how low is safe!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
Here is a picture of my 99 w/ F45 suspension doing 100-120.
We are making a slight right hand turn but you can see that the suspension compresses pretty good as the tires are higher in the wheelwells.
Again, I like Vettes that ride a little lower. For me, I con't like hearing the spoiler or body scraping bottom.
I'm not an engineer so I don't know how lowering changes suspension and steering geometries. I have never heard the Gov't mandates a minimum ride height on manufacturers (not saying it is not true). I also did not know GM made lowering bolts.
The nice thing about lowering a Vette with just bolts is that if you don't like it, raise it back up.
We are making a slight right hand turn but you can see that the suspension compresses pretty good as the tires are higher in the wheelwells.
Again, I like Vettes that ride a little lower. For me, I con't like hearing the spoiler or body scraping bottom.
I'm not an engineer so I don't know how lowering changes suspension and steering geometries. I have never heard the Gov't mandates a minimum ride height on manufacturers (not saying it is not true). I also did not know GM made lowering bolts.
The nice thing about lowering a Vette with just bolts is that if you don't like it, raise it back up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 3
From: Shreveport/Bossier Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
No your tires arent going to rub just by lowering it an inch. Mine is lowered a good bit because I cut the back bushings and took the front ones completly out. I love it low. There is absolutly no problem, You just have to be more careful and sometimes change your driving style. i.e.-You cant go over a speed bump like your driving a chevy tahoe....
So with that being said, lower it an inch at least. It will look alot better
Chris
So with that being said, lower it an inch at least. It will look alot better
Chris
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Whitefish Bay Wi
lowering
I would be cautious on lowering a daily driver. I have a 2000 C5, not lowered, and have encountered speed bump problems. Seems like Phoenix is the "speed bump capitol" of the world. Wintering in Arizona (home is Wisconsin) and have bottomed out several times...once at a filling station entrance in Bensen,Az, and several times in gated communities. Just my 2 cents.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
I would be cautious on lowering a daily driver. I have a 2000 C5, not lowered, and have encountered speed bump problems. Seems like Phoenix is the "speed bump capitol" of the world. Wintering in Arizona (home is Wisconsin) and have bottomed out several times...once at a filling station entrance in Bensen,Az, and several times in gated communities. Just my 2 cents.
from Chip and the rail guards with integrated jacking pads from Elite Engineering. Vaughn
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point Indiana
Here is a picture of my 99 w/ F45 suspension doing 100-120.
We are making a slight right hand turn but you can see that the suspension compresses pretty good as the tires are higher in the wheelwells.
Again, I like Vettes that ride a little lower. For me, I con't like hearing the spoiler or body scraping bottom.
I'm not an engineer so I don't know how lowering changes suspension and steering geometries. I have never heard the Gov't mandates a minimum ride height on manufacturers (not saying it is not true). I also did not know GM made lowering bolts.
The nice thing about lowering a Vette with just bolts is that if you don't like it, raise it back up.
We are making a slight right hand turn but you can see that the suspension compresses pretty good as the tires are higher in the wheelwells.
Again, I like Vettes that ride a little lower. For me, I con't like hearing the spoiler or body scraping bottom.
I'm not an engineer so I don't know how lowering changes suspension and steering geometries. I have never heard the Gov't mandates a minimum ride height on manufacturers (not saying it is not true). I also did not know GM made lowering bolts.
The nice thing about lowering a Vette with just bolts is that if you don't like it, raise it back up.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point Indiana
No your tires arent going to rub just by lowering it an inch. Mine is lowered a good bit because I cut the back bushings and took the front ones completly out. I love it low. There is absolutly no problem, You just have to be more careful and sometimes change your driving style. i.e.-You cant go over a speed bump like your driving a chevy tahoe....
So with that being said, lower it an inch at least. It will look alot better
Chris
So with that being said, lower it an inch at least. It will look alot better
Chris
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point Indiana
Lowered as low as possible without coilovers (front bolts removed, etc.), speed bumps were never a problem for me so long as I took them at an angle. Mine's a DD. Oh yeh, and get some frame savers and rail guards. I'd recommend the Fat Daddy's or Mamma's from Chip and the rail guards with integrated jacking pads from Elite Engineering.
