Lowering a C4 question...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Lowering a C4 question...
I've read alot about lowering a C4 (specifically a later model year) and I keep reading that you have to have front of the car up sky high to lower the front. If this is the case, if I have access to a lift would that make things any better? How rough is it with a lot of clearance?
Also how much ground clearance do you guys that have lowered your vette have? I had a lowered mustang before I had my Vette and I'd scrape every morning leaving my neighborhood on a speed bump.
thanks.
-Will
Also how much ground clearance do you guys that have lowered your vette have? I had a lowered mustang before I had my Vette and I'd scrape every morning leaving my neighborhood on a speed bump.
thanks.
-Will
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
To lift the Vette is the easiest thing to do. The first time I did it was using a 2 ton jack with 2 ton jack stands and few pieces of wood.
Removing all lower suspension components, removing the monospring and be ready to remove the rubber bump is the installations punch line.
The rest is to reinstall components backwards, alignment, post pictures here, drive and yes be ready to hit high bumps and dips.
Removing all lower suspension components, removing the monospring and be ready to remove the rubber bump is the installations punch line.
The rest is to reinstall components backwards, alignment, post pictures here, drive and yes be ready to hit high bumps and dips.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 526
Likes: 118
From: Morristown TN
I did it using a standard floor jack and jackstands without any issue. I had the front end maybe 15-18" off the floor, if that.
The biggest b!tch of it for me (on my 85) was accessing the bolts/nuts that hold the spring brackets on to the subframe. One nut was damn near impossible to get to because it was on top of the subframe, behind a chunk of metal, with the engine about, oh, 1 inch away.
It's also a little hard to re-seat the spring ends into the LCA's, I used a second floor jack for that purpose.
I really wish these cars had a standard set of coilover springs, it would make modifying the suspension so much easier.
I have about 3-4" of ground clearance in most areas. The lowest part that scrapes are my header flanges and exhaust presilencer/muffler body.
The biggest b!tch of it for me (on my 85) was accessing the bolts/nuts that hold the spring brackets on to the subframe. One nut was damn near impossible to get to because it was on top of the subframe, behind a chunk of metal, with the engine about, oh, 1 inch away.
It's also a little hard to re-seat the spring ends into the LCA's, I used a second floor jack for that purpose.
I really wish these cars had a standard set of coilover springs, it would make modifying the suspension so much easier.
I have about 3-4" of ground clearance in most areas. The lowest part that scrapes are my header flanges and exhaust presilencer/muffler body.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Usually need a bar levering the arm down against the tension of the bushes while you pull spring out
( 2nd person helps )
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
Problem is ;
on a lift is you need some way ( a long length pipe on a jack? ) to raise the bottom arm against the spring in order to get the ball joint back into the spindle .
You could always you fit the spring on the lift then lower car to ground to fit the arm
Last edited by rodj; Feb 16, 2012 at 07:52 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
Likes: 10
From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Bottoming out will become a regular issue. I raised mine back up because of it. Got tired of my X brace bottoming out. Think before you act. Just sayin.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
Its already low enough and if your lowered mustang scraping bothered you Id suggest you would have the same problem with a lowered vett. All things being equal however this is your car do as you wish. GC
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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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
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Oxford CT
I lowered mine using the extended bolts for the rear. For the front I removed just the control arm pads. I DID NOT use the aftermarket lowering wedges in the front.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
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
I lowered mine using the extended bolts for the rear. For the front I removed just the control arm pads. I DID NOT use the aftermarket lowering wedges in the front.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
Removing the shims lowers an additional 7/16"
I removed everything, installed HD monospring with HD Bilsteins.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Bloomington MN
I lowered mine using the extended bolts for the rear. For the front I removed just the control arm pads. I DID NOT use the aftermarket lowering wedges in the front.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
I forget exactly how much drop I achieved (maybe 1/2"-5/8"?) but it's enough to get a good stance and I don't ever bottom out.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Oxford CT
If anything, I would inspect the tips of your front spring for cracks before removing the shims (which should probably be checked before this project anyway). In a worst case scenario (auto Xing every weekend?), I think the spring would eventually eat into the A-arm and your alignment would be affected. The other scenario is the friction from the A-arm damaging the spring and you'd definitely know when that happened. Again, I've been DDing my 93 without the shims for 2 years now and I've have no issue at all.
Good luck with the project!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Yes, those are the pads. I wondered the same thing before I pulled the trigger on mine so after doing some research here on CF, I seem to remember some members saying they had removed the shims with no issue and others saying that the spring would eventually eat into the A-arm. I decided to go for it and I've had no issue so far.
If anything, I would inspect the tips of your front spring for cracks before removing the shims (which should probably be checked before this project anyway). In a worst case scenario (auto Xing every weekend?), I think the spring would eventually eat into the A-arm and your alignment would be affected. The other scenario is the friction from the A-arm damaging the spring and you'd definitely know when that happened. Again, I've been DDing my 93 without the shims for 2 years now and I've have no issue at all.
Good luck with the project!
If anything, I would inspect the tips of your front spring for cracks before removing the shims (which should probably be checked before this project anyway). In a worst case scenario (auto Xing every weekend?), I think the spring would eventually eat into the A-arm and your alignment would be affected. The other scenario is the friction from the A-arm damaging the spring and you'd definitely know when that happened. Again, I've been DDing my 93 without the shims for 2 years now and I've have no issue at all.
Good luck with the project!
( Removed the shims, installed wedges and cut the pad ends)
Mike
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
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Olathe Kansas
Before lowering on 3/31/2012
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/pict...ctureid=108230
After lowering on 4/1/2012
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/pict...ctureid=108231
Overall height of my car dropped from 46.25" to 43.75"
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/pict...ctureid=108230
After lowering on 4/1/2012
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/pict...ctureid=108231
Overall height of my car dropped from 46.25" to 43.75"
