Justinbonnes
CCCUK Member
Hi guys looking for a used rear sway bar for my c5 corvette ! Any help much appreciated! Corvette central had one at £25 but they’re out of stock 
Keen to get c5 back on the road
Keen to get c5 back on the road
C5 rear sway bar
- Thread starter Justinbonnes
- Start date
Yellowshark
Well-known user
Try Ebay. I upgraded to Z51 spec a few years ago, which includes the sway bars, and got some of the parts 2nd hand from ebay. Just make sure you get the right size, eg the Z51 sway bar is thicker than the standard sway bar
Justinbonnes
CCCUK Member
Thanks will looking into that where is the c6 getting scrapped
Nickerbocker Glory
CCCUK Member
I have both front and rear standard sway bars removed from my 1999 C5 with 30k miles on them.
Also new standard drop links x 4.
I removed the swayers (and worn drop links) and replaced with uprated way bars and rose jointed adjustable links.
I live in SE Kent.
Where are you?
PS - Also available original over axle exhaust pipes and silencers - again in good condition with only 30k miles on them
Also new standard drop links x 4.
I removed the swayers (and worn drop links) and replaced with uprated way bars and rose jointed adjustable links.
I live in SE Kent.
Where are you?
PS - Also available original over axle exhaust pipes and silencers - again in good condition with only 30k miles on them
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
Can I ask what you replaced the standard sway bars with? I looked at replacements last year but everything seemed to be back ordered with no stock date annoyingly.
Invetterate
CCCUK Member
I bought C6 Z51 for my C5 from Cultrag.
Here is the data I put together:
Here is the data I put together:
| Corvette Sway Bar Diameters | ||||
| Front mm | Rear mm | % inc | % inc | |
| C5 Base Suspension | 23 | 19.1 | ||
| C5 Z51 (97-99) | 25.4 | 21.7 | ||
| C5 Z51 (00-04) | 28.6 | 23.6 | ||
| C5 Z06 | 30 | 23.6 | ||
| C6 Base | 25.5 | 17.5 | ||
| C6 Z51 | 31 | 25.4 | 22% | 17% |
| C6 Z06/GS | 31 | 27.9 | ||
| C6 ZR1 | 33 | 31 |
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
Thanks, I already have Z51's and wasn't sure if it was worth the upgrade, but looking at that chart as mine's a 99 it's a decent increase.
Invetterate
CCCUK Member
Mine's a '99 and it made quite a difference.
This is yours truly at Snetterton - I am cornering pretty hard [see rear tyre side wall deflection] and the car is sitting reasonably flat - certainly fine for a road car. You can also see that, apart from some steering input, the front and rear wheels are in line indicating the car is well balanced - felt good.
Have you considered shock absorbers/dampers? If you have GM items, may I suggest you take them off the car, and very carefully, hurl them in a bin?! I have had my Vette for 20 years and the single biggest improvement I have made is switching to Bilstein B6 dampers. The car is so much better, it is hard to describe.
I also switched brakes to EBC slotted discs and Yellow Stuff pads - that really improved braking.
Then I took it to Wortec [the LS/LT specialists] in Chichester for a remap - stunning results.
You may not want/be able to do these things all together but I cannot recommend them enough [especially the Bilsteins].
Have fun!
This is yours truly at Snetterton - I am cornering pretty hard [see rear tyre side wall deflection] and the car is sitting reasonably flat - certainly fine for a road car. You can also see that, apart from some steering input, the front and rear wheels are in line indicating the car is well balanced - felt good.
Have you considered shock absorbers/dampers? If you have GM items, may I suggest you take them off the car, and very carefully, hurl them in a bin?! I have had my Vette for 20 years and the single biggest improvement I have made is switching to Bilstein B6 dampers. The car is so much better, it is hard to describe.
I also switched brakes to EBC slotted discs and Yellow Stuff pads - that really improved braking.
Then I took it to Wortec [the LS/LT specialists] in Chichester for a remap - stunning results.
