Hi Guys,
Would lowering the car by 1 inch affect the ride quality of my 2004 Vette convertible? And I'm talking comfort, not cornering ability. I know, it's a Corvette, but, to keep the wife happy so I can keep on modding, (headers, 373 gears, 2800 stall converter, screens, CAI twin air filters, and more), I don't want to **** her off now! There's a post somewhere on here that describes how to lower it isn't there? Thanks for all and any help,,,,bob.

 

Lowering on stock bolts ( your 1") will NOT affect ride comfort at all.

Click ===> How to Lower your C5

 

These links should help:

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=26211

http://www.c5forum.com/diy/lowering.php

http://www.z06vette.com/diy_lower.php

http://www.crossedflags.com/modules....=viewtut&id=12

http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm

 

Don't want to **** the wife off? Jesus Christ, do you tell her how to put on her lipstick? God forbid she complains about the diminished ride quality. What is she going to do? Drive with you for a couple of miles then scream out, that's it, no more mods for you! What is this world coming to?

 

...did you run out of bran muffins this a.m.?

 

Damn! Where do you know my Wife from? J/K Dear.

 

It absolutely WILL change the ride comfort. How much of a change is all in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. In fact, 1 inch is about what you'd get if you lowered the car all the way down on stock bolts. Note, that when you first lower it, you'll think you didn't even lower it much, but after you drive around for a week or so, you'll notice it settle down to that 1 inch or so. And, even then while 1 inch does not seem like a lot, it will change your suspension geometry, thus, you will feel a difference. But, like I said, how much you'll feel the difference is dependent upon you. Sort of like how some people say they don't notice the difference in the F45 adjustable shock settings. I can definitely feel the difference when I change settings in my F45-equipped car, while others say they don't.

Speaking of F45, do you have F45 suspension? That will also make a difference of whether or not you notice a difference in ride comfort.

 

Mine is lowered all the way on stock bolts. I added Z06 sways and Bilstein sport shocks when I lowered it. I am very happy with it.

 

I lowered mine just with the stock botls. It did affect the ride. Much stiffer. I love the look but with the stiffer ride and rubbing the ground all the time, I plan on bring it back up to stock height

Good Luck

 

I am a believer in that anytime we lower whether on stock bolts or lower, you should install a shock with a shorter body. Bilsteins are an inexpensive example ($300 all four) I used HDs rather than Sports, both the same dimensions, but the HDs are valved softer than the Sports. The choice is just a matter of the amount of suspension travel you want. And it goes without saying, you should always have a good 4 wheel alignment done after a period of time allowing for the suspension to settle (which it will) after being lowered.

 

I'd have to say, I thought mine rode smoother. It felt more "responsive/firm" when I changed over to the C6 Z shocks.

 

I first lowered mine all the way on stock bolts, really couldn't tell much difference in the ride. I've got the z51 susp and it really didn't lower enough for me. I then got longer bolts in the rear and cut 3/4 of the front bushings and put Bilstein shocks on. It is a stiffer ride now, but love the way it looks and wouldn't change it back. One thing about stock bolts, if you or SHE doesn't like it you can always raise it back up like it was.

 

Thanks alot guys................bob.

 

you must be divorced.........

 

I disagree, especially if you have stock shocks. I was able to bottom out my shocks (65k miles) before lowering, can't imagine how hard they would bottom out if it was lowered. I switched to Bilstein Sports with the shorter valving.

 

You disagree but really don't know..... (I Bolded the part in your reply that makes me say that..

It makes absolutely NO DIFFERENCE lowering on stock bolts. The car was made to be adjusted (lowered)

 

Nah hes just got some *****.

 

True, but when you lower the car, you turn the bolts in the spring which are changing the angle of the lower A-arm. The top mount of the shock doesn't change so when that lower mount moves up you are giving the shock less travel.

 

C5's ride harsh anyways... Here's a True experiment. My tires are bald all the way. With stock suspension & height, the car wouldn't stick at all. Making a 90 degree turn at 20 mph would make it spin, when AH would kick in. I liked the rocking and sliding feeling for a little bit. But eventually, it got sickening and unsafe. (You'd think I would've bought new tires, right ). Nope. I bought new Bilstien sport shocks, also added Hotchkis sway bars, and lowered it to 2 threads left on the back, and whatever I lowering I could do in the front (all on stock bolts). I think I need to lower the front some more, since the car was on the rack, and didn't have anything pushing against the springs.

Anyhow, I still have the same tires (only more bald now, with steel wire showing in a couple of places...ya, ya, I know I need new ones). But the POINT is, the car sticks like I HAVE new tires. It hardly ever breaks loose. The ride, if anything is more softer and smoother. So, personally, I really don't know what everyone's talking about loosing the ride comfort without stock height... I'm happy.

And BTW, the hotchkis sway bars have setting for stiffness. When it was on Mild setting, it rode, felt, handled wayyyyyyyyyy better than the stock. If felt like someone added Cotton to the shocks, verrrryyyyyy Soft. (Now I have it on the extreme stiff setting, still not too bad). But will be going to the middle point between mild and extreme.

My 2 cents...

 

No they don't.

You just changed everything right there. The OP asked if his ride would be affected by lowering the car. Of course it would, because for one thing, he would have less travel to bottom his shocks. He didn't ask about changing shocks. Especially to the shocks you changed to, which have a lower bottoming point.