[Z06] Lowering the Z?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 123
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From: Totowa New Jersey
Lowering the Z?
For all you guys out there (and gals) that have lowered your car, doesn't it always bottom out? It is REAL low now, I can't imagine how low it is when you go another 1" :eek: What about the driving (is it better for handling, or does it drive worse)? Thanks for your input 
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
From: Rocklin CA
Re: Lowering the Z? (milleniumZ)
Believe it or not, the vettes tend not to bottom out a lot. I am real careful with mine, but I have only had it bottom out maybe twice on driveways. My WS6 used to rub on everything, because the y- pipe in it used to hang down real low. The vettes tend to tuck up everything inside better and thus, the rockers are the lowest part of the car, with the exception of the air damn. The air damn is flexible and I have the rocker rails on my Z, so I don't ever do any damage to the painted surfaces or exhaust.
As far as the cornering ability, I find it has improved slightly. The ride is a little bouncier but, once again, I am used to my WS6, and it was a lot rougher than my vette is now. My vette is still like driving a dream.
More than anything. Lowering my car has made it look ten times better than it did. Ofcourse, the wheeels help too. :D
As far as the cornering ability, I find it has improved slightly. The ride is a little bouncier but, once again, I am used to my WS6, and it was a lot rougher than my vette is now. My vette is still like driving a dream.
More than anything. Lowering my car has made it look ten times better than it did. Ofcourse, the wheeels help too. :D
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 0
From: Near Philly PA
Re: Lowering the Z? (milleniumZ)
Millenium, one thing that impressed me after lowering is the complete LACK of bottoming-out that the car does. It's so tight now that, say, on the highway at speed, upon hitting a crest in the road, the car jumps up a bit, compresses, and then goes right back to the normal ride height. No slop.. No bobbing up and down.. And no bottoming out. I highly recommend lowering your car, especially since it's easily returned to the stock height if you're not pleased with the new height.
Brian, thank YOU for your help with lowering, by the way. I put in the longer bolts this past weekend, and the car is looking (and riding and cornering) just the way I wanted it to. Thanks for your advice along the way! :D
-Kirk
Brian, thank YOU for your help with lowering, by the way. I put in the longer bolts this past weekend, and the car is looking (and riding and cornering) just the way I wanted it to. Thanks for your advice along the way! :D
-Kirk
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Re: Lowering the Z? (KMeloney)
I can tell you with Z51 suspension that just lowering with the stock bolt adjustments made a great improvement. The car no longer bobs, yet bumps are firm but not hard. Corners much flatter and rides nice, straight. Plus it looks much better. There is just too much fender gap with the stock settings.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX 75287
Re: Lowering the Z? (C5TECH)
I just lowered mine on sunday. Put the longer bolts in out back. Lowered it about 3/4 of an inch up front, and 1 1/4 out back...it looks SOOOO much better. Filled in most of the wheel well gap. Just need to get pics of it now.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Re: Lowering the Z? (01Z0SIX)
This is somethng I would like to do to my 2002 Z06 when it arrives. Is there any write-ups on the process somewhere on how it's done. It doesn't sound to hard if it could be done in a weekend.
I would imagine the wheel alignment needs to be readjusted after lowering -- is this true?
Thanks :D
[Modified by Pewter C5, 6:51 PM 8/7/2001]
I would imagine the wheel alignment needs to be readjusted after lowering -- is this true?
Thanks :D
[Modified by Pewter C5, 6:51 PM 8/7/2001]
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Middletown, DE
Re: Lowering the Z? (Pewter C5)
Check out the tech section under C-5 topics....
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/techtips...D=27&TopicID=1
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/techtips...D=27&TopicID=1
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Re: Lowering the Z? (Pewter C5)
Get the longer bolts and new bushings ahead of time. The lowering can be done in a couple of hours your first time.
I think I could do it in less time now that I have done it once. You can find write ups here on the Tech section.
I have heard you should realign the car after lowering it, but I haven't yet?
Good luck,
Steve :rolleyes:
I think I could do it in less time now that I have done it once. You can find write ups here on the Tech section.
I have heard you should realign the car after lowering it, but I haven't yet?
Good luck,
Steve :rolleyes:
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX 75287
Re: Lowering the Z? (Pewter C5)
Its really easy...front is by far the hardest, simply cause we had to toake off some bolts to get the rotor outta the way so we could shave part of the bushing off. (shaved about 25% of it off). That took my friend and I about 1 1/2 hours to do. Someone can prolly do it faster, but we ran into trouble with one bolt so we put it back together and dis-assembled it in a different manner. I do have to admit...those bolts Stink und-oing with the hex nut in the middle. Kinda preventing us from using air tools on them.
Does anyone have any i dea why GM used bolts like this?
The rear was E-A-S-Y. Took us about 15 minutes. Take the old bolts out, put the longer ones in adjust height and u are done
Im sure there is a better write up of it somewhere on this webpage.
Glad i did it thought, looks perfect how it came out, this is how it shoulda been from the factory, looks much meaner IMHO.
Does anyone have any i dea why GM used bolts like this?
The rear was E-A-S-Y. Took us about 15 minutes. Take the old bolts out, put the longer ones in adjust height and u are done
Im sure there is a better write up of it somewhere on this webpage.
Glad i did it thought, looks perfect how it came out, this is how it shoulda been from the factory, looks much meaner IMHO.