Topic: Re-Align after ZOK sway bar swap?

[DragonSolGXP]

Hi, I was wondering if I should get a alignment after the ZOK sway bar swap? I need to get one since I lowered the car, but the sway bars are on back order and I wanted to get the alignment done soon (unless the bars come in sooner).

Whatcha think?

[Ben L]

I am sure someone who knows what they are talking about will correct me, but I do not think installing a different anti sway bar should change the alignment settings at all.  Handling characteristics maybe, which might make for some fine tuning, but I think the alignment settings should be plenty driveable.

[DragonSolGXP]

Thanks Ben,
I was thinking that as well. But I had to ask. Incidentally, I ordered the rear sway bar from Crate yesterday, then found out it was on back order, so I ordered the front as well. I figured I might as well get the matching set. And as you said, they may not be available for much longer.

[kennysabarese]

Not necessary.

[LatinVenom]

I had mine done but not because it was necessary but because I had not done an alignment on the car since new.

[snaponbob]

Not necessary.

  Absolutely no need to adjust ANYTHING after a sway bar swap.

[DrJones]

One thing to think about is adjustable endlinks (if you have coil overs installed).
You'll want to corner balance the vehicle with the sway bar disconected.
Once this is complete reconnect the swaybar and adjust the end links so the corner balance of the car is uneffected.
If the endlinks are not adjusted then you can get some funny jacking effect from the swaybar.

[lil goat]

One thing to think about is adjustable endlinks (if you have coil overs installed).
You'll want to corner balance the vehicle with the sway bar disconected.
Once this is complete reconnect the swaybar and adjust the end links so the corner balance of the car is uneffected.
If the endlinks are not adjusted then you can get some funny jacking effect from the swaybar.

Not fair to post this without telling us where to get the adjustable end links. My car was corner balanced by DDM with the sway bars connected when we did the HKS  coilover install and was dead on out of the box, so now I need to disconnect the sway bars and do it again?

[DrJones]

Not fair to post this without telling us where to get the adjustable end links. My car was corner balanced by DDM with the sway bars connected when we did the HKS  coilover install and was dead on out of the box, so now I need to disconnect the sway bars and do it again?

You don't need to do it with the bars disconnected. The car will corner balance. it could balance a little diffrent if the bars were disconnected.
For street use I wouldn't worry. If you're trying to get the most out at an auto-x or road course you'd want to think about it.
As for sourcing them I am working with a supplier right now who wants to make them for the kappa's. I'll keep people posted.

[lil goat]

 Thanks! Me optimizing for auto X is funny, I still can't stay on course. Solstice-Sport has said they will make the end links, it has just been race season (they run 6 cars including the Sears Sky). That ends at least the Drift part this weekend so maybe we can get them made up soon. They will still be supporting some NASCAR stuff for Ford Racing but things should free up. I want my dang Wilwood brakes too! They are done they just need to get into production.

[snaponbob]

I believe C5/C6 Corvette end links will fit the Kappas, and this adjustable Corvette links will as well.

BTW, corner weighting the CAR is one thing (and very easy to do) but corner weighting the car WITH driver will be nearly impossible without moving weights around, and that is nearly impossible in a stock car. If one gets aftermarket coil overs, if the springs are correct and everything measures equally (rear to rear and front to front) you are almost certain to be about as close as is practical. At that point, simply bolt up the bars. All three people in the KC area that do corner weighting for SCCA members (Solo and race) confirmed what I have suspected from my own attempts. Corner weighting a "stock" car is a matter of getting close, but with race cars it is matter of shuffling weight as well as spring and bar loads.

[lil goat]

I agree with Bob as I understand corner weighting, when DDM put on my HKS coilovers they did the corner weighting with me out of the car. I was very close, then I sat in the car and it actually got better. I am a big guy about 250, I was surprised it was as close as it was with me in the car, we did not change a thing, other than ride height and that was later. Critter was there with Dave and Randy. I guess HKS just figured in the driver when the set up the coilovers. These where the very first coilovers ever designed, setup and tested in the US by HKS. They did the HKS on Critters car that same day and his car is an NA, they came out the same on his car, dead on out of the box.

[lil goat]

I did some searching and some reading on end links. GM parts direct has the GMPP T1 C5/C6 end links for $51 each, you obviously need 2.

Part number is 12480067 .
The reason you might need these is for corner balancing or to make sure there is no preload on the sway bar. These are Heim joints and are noisy unless you get the ones from LM Motorsports that are $75 a piece, they are supposedly Teflon lined. I am changing some stuff under the front end this weekend I will look and see if I notice any preload, I doubt it. The only advantage I see to these  they should be a bit firmer do to the design difference, not sure it's worth $100 or $150, unless you spend a lot of time on the track.

I have found these for $139 for 4 but of course only need 2, that is almost worth taking a shot to see if there is any benefit.


http://www.c5racer.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=485184&language=en&cPath=186&m1track=googlebase&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=Google+Base&utm_campaign=export_feed&osCsid=56aaf990c0423336994748a0f55b40a9