Poly bushings and lowering
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 1
From: Hartland WI
Poly bushings and lowering
Among the projects on my "wish list" are poly bushings and to lower the car an inch or so. ('88 'vert, Z52, auto, currently stone stock)
First question - is lowering compatible with the Z52, or is that just stupid? Does lowering provide any benefits other than looks?
I can afford the bushings over the winter, but not sure about the lowering. Should I wait and do it all together? Is there any significant time/money savings (or wasting) by doing them together or independantly?
Thanks
First question - is lowering compatible with the Z52, or is that just stupid? Does lowering provide any benefits other than looks?
I can afford the bushings over the winter, but not sure about the lowering. Should I wait and do it all together? Is there any significant time/money savings (or wasting) by doing them together or independantly?
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Lower $ wise is cheap if you do the work yourself. All you need are lowering pads for the front spring and longer bolts for the rear. The labor is what will kill you if you have it done. Having a vert, I will tell you that the cross brace will be hitting bottom a lot! Car looks 10 times better though and the lower center of gravity is noticeable.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 1
From: Hartland WI
Originally Posted by jerkyboy
Lower $ wise is cheap if you do the work yourself. All you need are lowering pads for the front spring and longer bolts for the rear. The labor is what will kill you if you have it done.
) - I guess then we do both this winter. Is the bottoming a big problem or just an occasional problem?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Grayslake IL.
I lowered the rear of my 85 coupe. Very easy. I left the front alone. I don't have any bottoming out problems. At least no more than with the stock height. The lower center of gravity is noticable. Seems to stick better. Now the poly bushing.....OMG....for me, that was a struggle. Good luck though. It's all fun!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
Our cars are quite low from the factory. I have a friend with a lowerd 87 C4 and he is going to raise it back up this winter. Michigan roads wreak havoc on lowerd car's
My "opinion" is this: unless the car will be used in competition only I wont lower it. I like the fiberglass to stay put under my feet. Not left on a set of nasty train tracks.
As far as the poly bushings? I dont know I just installed mine but wont get the chance to drive it untill the spring.
My "opinion" is this: unless the car will be used in competition only I wont lower it. I like the fiberglass to stay put under my feet. Not left on a set of nasty train tracks.
As far as the poly bushings? I dont know I just installed mine but wont get the chance to drive it untill the spring.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Definitely lower it.
You have to pull the spring to do it, so it's a great time to go further and pull the a-arms off and do all your bushings.
lowering the rear is easy though. Takes about 20 minutes. You don't even have to lift the car or take the wheels off.
You have to pull the spring to do it, so it's a great time to go further and pull the a-arms off and do all your bushings.
lowering the rear is easy though. Takes about 20 minutes. You don't even have to lift the car or take the wheels off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
It's even possible the car will actually be higher with the new polys. The original bushings are really old tired and sagging.
I could swear after I did my polys, the car is taller inspite of the lowering kit.
I could swear after I did my polys, the car is taller inspite of the lowering kit.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
My '88 35th Anna comes with the Z52 option and lowering the rear made a world of difference in look and feel:
-the tires now fill the wheel wells, front & rear
-it "feels" lower, from the driver's perspective
-handling seem simproved as does launch at the strip.
If your aim with the poly bushings is to improve handling, I think the biggest improvement will come from doing the sway bars. That has the effect of installing thicker sway bars. So cornering will improve noticibly while ride will not otherwise be effected.
-the tires now fill the wheel wells, front & rear
-it "feels" lower, from the driver's perspective
-handling seem simproved as does launch at the strip.
If your aim with the poly bushings is to improve handling, I think the biggest improvement will come from doing the sway bars. That has the effect of installing thicker sway bars. So cornering will improve noticibly while ride will not otherwise be effected.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
GM made the verts sit higher because of the x brace underneath. I definitely do some quick calculations when I encounter speed bumps or steep aprons 
However, I tend to hit my collectors on my headers more than anything and it's a real pain in the azz because it usually dislodges my collector gaskets. You gotta decide if it's something you want to deal with. For me, the look alone is worth it!
However, I tend to hit my collectors on my headers more than anything and it's a real pain in the azz because it usually dislodges my collector gaskets. You gotta decide if it's something you want to deal with. For me, the look alone is worth it!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 2
From: Fort Knox
Lowering looks good. I think ive lowered every single vehicle ive ever owned. Its always worth it - when you see a lowered vette, you KNOW that person isnt just a "casual" vette driver - but a true enthusiast! If you take the effort to lower ANY vehicle, it says "you mean business" and really makes a statement. Anybody can own a vette, but it takes time, persistance, and inginooity to pull it off right. Lowering it says all that in one statement.
on that note, I GOT to post this ticket I got in College Station, TX
I currently have this framed on my wall.
snoopdan
on that note, I GOT to post this ticket I got in College Station, TX
I currently have this framed on my wall.
snoopdan
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 2
From: Fort Knox
Dude, it was TOTALLY worth the $90.
snoopdan
Anyone ever removed city *******? (those little yellow or white bumps on the road between lanes) I have a friend with a body dropped Toyota truck that collects them.
snoopdan
Anyone ever removed city *******? (those little yellow or white bumps on the road between lanes) I have a friend with a body dropped Toyota truck that collects them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
Im gonna first state that I have absolutely no interest in doing this. But I am still curious about it. Anybody ever bagged a vette? A kid who works for me has about $3500 bucks into bagging his S-10. Not for me but interesting from a mechanical standpoint non the less.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
Jerkyboy, your car looks real good.
I have an 87 vert same colour and just picked up the same style rims and lowered my rear. I haven't done the front yet and haven't seen it on the road yet. The pictures of your car show me what it will look like when it's done.
Thanks
I have an 87 vert same colour and just picked up the same style rims and lowered my rear. I haven't done the front yet and haven't seen it on the road yet. The pictures of your car show me what it will look like when it's done.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 2
From: Fort Knox
Originally Posted by Fastmax32168
A kid who works for me has about $3500 bucks into bagging his S-10. Not for me but interesting from a mechanical standpoint non the less.
geez $3500? for less than that, i'll come over and do it for him
It usually doesnt cost that much, unless he had it done for him. But if i bagged my ride, id not trust anyone but myself to do it. Lots of stupid stuff can go wrong. Same thing with hydraulics.
Now ive seriously considered putting oversized extention air shocks on my vette. It would definately raise the car up off the ground if I wanted to go 4x4ing with my vette
But ive put air shocks on a truck that was body dropped, whre the entire frame of the truck sat on the pavement. And with a flick of a switch to activate a pnumatic valve to a ballast tank, rose the truck back up to stock heighth. Was real slick. Could be easily done to a vette as well. HMMMMMMM maybe a spring project for me.
Ive never seen a vette that the frame sits on the ground..maybe id be a first !
snoopdan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
[QUOTE=snoopdan]geez $3500? for less than that, i'll come over and do it for him
I think hes gotten a bit carried away. He had to have the best compressors, best tank, best bags, Best electronics, you get the picture. It certainly works well. It literally leaps from the ground to full stance instantly. Has some ridiculously loud air horn wired in with the whole mess too.
I think hes gotten a bit carried away. He had to have the best compressors, best tank, best bags, Best electronics, you get the picture. It certainly works well. It literally leaps from the ground to full stance instantly. Has some ridiculously loud air horn wired in with the whole mess too.