Does anyone have a picture of their car SLIGHTLY lowered on the stock bolts? I am agonizing over this!
I want to but I don't! ...........Oh, I can hear the scraping now!!!!

 

Lowered on stock bolts and the bushings have been left intact.

 

Looks great! In other words, I'ts all the way down the bolt threads?
(please excuse my ignorance on this) :o
How about scraping as opposed to stock?

 

The front bushings on my car have been cut and the back is lowered as far as you can go on the stock bolts. I do scrape sometimes, but the I like the look much better than stock

 

You are right about that!

 

no use in agonizing over this.. Its real easy to do and if you don't like it you can have it back up in about an hour. I don't scrape to much at all well worth it for me..

 

I am lowered all the way on stock bolts, no cut bushings so it dropped just about 1 inch all the way. Mine might look a bit different, but that's because I am running 19 inch wheels all the way around, with wider tires..so far no issues.

Lower it

 

No problem. That is what the forum is for.

My front bolts are cranked down as far as they will go. The bushings have not been cut. The rears are almost as far as they can go. I believe I left three threads on each one. That preserved the rake of the car. I have since changed my wheel size and put 18's up front. The 18s make it look as if the rake is not there as much. The key is to make sure that you have the came amount of space (eyeball it) in each wheel well. I don't think anything looks worse than a slammed rearend with an inch or two worth of wheel well in the front, in my opinion. Also, the car will lower a bit more as the shocks and springs settle.

As far as scaping goes, it is just about the same as it was when it was stock.

Keep this in mind:
The front bushings were not meant to be cut (I know that is hard to believe). The engineers did give you some play in the height of your vette though. That is why you are able to lower and raise on stock bolts. Also, the front bolts are made to be left in (I know this is also hard to believe). Some people are flirting with disaster by taking them out. Not to mention they are killing the cars handling capabilities for the sake of looks. Sure the center of gravity is lower, but there is no suspention left to work with. It does look cool though, but I'd rather drive mine

 

Hi RatedX -

Go for it!

Even my most careful, timid, reluctanct friend finally had to let me lower his C5 - they just look so much better without all that airspace between the tire and wheelwells.

I have lowered a dozen C5's without ANY PROBLEMS.

I do not recommend cutting bushings and I have not done that to any of the cars I have lowered.

I do recommend an aligment check - just to make sure you don't wear out some expensive tires.

You will not notice more scraping - except that the rubber air deflector will touch the ground more often - no big deal there - it is a $40 rubber part that is made to be replaced easily and inexpensively.

my z06 lowered all the way on stock bolts, 19" rims all around:


My wifes 99 coupe lowered all the way - stock OEM Z06 wheel-tire setup:



best regards -

mqqn

 

Lowered on stock bolts...

 

My friends vette is lowered all the way on stock bolts and bushings...

 

just lower it all the way on the stock bolts. I was scared like you but it was the best thing I have ever done. I really never scrape anywhere. And if I do scrape it's kind of cool. Reminds me that I have a sports car.

 

Look at it this way, you can always put it back to stock height if you lower it and don't like it. It's very easy to do. When you lower it, it will take a few days to settle all the way.

 

Mine is lowered all the way on the stock bolts, with the bushings intact. As far a scraping - well you just gotta take driveways and inclines at an angle and go slow. Same with speed bumps. You cannot drive a Corvette the same way you would an SUV or a minivan, even at stock height.

As far as scraping the front air dam, the side pieces are meant to be wear items and are about $12 per side. When they wear out, replace them. The center piece is spring loaded and hinged, but it's about $40 to replace.

Lower the car and don't agonize over it. The car looks so much better lower, and as the others have said, if you don't cut the bushings, you can always raise it back up - but frankly I don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing that. GIT 'ER DONE!

 

My front rubber deflector is 3" from bottom edge to ground. Those that have lowered with bushing inact have abou the same distance?

 

That would stink to be going over a hill and get stuck. "Look mommy, it's a Corvette see-saw!"

Each to his own. It does look cool though.

 

Here you go, she still could go lower on the stock bolts than this...

 

LOVE the lowered C5 eye candy on this thread!

 

How far can the stock bolts lower you (inches) I think my '97 is lowered on the stock bolts. I scrape a lot the center 'guard piece' was cut so it is higher and you can see the side ones but not the center. I have scrape marks on both sides of the car slightly visible standing up and scrape marks on both croners of the front bumper. All those marks were there before I bought the car. The previous owner lowered the car and must have driven like an idiot over speed bumps. I love the lowered look and would have lowered it if it wasnt already.. do it!
Doug

 

Well there is no doubt about it, I am officially talked into it!
There is no way I can ignore all those beautiful pictures I've seen!
I want to be part of the club, and as soon as I can get my car over to Orlando, I am going to turn Chris and Steve loose on it!
That, and the Bilsteins, ZO6 sways and poly bushings should really liven things up! Thanks everybody, I wish you all a great new year to come!
One last question: Is an alignment for a C5 easily done by most shops, or should I use the dealer?