lowing C4 and alignment
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
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From: College Station Texas
lowing C4 and alignment
So I'm planning on lowering soon, about an inch all the way around. Just put on Grandsport wheels and for some reason those fatties make the car look like it's sitting too high, even though it has exactly the same wheel gap. Anyway, I will lower it and take it to a shop to get it aligned. My question is, how do they align it? They can't use stock corvette specs. Do I need to give them specs, or can I say "Here's my car, align it."? What do I need to do?
Thanks, -Matt
Thanks, -Matt
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: WI
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
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From: College Station Texas
They can use stock specs??? Really? I don't want something more, I just want my new 315s to wear evenly after I lower it.
BTW, anyone have any problem with rubbing after lowering a car with this big of tires on it?
BTW, anyone have any problem with rubbing after lowering a car with this big of tires on it?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 13
From: Romeoville IL
Yes, they stock specs are what's going to keep the tire wear even. The width doesn't effect the angles they adjust for alignment. Toe, camber, caster, etc are the same if you are aligning a 225 or a 315.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Niles MI
These guys are right. They will use the same ANGLES the vehicle will just be at a different HEIGHT.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 187
From: Earth
I was thinking of doing this also. Let me know what you pay at the shop and total investment for this. Send me a PM if you don't mind!! My car seems like it squats HARD when I'm on it, I think I lower it I will have big rub problems!!
Then post up some pics when done!
Then post up some pics when done!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: College Station Texas
Originally Posted by Snakecharmer383
I was thinking of doing this also. Let me know what you pay at the shop and total investment for this. Send me a PM if you don't mind!! My car seems like it squats HARD when I'm on it, I think I lower it I will have big rub problems!!
Then post up some pics when done!
Then post up some pics when done!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 10
From: College Station TX
If you are going to auto-x your car, for the love of god don't use stock specs. I would recommend between -.5 and -1.0 camber (more = better), with a lot of caster, as much as possible really, and zero toe. -1.0 camber won't wear the tires too bad for daily driving, and it will keep you from destroying the outsides of the tires while auto-xing. If you really want to improve turn it, dial in some toe-out (up to 1/8").
For the rear, some toe in is good, I think I have 1/8 (I can't remmeber exactly...). For rear camber, you want less than the front, say -.25 to -.5.
My car has front: -2.3 camber, 7.5 caster, and 1/8" toe out. Rear is -1.3 camber and 1/8" toe in.
For the rear, some toe in is good, I think I have 1/8 (I can't remmeber exactly...). For rear camber, you want less than the front, say -.25 to -.5.
My car has front: -2.3 camber, 7.5 caster, and 1/8" toe out. Rear is -1.3 camber and 1/8" toe in.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Niles MI
The best way would be to find lowered spindle assemblies. That way your suspension wouldn't be altered, otherwise you are looking at modifying your springs. Please don't do that. I don't think you even can if you have the lateral leaf. Lowered spindles are an easy swap, if you can find a set, you shouldn't even have to get it aligned. All it will do is move your wheels an inch or so into the wheel wells. Keeping your angles the same.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,941
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From: WI
There are different thickness shims in there depending on year and if it's a vert, so the ones with thinner shims handle worse? That doesn't make sense.
There is a company making lowering spindles??? I've never seen one!
There is a company making lowering spindles??? I've never seen one!
Last edited by Aardwolf; May 1, 2007 at 06:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
No such thing available. Please correct me if I'm wrong. And you can only go so far before the lower ball joints scrape the wheel.
You don't modify the springs. You simply move the front spring closer to the car by using shorter wedges and removing factory shims. And the rear spring you put longer bolts on to move the spring lower and everything else connected to it.
Yes, using the bolts and wedges will change the suspension geometry slightly. Is this a bad thing? Either you have some insight to the castor/camber/toe curves and what's best for racing, or you are assuming GM's stock location is the only way to do it. That's a poor basis in my experience, since GM's design priorities are usually not the same as ours, and the performance is often compromised for CYA/liability/dumbass owners, etc. This assuming they had it all figured out in the first place, which doesn't seem to be the case as they redesigned the whole front end in 88.
I appreciate your trying to help though.
Here's a how to on the wedge/bolt kit install:
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting...ng_backup.html
otherwise you are looking at modifying your springs.
Lowered spindles are an easy swap, if you can find a set, you shouldn't even have to get it aligned. All it will do is move your wheels an inch or so into the wheel wells. Keeping your angles the same.
I appreciate your trying to help though.
Here's a how to on the wedge/bolt kit install:
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting...ng_backup.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
You are lowering the body not the axles. Wheel/tire height does make a difference but very little.
Last edited by BADDUCK; May 1, 2007 at 07:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
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From: College Station Texas
Originally Posted by DadsC4
The best way would be to find lowered spindle assemblies. That way your suspension wouldn't be altered, otherwise you are looking at modifying your springs. Please don't do that. I don't think you even can if you have the lateral leaf. Lowered spindles are an easy swap, if you can find a set, you shouldn't even have to get it aligned. All it will do is move your wheels an inch or so into the wheel wells. Keeping your angles the same.
I also just realized I wrote "lowing" in the title of this thread.:o
Oh well...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Purpose of the alignment is to align the tires with the road. Lowering the car moves everything around a little, so you have to realign it to get back to the factory specs.