You may not want/be able to do these things all together but I cannot recommend them enough [especially the Bilsteins].
Have fun!
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
Some changes to consider when wanting to adjust for under or over steer
Adjusting for Over or Understeer Conditions
- Make the following adjustments to correct for either oversteer or understeer
- Different corrections can get the same results
| Correct Oversteer | Adjustments | Correct Understeer |
| Higher | Front Tire Pressure | Lower |
| Lower | Rear Tire Pressure | Higher |
| Smaller | Front Tire Section | Larger |
| Larger | Rear Tire Section | Smaller |
| More Positive | Front Wheel Camber | More Negative |
| More Negative | Rear Wheel Camber | More Positive |
| Toward Toe-In | Front Wheel Toe | Toward Toe-Out |
| Toward Toe-Out | Rear Wheel Toe | Toward Toe-In |
| More Negative | Front Wheel Caster | More Negative |
| Stiffen | Front Springs | Soften |
| Soften | Rear Springs | Stiffen |
| Stiffen (Thicken) | Front Sway Bar | Soften (Thinner) |
| Soften (Thinner) | Rear Sway Bar | Stiffen (Thicker) |
| More Forward | Weight Distribution | More Rearward |
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
So, I'm running Bilstein shocks already with uprated leaf springs (can't remember the name, starts with a V) plus Moog end links, Powerstop slotted/drilled discs front and rear with Extreme pads. Haven't looked into getting it mapped as I'm not sure it's worth it (Manual, Intake and Exhaust mods only). When I changed the end links over I was hoping to do the sway bars as well (just because I was there) but as I said, ordered and never got hold of them.
Unfortunately the C6 bars are discontinued it seems.
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
Yeah I've looked at coilovers but reviews seems mixed. They're heavier than the OEM setup aren't they? Having had adjustable shocks on all my previous cars I was very interested in swapping over but there doesn't seem to be a distinct benefit, especially when you consider the price in getting them in the UK.
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
With removing parts tat were needed for stock set up, the coilovers in my ZR-1 reduced 25 pounds of weight and allowed for a better adjusted center of gravity
Coilovers require you to decide the spring rates you want for the fronts and rates for the rears
and also can change just the coils if wanting car to handle different, in my case racing or corning in very curvy roads
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
Do a cyberspace search as lots of sway bars out there for C5, C6s, etc like
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
Trust me, I looked alot last year. No where had anything in stock for a C5 that was decent. All the major names either have extortionate shipping charges or the parts were on back order with no stock date. I literally had an order outstanding for 6 months last year before cancelling because they couldn't provide a time frame.
I wish it was as easy as popping on Amazon but being in the UK it's not lol.
Nickerbocker Glory
CCCUK Member
Responding to C5 Steve:
As JR says - there are lots of sway bar / drop link options out there but they generally require deep pockets and patience as they have to come from the States. Mine are a Johnny O'Connell sway bar set / drop links at a mere £840.00 (inc VAT) in February last year. The bars are bigger than Z51 and the links are rose jointed: 97-13 Johnny O'Connell Sway Bar Package. Big improvement.
As JR says - there are lots of sway bar / drop link options out there but they generally require deep pockets and patience as they have to come from the States. Mine are a Johnny O'Connell sway bar set / drop links at a mere £840.00 (inc VAT) in February last year. The bars are bigger than Z51 and the links are rose jointed: 97-13 Johnny O'Connell Sway Bar Package. Big improvement.
C5Steve
CCCUK Member
Thanks for the recommendation. Perhaps the supply chain issues are better now, it wasn't anything to do with cost or time last year it was literally that no where had them in stock, including Zip. I had the Hotchkis set on order from Ecklers but after 6 months they still couldn't tell me when they'd restock so I cancelled. May have a look into the JOC ones you've mentioned as they were on my list!
Justinbonnes
CCCUK Member
I’m in Northern Ireland I’m just need the rear sway bar ! How much for rear sway bar posted to bt41 2pb? The thickness is 23.6 mm