Lowering in Progress need help.....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,385
Likes: 4
From: King George VA
Lowering in Progress need help.....
I bought a kit for my dads 1996, he is in the process of lowering only the rear. When he did the inital measurements they were....
Left side which was 28 1/2
Ride side which was 29 7/16
Yes the car is uneven. And than intails the problem, why is the rear uneven? The stock bolts had the same amount of used threads on the lowering bolts.
So he moved on installed the lowering hopeing it would fix the issue. Well the new measurements are...
Left side which was 27 3/4
Ride side which was 28 7/8
As far the left side is he's on the money for it but the right something is going on, 1-inch difference. SO what could it be? Shocks? Faulty suspension part? Any kinda of Idea or solution would be great.
Thanks
Ed
Left side which was 28 1/2
Ride side which was 29 7/16
Yes the car is uneven. And than intails the problem, why is the rear uneven? The stock bolts had the same amount of used threads on the lowering bolts.
So he moved on installed the lowering hopeing it would fix the issue. Well the new measurements are...
Left side which was 27 3/4
Ride side which was 28 7/8
As far the left side is he's on the money for it but the right something is going on, 1-inch difference. SO what could it be? Shocks? Faulty suspension part? Any kinda of Idea or solution would be great.
Thanks
Ed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,385
Likes: 4
From: King George VA
He told me
"Both nuts are at the ends of the bolts and you can see about 2 threads coming through the nyloc nuts. "
I havent seen how this works but if he screws the bolt on more it lowers the car more correct? So he basically has to screw the right one in more til is even?
Thanks
"Both nuts are at the ends of the bolts and you can see about 2 threads coming through the nyloc nuts. "
I havent seen how this works but if he screws the bolt on more it lowers the car more correct? So he basically has to screw the right one in more til is even?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Mine's the same way. I tried to even it out, but it's still off a bit. Got it down to around a half inch difference. The nut on one side is probably a good inch and a half higher than the other. Also, the more you screw the nut on, the higher the car gets.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
The way I did it was just put both nuts on the very bottom of the bolts, as "low" as they will go. Then see which side is sitting lower, and raise that side to match the other "bottomed-out" side that's already at the bottom of the bolt.
The bolts WILL NOT be even. Just adjust them so the ride heights are even. It's not a problem, just inherent in the design of the suspension.
The bolts WILL NOT be even. Just adjust them so the ride heights are even. It's not a problem, just inherent in the design of the suspension.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
He told me
"Both nuts are at the ends of the bolts and you can see about 2 threads coming through the nyloc nuts. "
I havent seen how this works but if he screws the bolt on more it lowers the car more correct? So he basically has to screw the right one in more til is even?
Thanks
"Both nuts are at the ends of the bolts and you can see about 2 threads coming through the nyloc nuts. "
I havent seen how this works but if he screws the bolt on more it lowers the car more correct? So he basically has to screw the right one in more til is even?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,385
Likes: 4
From: King George VA
He said
"The new bolts are longer and right now I have them (the nuts) almost at the end. When you hold up an old bolt you can see the new nut is at least 2-3 inches lower than it was before, yet it raised the car up by like 1/8th inch...still have a 1 inch difference in height...lower still on left."
Than he drove around the block and we have the current settings once it settled.
Left side which was 27 3/4
Ride side which was 28 7/8
He drove around a 1/4 mile block you think he should ride around longer?
"The new bolts are longer and right now I have them (the nuts) almost at the end. When you hold up an old bolt you can see the new nut is at least 2-3 inches lower than it was before, yet it raised the car up by like 1/8th inch...still have a 1 inch difference in height...lower still on left."
Than he drove around the block and we have the current settings once it settled.
Left side which was 27 3/4
Ride side which was 28 7/8
He drove around a 1/4 mile block you think he should ride around longer?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Yeah, I'd drive it a mile or two at least. I'll even rock her back and forth in my neighborhood like GT cars warming up their tires during a caution lap. You really want to work that suspension for a bit.
Last edited by shakedown067; Aug 17, 2008 at 01:04 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Carneys Point NJ
Fc_Soldiers Dad here. Driving it has really helped to get it to settle down. The left side came down to 27 1/2, so I brought it back up to 27 3/4. That's just where I want it to sit. I took it out for a good drive today, used about a quarter tank (and had a blast!). The right side came down 3/8" more to 28 1/2. I'm going to monitor it for the next few days and if the right doesn't come down anymore then I'll just bring the left up to match. Working the suspension is definately the answer. Maybe in this case it's a lot stiffer because it was out of whack for quite a while (wishful thinking). Most owners (with lower miles) will probably see it come down a bit quicker. I didn't try rocking it yet, thanks for the suggestion...good idea! 
Thanks for the replys guys! Thanks for all your help son!
Thanks for the replys guys! Thanks for all your help son!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
A 'last resort'ption would be to take the spring out and reverse it end for end. Typically the left side is lower because there is always a driver, rarely a passenger. I have mine at 27 1/4" on both sides and am running the 315/35s on the rear with no rubbing and I run some darn twisty and hilly roads.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,385
Likes: 4
From: King George VA
A 'last resort'ption would be to take the spring out and reverse it end for end. Typically the left side is lower because there is always a driver, rarely a passenger. I have mine at 27 1/4" on both sides and am running the 315/35s on the rear with no rubbing and I run some darn twisty and hilly roads.