Lowering Question, Help!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 665
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From: DON`T MAKE ME BLEED MY OWN BLOOD!!! TX
Lowering Question, Help!
I have a question on the lowering bolts,, On my front bolts, when I went to lower the car,, I realized that there arn't any washers for the bolts.. Is this a problem?,, Are they supposed to be there but they fell off? I already did the back, which had the washers, and I am worried that the front ones fell off or I lowered it too much,, any solutions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks.... Pashacorvette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
the fronts dont have washers, when you are turning the front bolts, you are turning the whole bushing at the same time. dont worry, lower away. you have to remember with the fronts, is that, you want more thread exposed. This brings the bushings closer to the spring.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 665
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From: DON`T MAKE ME BLEED MY OWN BLOOD!!! TX
thanks so much!!
Whoo,, thanks alot for the info,, I was a little worried as Im not much of a mechanic but Im always learning!! Good to know 
have a great day! Pashacorvette
have a great day! Pashacorvette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
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From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
no prob, the tech section has a pretty good write up and lower away
heres a copy/paste from the tech section:
Front:
1. Make sure the car is in gear to prevent it from rolling.
2. Raise the car with the jack positioned in the center of the front cross member.
3. Place the two jack stands under the cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them.
4. Remove the front wheels. It may be necessary to slightly loosen the lug nuts before the wheels are completely off the ground.
5. Find the front leaf spring, and with a 10mm wrench or socket, turn the bolt as if you were loosening it (It is reverse threaded so you are actually tightening it).
6. Turn the bolt until there is no longer a gap between the bushing and the bolt. Measure the exposed threads to insure the other side is done the same.
7. Put the wheels back on and lower the car. NOTE- It may be necessary to place a board under the tires so you will be able to remove the floor jack once the car is lowered.
heres a copy/paste from the tech section:
Front:
1. Make sure the car is in gear to prevent it from rolling.
2. Raise the car with the jack positioned in the center of the front cross member.
3. Place the two jack stands under the cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them.
4. Remove the front wheels. It may be necessary to slightly loosen the lug nuts before the wheels are completely off the ground.
5. Find the front leaf spring, and with a 10mm wrench or socket, turn the bolt as if you were loosening it (It is reverse threaded so you are actually tightening it).
6. Turn the bolt until there is no longer a gap between the bushing and the bolt. Measure the exposed threads to insure the other side is done the same.
7. Put the wheels back on and lower the car. NOTE- It may be necessary to place a board under the tires so you will be able to remove the floor jack once the car is lowered.
Last edited by DPG; Mar 9, 2006 at 03:18 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 2
From: McKinney TX
Originally Posted by PashaCorvette
Whoo,, thanks alot for the info,, I was a little worried as Im not much of a mechanic but Im always learning!! Good to know
have a great day! Pashacorvette
have a great day! Pashacorvette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Originally Posted by DPG
the fronts dont have washers, when you are turning the front bolts, you are turning the whole bushing at the same time. dont worry, lower away. you have to remember with the fronts, is that, you want more thread exposed. This brings the bushings closer to the spring.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
Originally Posted by DPG
you have to remember with the fronts, is that, you want more thread exposed. This brings the bushings closer to the spring.
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138,625
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From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
Wait, I thought the front bushing itself was NOT supposed to turn with the bolt. Mine turn with the bolt and it makes it damned hard to turn, even with a jack under the spring, and especially when raising the car to find that sweet spot. Am I wrong in assuming my bolts are seized in my bushings? I mean, I've heard of people saying they turn their fronts by hand, but if the bushing turns with the bolt, how can that easy of a turn be possible?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Originally Posted by UniqueDoug
I've done about 11 vettes in the good ole days, so hopefully will be able to address this...the bushing on the front and bolt are one piece. I've done a few where to get the extra slam that bolt is removed all the way and the bushing is cut off, leaving just the bolt and flat head. With the lower A loose (I always took that whole assembly apart) and a jack under the leaf (use pads) to take pressure off the spring (as you noted), they screw right up. If it is hard then it is just a virgin bolt perhaps??? I believe it is a 10 mm???
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
Here are a pair of brand new front bolts with the rubber heads. They came with my new Z06 springs. Hope this helps.
I used my original bolts as I cut the rubber heads off. My ride height is just where I want it.
I used my original bolts as I cut the rubber heads off. My ride height is just where I want it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Thanks for the pics! Not that I ever wanted to cut my bushings, but now I know that it must suck if you ever wanted to get those bolts out of the spring. Also, now I know why it's so darned hard to turn those bolts, cause of the friction of the bushing against the lower control arm, even if you jack the spring.
Makes me wonder how people are turning those bolts by hand. They must have really soft springs or something. Maybe some C5s come with the 200 lbs rated ABC1 springs or something!
Makes me wonder how people are turning those bolts by hand. They must have really soft springs or something. Maybe some C5s come with the 200 lbs rated ABC1 springs or something!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
Thanks for the pics! Not that I ever wanted to cut my bushings, but now I know that it must suck if you ever wanted to get those bolts out of the spring. Also, now I know why it's so darned hard to turn those bolts, cause of the friction of the bushing against the lower control arm, even if you jack the spring.
Makes me wonder how people are turning those bolts by hand. They must have really soft springs or something. Maybe some C5s come with the 200 lbs rated ABC1 springs or something!
Makes me wonder how people are turning those bolts by hand. They must have really soft springs or something. Maybe some C5s come with the 200 lbs rated ABC1 springs or something!
Once I did that I could turn the bolt with my fingers!
I know some of you guys out there have bolts frozen into the spring and it can be a problem.
LS1howto.com has instructions on how to remove the spring (it's pretty easy). Then put a visegrips pliars and a 6pt. 10mm to that bolt and it WILL come out!
It scared me at the thought of doing this myself but with the great instructions out there (thanks to all the forum members!) it makes the job easy.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Originally Posted by steveblonde
the million dollar question i have is
if you lower on the stock bolts do you still need an allignment - one post i read says no - others say yes
if you lower on the stock bolts do you still need an allignment - one post i read says no - others say yes
Yes you will...
Peace
Willfulone
