Mike@NewEra

So, the C7 we ordered for the shop to do product development and testing with is a base model. We just put the car up on a lift today to take measurements and get materials ordered to make an axle back exhaust system. As we looked at the back of the car from underneath, I noticed that there was no rear sway bar. I laughed and thought to myself, your kidding, is this an option? So I called my salesman at the dealership where I ordered the car from, and sure enough, a rear sway bar is actually an option on the C7! Below is a pic of the rear suspension from underneath the car. Look closely, and you can see the provisions for the sway bar are there, the dealership told me it can be purchased for about $250 which would include all the hardware for it as well.



The next thing, again, this being a base model it doesn't have the dual mode exhaust. However, I have been noticing the exhaust doesn't always sound the same when I am driving it. So as we inspected the stock axle back exhaust before removal of it, we noticed these before the mufflers(in the pic below), which appear to be regulator valves that I am assuming open up with rpm under heavy throttle. I will get more pics when we take it apart.

VIN666

Yeah, the Z51 has the rear sway the base does not.
The valves have something to do with AFM, to avoid rough NVH when in V4 mode.

SteveDoten@ARH

Cool pics Mike, I'm hoping the C7 hits the 30,000 units/year like it was back in the 1998-2008 production years.

Everyone here in the NorthEast is starting to mention C7 sitings, things are looking good!!

Trackaholic

You may already know that the mounting of the transverse leaf spring causes it to act as a sway bar. So, while the base car does not have an additional sway bar, it performs as though it has one (just not a very stiff one). This is why the ride of the base model is better than the z51, even when the z51 has MSRC.

-T

LEAVINU

Same thing I read from a GM article. Was interesting to hear as I would have never thought this.

All_Motor_C5LS6

Interesting. I never knew this!

chaase

GM was able to tune the base chassis/suspension to handle well enough that they didn't need to have a rear sway bar because of the transverse leaf spring.

PRE-Z06

Didn't know that, impressive for a car that can pull 1g laterally!

BlueOx

Yeah, I identified that fact here on CF7 way before the C7 was even revealed. It was shown in a pic when the drive train was being tested on this C6 mule. Look closely, there is no rear anti-sway bar. About 2 years ago...

http://forums.subdriven.com/showthre...t-mule-spotted

slief

Those valves before the mufflers are for the cylinder deactivation. They close partially when the car goes into 4 cylinder mode.

stevenm357

Wow, that kind of blows my mind.. very interesting to say the least.

PRE-Z06

Good eye, hadn't seen that pic or heard it mentioned before.

JerryU

Yep, GM said early on that the base C7 did not need the rear sway bar with its smaller shocks and weaker springs! They also said all Vette’s get the electric valves that partially energize on the main pipes when in 4 cylinder mode. It had something to do with reduced vibration or perhaps so it didn’t sound like a 4 cylinder!

ParisTNDude

On the L99 engined 6A Camaros, when they deactivated cylinders there was an unpleasant sound from the exhaust. It wasn't like a 4 cylinder, more like a vibration and very un-Corvette like. I'm sure they did some homework for the C7 and this valve will prevent the sound.

jon6.0

I don't think you get the cool diff if you don't get Z51.

Vetteman Jack

Very interesting. Did not know this about the base C7.

keenanj

I believe the valves open in v4 mode the car actually gets louder

avalonandl

No they close to dampen a resonance in V4 mode.

Avalon

genv6.2gm

no sway makes for MUCH smoother ride.

RickMN

Yes, For those who want the Z51 for various reasons other than pure suspension performance (wheels, spoiler, e-diff, brakes, available selective ride control and ptm, prestige, resale) yet want a smoother ride, I would imagine that removing the anti-sway bar from a Z51 might be an interesting thing to try.

Any reason to think the z51 suspension with the anti-sway bar removed would be any worse than a base suspension from a lateral grip performance point of view?

What about the front? I think they all have a front anti-sway bar, right?