How much will handling improve by lowering it?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,740
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From: Minneapolis MN
How much will handling improve by lowering it?
I've been thinking about lowering my vette and was wondering if my handling will be noticably better, and also how will the overall ride be effected?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
When I lowered mine, both handling and ride improved... enough so that my wife noticed and she very rarely drives the car.
Even if it didn't help.. the looks alone are very much worth it! :cool:
I did go down almost two inches thou.
Even if it didn't help.. the looks alone are very much worth it! :cool:
I did go down almost two inches thou.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (GusBustamanteJr)
but dont kid yourself- it will be rougher.
Waka, Waka, Waka!
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Richmond Virginia
CI 4-6-8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (Springer's 95)
What parts did you use? Who did the work?
And more importantly, what would you do differently if you had it to do over?
And more importantly, what would you do differently if you had it to do over?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Springfield VA
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
Just lowering the car won't do a lot to improve handling and in some cases will actually be detremental.
GM spent a lot of time and money in developing the suspension for the C4s. While the later models were "loosened up" to provide a smoother ride, they still handle quite well. By lowering your car, you are changing the dynamics of the system. The rake the C4 has was designed to augment the suspension. Changing the rake (angle) will impact your handling characteristics.
If you are serious about improving you handling then remember you are dealing with the entire suspension package.
Otherwise, if you are doing it for looks that is something else.
Just don't be a ricer (thinking that just lowering your car will improve its performance)
[Flame suit on]I know I'm going to catch flack about that[/Flame suit off]
GM spent a lot of time and money in developing the suspension for the C4s. While the later models were "loosened up" to provide a smoother ride, they still handle quite well. By lowering your car, you are changing the dynamics of the system. The rake the C4 has was designed to augment the suspension. Changing the rake (angle) will impact your handling characteristics.
If you are serious about improving you handling then remember you are dealing with the entire suspension package.
Otherwise, if you are doing it for looks that is something else.
Just don't be a ricer (thinking that just lowering your car will improve its performance)
[Flame suit on]I know I'm going to catch flack about that[/Flame suit off]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
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From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (Fozzy_Bear)
What parts did you use? Who did the work?
And more importantly, what would you do differently if you had it to do over?
And more importantly, what would you do differently if you had it to do over?
By lowering your car, you are changing the dynamics of the system. The rake the C4 has was designed to augment the suspension. Changing the rake (angle) will impact your handling characteristics.
The handling does improve by just lowering it... it's certainly not night and day, but it is better.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,740
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From: Minneapolis MN
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
i would like to lower the front and rear, i was looking at like the $40 dollar kit like corvette central offers and figured if i could get i little bit better handling for 40 bucks why wouldn't i do it . If i were to lower it how would everyone recommend doing it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,525
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From: Sarasota, FL
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
I lowered mine last winter in conunction with a poly bushing install. The combination of new poly bushings, lowered ride and good alignment made a HUGE difference on the way my car drove and handled. I can't comment on the effects of just a lowering, but it does look alot better IMO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
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From: Modesto CA
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (BobMachus)
I lowered my car last month. By using longer rear bolts with Grade 8 Nyloc Locking Nuts. I just lowered the back..about 1¼". I then had it aligned to the specs on Vette Brakes & Products Website (The one that Callaway says is for "Advanced Street") I'll tell you now, the car is DEFINATELY much tighter and handles ALOT better.
Waka, Waka, Waka!
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From: Richmond Virginia
CI 4-6-8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
I work with a few ricers and the one thing that I know from being around them is that you can lower your car correctly, or you can do it ALL WRONG. I don't think there are many "kind of OK" lowering job out there. If you do it right, smooth straights, tight curves, and great looks. Anything less than perfect, and its hammer-to-the-spine straights, body roll and understeer in the curves, and gouges in your sidewalls where the body rubbs the tires.
I don't have any PERSONAL experience though... Anybody here have a lowering experience that was just so-so?
- Fozzy
I don't have any PERSONAL experience though... Anybody here have a lowering experience that was just so-so?
- Fozzy
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (TIMSPEED)
I lowered only the rear but did the bushings and other stuff too (in my sig), including the same align specs TIMSPEED is talking. I am very happy with it. It is all about finding a balance that works for you, with luck its easy but in the worst case it can be pain.
ToniH
[Modified by ToniH, 8:50 AM 7/9/2002]
ToniH
[Modified by ToniH, 8:50 AM 7/9/2002]
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 401
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From: Aptos CA
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (Fozzy_Bear)
I think 300 bucks is a great price for the work involved. When I lowered mine there were no kits, no how-tos that worked and I was broke as usual so I figured it out for zero. My Conv. is stiffer to begin with, add the heavy duty bars and the front is too rough over pot holes. I have to keep the 11" rears from rubbing.
You get more "push" or "understeer" once lowered. On smooth highway it kicks Porsche tail. Well, just about anything I've raced, actually. BUT, if the alignment is set for speed I run through tires fast. "normal" alignment, they are fine. Oh and drive REALLY slow in/out of driveways and over speed pumps. :crazy:
You get more "push" or "understeer" once lowered. On smooth highway it kicks Porsche tail. Well, just about anything I've raced, actually. BUT, if the alignment is set for speed I run through tires fast. "normal" alignment, they are fine. Oh and drive REALLY slow in/out of driveways and over speed pumps. :crazy:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
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Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (Skippy Stone)
> Suspension/Wheels: ZR1-11" (Correct for '90), ZR1 Stabilizer (rear), 52mm stabilizer (front), urethene bushings, lowered 1"
A 52mm sway bar, thats over 2" ??? Surely its a typo and you mean 32mm? I can't figure out how to fit a 52mm bar in there as 32mm was very tight around the shocks (3mm ie. 1/8" clearance). Also can't imagine what a car would be like to drive with such a enormous bar mated with just a tiny (in comparison) ZR-1 rear bar, pushing yourself out of the road in every corner around the town? ;)
ToniH
A 52mm sway bar, thats over 2" ??? Surely its a typo and you mean 32mm? I can't figure out how to fit a 52mm bar in there as 32mm was very tight around the shocks (3mm ie. 1/8" clearance). Also can't imagine what a car would be like to drive with such a enormous bar mated with just a tiny (in comparison) ZR-1 rear bar, pushing yourself out of the road in every corner around the town? ;)
ToniH
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (n1kki6)
I lowered the rear (only) about 1 1/4" and it sometimes bottoms (new shocks??).
The car felt totally different when I first sat in it as well as looked much better with the tires filling the wheel wells.
It seems to launch a little stronger than before and definitely handles and tracks well even with the big 275s up front.
The car felt totally different when I first sat in it as well as looked much better with the tires filling the wheel wells.
It seems to launch a little stronger than before and definitely handles and tracks well even with the big 275s up front.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
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From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: How much will handling improve by lowering it? (65Z01)
My rear almost bottoms over some bumps which hardly affect regular cars- the front definitely bottoms out more often, and there is less bump rubber on there than before, it gives a good jolt. On regular roads, and normal bumps, it just feels a bit stiffer than stock, but all bumps will be heard louder, and felt in the wheel and SOTP much more than stock.