Vaughn
from Chip and the rail guards with integrated jacking pads from Elite Engineering. Vaughn
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,279
Likes: 3
From: Fallbrook Califronia
Have any of you considered how much you annoy people with your lowered cars? I don't think that we show the best side of Corvette owners when we have to crawl over a unmowed lawn. Making a point of bothering other people is not in the best interest of Corvette owners, it shows a lack of consideration that is not needed when alot of people already don't like you because you have a nice car. How many people bother you on the road? I see people on this site complaining about driving and having other cars annoying you on the road, do you need to make a spectacle of yourself? The only thing people notice about a lowered Corvette is that they are waiting for them to crawl over a painted line.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point Indiana
No One Asked You For That Stupid Comment You Annoy Me With That Stupid Crap I Just Read I Had To Read It Twice!good Luck On Telling Someone In Person How You Feel About That Annoying Look!!!grow Up!!!!!! BUY THE WAY THE ONLY REASON I HAVE MY SECOND CORVETTE AT THE AGE OF 30 IS NONE OTHER THAN BECAUSE I CAN !
Last edited by vettesatool1; Mar 1, 2007 at 06:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 5
From: Holly Ridge North Carolina
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater FL
If you have the F45 suspension and lower your car, the computer gets confused and will stiffen up the shocks because it senses the car is running too low.
If you change the adjustable bolts to lower it, you'll need new shocks. This makes me think... did GM really design the car to be that low? If so, why are there so many inherit problems with doing so?
If you change the adjustable bolts to lower it, you'll need new shocks. This makes me think... did GM really design the car to be that low? If so, why are there so many inherit problems with doing so?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Have any of you considered how much you annoy people with your lowered cars? I don't think that we show the best side of Corvette owners when we have to crawl over a unmowed lawn. Making a point of bothering other people is not in the best interest of Corvette owners, it shows a lack of consideration that is not needed when alot of people already don't like you because you have a nice car. How many people bother you on the road? I see people on this site complaining about driving and having other cars annoying you on the road, do you need to make a spectacle of yourself? The only thing people notice about a lowered Corvette is that they are waiting for them to crawl over a painted line.
WTF are you talking about? Because a low car has to slow down a bit more for speed bumps or angle onto an entrance ramp we are "making a point of bothering other drivers." You haven't been around here very long to go making pointless and uninformed statements like that.
My car isn't even lowered...yet. How low can I make my car without bothering you? I'm planning on about 1" on the stock bolts, but I'll wait for your approval. Or maybe you should just go hang out on the Hummer forum where poeple have vehicles with acceptable ride height.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Have any of you considered how much you annoy people with your lowered cars? I don't think that we show the best side of Corvette owners when we have to crawl over a unmowed lawn. Making a point of bothering other people is not in the best interest of Corvette owners, it shows a lack of consideration that is not needed when alot of people already don't like you because you have a nice car. How many people bother you on the road? I see people on this site complaining about driving and having other cars annoying you on the road, do you need to make a spectacle of yourself? The only thing people notice about a lowered Corvette is that they are waiting for them to crawl over a painted line.
Why would anyone give a fat rats **** because my car is lowered? This is a mantra on this forum - do whatever makes you happy. If you're happy driving your car at the height when it came off the transporter - great. But don't criticize everyone else because they don't agree with you ( pay no attention to their snickering...they're not laughing at you, they're laughing WITH you.)
My car is lowered as low as it will go on the stock bolts. It hits a little bit on tall speed bumps, but doesn't do any irreparable damage. I'll take a little scraping because I like the look.
Oh and BTW - I have helped a couple of friends lower their F45 and F55 cars, and there have been no issues at all. To the poster that said you will screw up your suspension - I say REALLY?
If you are running appropriately sized tires and wheels that fit in the wheel wells, you won't have any tire rubbing issues.
