Lower Just the Rear?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
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Lower Just the Rear?
Hi:
Like many of you, I have often thought about lowering my '89 slightly. Since the rear sits higher than the front has anyone just done the rear (which is easy) and not the front (which is a pain)? I would expect that this would flatten the rake. If someone has done this, could they post any before/after pictures?
Thanks,
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Like many of you, I have often thought about lowering my '89 slightly. Since the rear sits higher than the front has anyone just done the rear (which is easy) and not the front (which is a pain)? I would expect that this would flatten the rake. If someone has done this, could they post any before/after pictures?
Thanks,
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
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From: High Ridge Missouri
Don't mean to hijack but I have a related question. I'm not as curious about the way it looks as I am the way it affects handling, so to those of you that have lowered just the rear and eliminated the natural rake of the car (I know I can realign to take out the caster added, but what is the purpose of the rake designed into the C4) of the car how has it affected the way it drives?
Thanks
UV
Thanks
UV
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,253
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From: Castro Valley CA
I lowered the rear only on mine. Handles just fine, I will taking it to Infinion next weekend. Anything to lower the CG is a plus. I would have done the front, but it was too much work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
There is a guy on eBay selling new longer rear bolts for about $10. If you lower on the stock bolts the cotter pin hole is an issue. If you lower it much you may need rear alignment.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
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Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I figure I would lower the rear by about 3/4ths of an inch to an inch---no more. That would make the gap from the top of the tires to the lower fender lip about equal front and rear. For those of you who have done this, is there a particular supplier of the extension bolts you would recommend? I am leaning towards the 10" bolts, with rubber cushions (I'm not a huge fan of aftermarket poly) from VetteBrakes (p.s.: I see these lowering bolts offered in lengths of 10" and 12"---I think 10" should be enough. Any thoughts?).
Cheers,
/s/ Chris
Cheers,
/s/ Chris
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Instructor
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lowered...
I just did mine yesterday and am about to raise it up just a touch. It's sitting flat now (measured) and I want a bit of rake. I know it LOOKS lower in the back which is why I'm going to raise it a bit.
Note that the driveway is a bit of an uphill.
hth,
Jim
Note that the driveway is a bit of an uphill.
hth,
Jim
Thread Starter
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: WI
I lowered just the rear on mine. I compared the stock bolts to the new bolts and I went five threads less. 33 threads compared to 28. It looks like the rear dropped about 3/4" and the rake is almost all gone. I have read the rake helps with high speed stability but when I look at 200 MPH salt flat running Corvettes they have zero rake. So more information on this would help. The 10" bolts are fine unless you want to make it really low. I used the poly spring cushions but rubber there would be fine. I have the lowering wedges for the front but have not put them in yet, I will be doing that soon. Here is a picture:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
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From: Corbin KY
here is how mine looks with just the rear lowered. I HATE IT! I want the distance between the front tire and the hood gone. It just doesnt look right. I have NO driving issues with just the rear lowered BUT I had it aligned after I lowered it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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I, too, would like to lower the front gap, but reducing the rear gap to about the same as the front gap is something I think would help, and it doesn't involve all the disassembly and reassembly of the front end.Cheers,
Chris
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
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I lowered just the rear on mine. I compared the stock bolts to the new bolts and I went five threads less. 33 threads compared to 28. It looks like the rear dropped about 3/4" and the rake is almost all gone. I have read the rake helps with high speed stability but when I look at 200 MPH salt flat running Corvettes they have zero rake. So more information on this would help. The 10" bolts are fine unless you want to make it really low. I used the poly spring cushions but rubber there would be fine. I have the lowering wedges for the front but have not put them in yet, I will be doing that soon. Here is a picture:
Cheers,
/s/ Chris
Melting Slicks
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
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From: Mauldin sc
St. Jude Donor '05
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My front end is a smidge lower than JEFNLSA's. You can not reach your hand in the gap on the front. I want to drop the rear end not quite as low but it's not far behind the front end. It came that like that when I bought it. Will the exaust pipinng scrape or oil pan or anything get torn up from say hitting a BAD pothole or slowly going over a speed bump? Also, I have new shox all around. The shocks wont have to be replaced or altered if I do lower the rear a inch or so?