C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

96' C4 Lowering Idea/Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 12, 2017 | 01:38 PM
  #1  
Sarone's Avatar
Sarone
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 64
Likes: 8
Default 96' C4 Lowering Idea/Question

Hi All,

I read that for lowering the front you can simply move the upper insulators to the bottom (spring goes up, car goes down) to avoid any cutting. Has anyone done this?

Also, if I don't want to mess with the front is there anyone who has only lowered the rear? My front seems O.K., it's just the large wheel well gap in the back that I don't like.

Thanks,
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2017 | 03:56 PM
  #2  
JoBy's Avatar
JoBy
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 304
From: Timra, Sweden
Default

It is very simple to adjust ride hight in the rear. You adjust with a nut. If you need more threads then use a longer bolt.
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2017 | 04:00 PM
  #3  
Sarone's Avatar
Sarone
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 64
Likes: 8
Default

Originally Posted by JoBy
It is very simple to adjust ride hight in the rear. You adjust with a nut. If you need more threads then use a longer bolt.
Yeah, that one I think I can do myself. It's just the front that I'm intimidated by. I guess I'm wondering if I just take the back down a bit, like an inch, if I even need to mess with the front?

Thoughts?
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2017 | 12:04 AM
  #4  
Cruizin's Avatar
Cruizin
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 4
From: Perth WA
Default

Originally Posted by Sarone
Yeah, that one I think I can do myself. It's just the front that I'm intimidated by. I guess I'm wondering if I just take the back down a bit, like an inch, if I even need to mess with the front?

Thoughts?
The car is designed to handle correctly and safely at a set pitch from front to back. If you only drop the back you will upset the front wheel alignment, braking and overall handling- not to mention the car will look odd with a nose high attitude.

It is strongly recommended that you drop the car equally front and back.

Last edited by Cruizin; Apr 13, 2017 at 12:06 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2017 | 08:00 AM
  #5  
TorchTarga94's Avatar
TorchTarga94
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 202
From: Trinity FL
Default

Originally Posted by Sarone
Yeah, that one I think I can do myself. It's just the front that I'm intimidated by. I guess I'm wondering if I just take the back down a bit, like an inch, if I even need to mess with the front?

Thoughts?
Yes you can drop the rear only. I would not go an inch though or you will have that high school lifted truck invisible trailer thing going on.

If you were to drop it only a 1/2" you would be surprised how much difference it will make in appearance while still maintaining a forward rake. There is a guy on the bay selling them for $20.00 grade 8.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2017 | 02:44 AM
  #6  
ElisTwoCents's Avatar
ElisTwoCents
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Default

Originally Posted by TorchTarga94
. There is a guy on the bay selling them for $20.00 grade 8.
The bolts he sells are SAE grade 5, just looked - that's probably why its 20 bucks, get what ya pay for I suppose.

GM originally equipped C4s with Grade 8 and other sellers such as VBP, BDE-Systems, CorvetteMods etc sell GRADE 8 - I suggest you go with at least what GM recommended for tensile strength (NOTE: C3/C4/C5 lowering kits typically use Grade 8 bolts)

The front of the Vette can be lowering with shorter/smaller aftermarket wedges or by trimming the original stock wedges. Here is a helpful thread on the subject:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-my-96-c4.html
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2017 | 12:48 PM
  #7  
whalepirot's Avatar
whalepirot
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
Default

After dropping my '84 about an inch, I learned that for minimal change in handling and appearance, the DD aspect degraded plenty. My driveway, every speed bump, dip and other street obstacle surfaced, which now require a slow and angled approach to minimized scraping. It takes some of the fun out of driving the car.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2017 | 02:16 PM
  #8  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

If you decide to lower front the spring retainers will also have to be cut down. I was changing to stiffer spring as well as lowering so I got a second set of retainers to cut down for new spring.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 17, 2017 | 05:29 PM
  #9  
Zzilla's Avatar
Zzilla
Cruising
 
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: So. Cali.
Default

Great info & Input guys tyvm
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 96' C4 Lowering Idea/Question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:12 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE