lowering your C4
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
lowering your C4
Been reading some posts and seen a few picture of C4s that have been lowered slightly from the factory set up. My question is does lowering your Corvette make it handle worse, better or have no affect at all on its handling?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 237
Likes: 1
From: Alpharetta GA
In theory, it will handle better because of the lower center of gravity. In practice, it sure feels that way to me! (No actual data here. Maybe someone else has before and after times at a track, or other substantiating evidence)
Last edited by TorchRedRob; Dec 2, 2007 at 06:01 PM. Reason: spelling
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Mine definitely feels like it handles better...but I have done some other suspension mods as well. Imo, you need to maintain the rake (front lower than the rear) of the car, which I believe has a direct effect on handling. Some just lower the rear, which I'm not so sure really does the handling any justice...and may actually hinder it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
BTW Jeff I forgot to mention in one of the other posts I like your car a lot - you've got the stance right.
Do you know how good your car would look with the Fikse's I have for sale?????
Do you know how good your car would look with the Fikse's I have for sale?????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
I know man, I'd love to have those wheels!..but w/ each new mod it takes an act of God to make sense of it to the wife. If I bought those she'd freakin' kill me.
Thx 4 for the kind words on my car though.
I've never told you this but it was your car that inspired from the get go to lower mine. It was all about the stance...I saw your car and was like, that is how I want my car to sit. I tried as best I could to get "that look" & realized later that you had 18's...and unless I went that route I'd never achieve it exactly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
You dog.
I know man, I'd love to have those wheels!..but w/ each new mod it takes an act of God to make sense of it to the wife. If I bought those she'd freakin' kill me.
Thx 4 for the kind words on my car though.
I've never told you this but it was your car that inspired from the get go to lower mine. It was all about the stance...I saw your car and was like, that is how I want my car to sit. I tried as best I could to get "that look" & realized later that you had 18's...and unless I went that route I'd never achieve it exactly.
I know man, I'd love to have those wheels!..but w/ each new mod it takes an act of God to make sense of it to the wife. If I bought those she'd freakin' kill me.
Thx 4 for the kind words on my car though.
I've never told you this but it was your car that inspired from the get go to lower mine. It was all about the stance...I saw your car and was like, that is how I want my car to sit. I tried as best I could to get "that look" & realized later that you had 18's...and unless I went that route I'd never achieve it exactly.
Well I appreciate it. The stance and wheels are definitely what drew me to the car. I had seen it on the forum many times and luckily I was in a buying position when the car came up for sale.
With the new rearend being put in my car I'm probably going to go to a coilover setup up front as well eventually so I have even more adjustability and will probably make it sit just a tad lower even.
And I couldn't agree more about the rake. Cars with just the rear lowered LOOK lowered. If the car has a rake it looks like it was that way from the factory. And I think yours/mine have just the right amount of rake.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Mine definitely feels like it handles better...but I have done some other suspension mods as well. Imo, you need to maintain the rake (front lower than the rear) of the car, which I believe has a direct effect on handling. Some just lower the rear, which I'm not so sure really does the handling any justice...and may actually hinder it.
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,963
Likes: 709
From: WI
Rake is important for high speed down force. Here is a nice site:
http://www.gmecca.com/byorc/dtipsaerodynamics.html
I think I have a 1/2" in mine for rake, I can't remember any more but will need to check it again next season.
http://www.gmecca.com/byorc/dtipsaerodynamics.html
I think I have a 1/2" in mine for rake, I can't remember any more but will need to check it again next season.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis MN
I'll try I get nervous just talking to him he is the "candy man" money seems to disappear from my wallet just thinking about him and seeing him in person could max out a credit card.
My car is up for the winter so I should be safe. I'll give him a call.
My car is up for the winter so I should be safe. I'll give him a call.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 854
Likes: 1
From: The burbs of Denver CO
From my friends experiences, I would think about it for a while, and make sure you don't now, or expect to in the future, drive thru any areas with speed bumps of drainage dips. That dragging your undercarriage on the ground is such an unpleasant sound!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 14
From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
I just lowered the rear of my '90 Coupe a couple of weeks ago. It's an FX3 car so the rear was WAY higher than the front. I dropped the rear about 3" with the 10" Eckler bolt and bushing kit. Now the front and rear are about the same height with the rear being slightly higher.
It WILL affect the alignment of the rear if you do this. I had about 3 degrees of negative camber on the rear after I was done and the rear wheels were towed out quite a bit. Once it was all lined back up it handles a LOT better and looks good too.
While I was at it, I checked the front alignment and BOTH front wheels were tilted left about 1 degree. Left front had positive camber and the right front had negative. It came that way from the factory since I bought it new and have never checked the alignment. The tires were wearing OK but the alignment is now right-on!
Mick