Lowering an '85
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: CA
Lowering an '85
One of the Corvette project books talks about lowering, C4s and implies that lowering the front is very hard and possibly unecessary. In another chapter the same author implies that lowering the the rear is very easy and possibly beneficial to the handling of the car.
Has anyone lowered just the rear of their C4? It logically seems like the front of the car would be relatively too high and the "ride" angle would be wrong. Can the rear be lowered 1" without and still keep a slightly "nose down" ride height. The book is confusing at best.
If I can avoid tearing apart the front end...that also sounds good to me.
Has anyone lowered just the rear of their C4? It logically seems like the front of the car would be relatively too high and the "ride" angle would be wrong. Can the rear be lowered 1" without and still keep a slightly "nose down" ride height. The book is confusing at best.
If I can avoid tearing apart the front end...that also sounds good to me.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
It doesn't lower much at first, especially if your bushings are hard.
Over a few months, the wedges compress quite a bit, and the bushings settle into place, and that's when the drop becomes more noticeable.
Go here:
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
Over a few months, the wedges compress quite a bit, and the bushings settle into place, and that's when the drop becomes more noticeable.
Go here:
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I bought the complete lowering kit from MAM but, after dropping the rear about 1 1/4" decided to not drop the front.
It still has a little front rake, tires now fit the wheel wells, looks much better, handles well and hooks well.
Though I don't auto cross or road race it, last fall I took it through some local twisties and was quite satisfied with handling.
Drop the rear only and see how you like it. First off I noticed a whole new "attitude" when I first sat in it and I felt very "close to the pavement" for the first few days of driving. Of course you will need a 4-wheel alignment.
It still has a little front rake, tires now fit the wheel wells, looks much better, handles well and hooks well.
Though I don't auto cross or road race it, last fall I took it through some local twisties and was quite satisfied with handling.
Drop the rear only and see how you like it. First off I noticed a whole new "attitude" when I first sat in it and I felt very "close to the pavement" for the first few days of driving. Of course you will need a 4-wheel alignment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
Likes: 0
From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Lowering a C4 all the way around is not hard at all, it will take some time to do it right but can de done on jack stands and over a weekend.
As with CentralCoaster's tip there is also 2 more in the C4 tech tips, one done by myself. Please do a search (some times it works
) and after reading all the info you can find here (there is a lot) and you still have questions, ask we will be more the happy to help you out. But to answer your current question - yes you can lower just the rear and it's very easy ( like 20 minutes) to do so. 
As with CentralCoaster's tip there is also 2 more in the C4 tech tips, one done by myself. Please do a search (some times it works
) and after reading all the info you can find here (there is a lot) and you still have questions, ask we will be more the happy to help you out. But to answer your current question - yes you can lower just the rear and it's very easy ( like 20 minutes) to do so.
