Lowering An F45 C5 - Need Advice
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
Lowering An F45 C5 - Need Advice
Sorry all! I know this has been talked about a few times. I'm going to have the Vararam installed in a couple of days and my buddy asked me if I wanted him to lower the car.
The obvious answer is yes, but I heard some negativity about doing so on the F45 cars. I was hoping that those who have done so would chime in and provide some of their feedback. I just would like to know how much did you lower your car, how many miles has it been since doing so and what the problems have been (if any) since doing it.
Thanks,
Rob
The obvious answer is yes, but I heard some negativity about doing so on the F45 cars. I was hoping that those who have done so would chime in and provide some of their feedback. I just would like to know how much did you lower your car, how many miles has it been since doing so and what the problems have been (if any) since doing it.
Thanks,
Rob
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma city Oklahoma
I first lowered mine about 1/2 and inch with no problems. But any lower i would get a message on the dic about active handling or something. I put it back to the 1/2 inch until I bought the suspension simulators and repalced the stock shocks with Z06. Now with lowering bolts on front and back it is about 1 1/2 inches lower.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,567
Likes: 1,680
From: Converse TX
I did mine several years ago. Lowered on the rear all the way on factory bolts and cut the front busings. Had no issues for 5k, then the front drivers shock started leaking and the rubber bushing came apart, this may have happened without lowering though. I did like my car lowered and I have kept it this way and installed Koni FSDs as those were cheaper than purchasing one F45 shock 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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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
I have one buddy with F45 and another with F55. Both cars were lowered a couple of years ago all the way on the stock bolts with no issues. Neither had cut their bushings, but I honestly don't believe that you are adversely affecting the operation of the systems by reducing the ride height. Those bolts are called "Ride Height Adjustment" bolts.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Like others on this post about a half inch or so. No issues other than be extra cautious when going over speed bumps and dips.
On a side note, I plan to replace my F45 with coilovers and get it dropped a bit more (plus, as others have noted, the cost for replacing the F45 shocks is just outrageous). My C5 is no longer a dd and have close to 95K miles on it.
Good luck!
On a side note, I plan to replace my F45 with coilovers and get it dropped a bit more (plus, as others have noted, the cost for replacing the F45 shocks is just outrageous). My C5 is no longer a dd and have close to 95K miles on it.
Good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
I ran with my F45 lowered 2" for about 7years with no problems except that the shocks would bottom out on bumps, potholes, etc.
Got tired of this and installed a set of PFADT coilovers this January. No more shock problems with the 2" drop.
Got tired of this and installed a set of PFADT coilovers this January. No more shock problems with the 2" drop.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I have the F45 option and have the car lowered with WCC lowering bolts. Currently have about 2k miles since getting lowered with no issues, other then the occasional bottoming out of the stock shocks. I plan to replace them with non F45 shocks, as the shocks don't handle that great since they have 60K+ miles on them. I don't find any difference with the 3 settings on the F45 suspension, so no real loss there. I'm happy I lowered, and I'm looking forward to swapping out the F45 shocks for a better aftermarket alternative in the next year or so.
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