyone compared Z06 to BMR sways?

aggie_corvette

This may help.
mm/inches
T-1 F: 38/1.48
R: 27/1.05
Hotchkins F: 32/1.25
R: 25/1
Xtreme, BRM F:32/1.25
R: 21/.80
Z-06 F: 30/1.18
R: 23.6/.93

Its all stats but will help give some understanding.

It all depends on what you are looking for. I personally like if stiff as h@ll but then i'm a road course guy. :smash:

Have fun.
Aggie_Corvette
:cheers:

lsilva

Thanks for the stats. Do you know the dimensions of the stock C5 bars? Also, aren't the BMRs solid while the others are hollow?

aggie_corvette

Here are all the bars I know of that are available for the C-5.
mm/Inches
T-1
F: 38/1.48
R: 27/1.05
Hotchkins
F: 32/1.25
R: 25/1
Xtreme, BRM
F: 32/1.25
R: 21/.80
Z-06
F: 30/1.18
R: 23.6/.93
Z-51
F: 28.6/1.13
01+
R: 23.6/.93
Std
F: 23.1/.91
R: 19.1/.75

From what i have gathered the BRM is solid and all the rest are hollow. I believe the stock bars are hollow also. This makes little difference as the only the outer edge/diameter controls the torsional resistance. Solid is just slightly heavier, cheaper, and easier to work with. If you are a pure racer then the extra cost of hollow makes since, if not then it doesn't matter.

Aggie_Corvette
:cheers:


[Modified by aggie_corvette, 9:48 AM 5/6/2003]