[Z06] Lowering The "Z"
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Heights Illinois
Lowering The "Z"
One of the threads mentioned lowering a Z is easy and about a 30 minute job. I have an 02 and would love to drop it down a little. I lowered my 94 coupe and wanted to kill myself when I got to the front end. Is it really an easy job? What are the steps? Thanks!https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s/thumbsup.gif
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 52
From: Boise
Super easy.
Loosen the 10mm bolt that goes through the leaf springs on the front until it wont loosen anymore. On the back there is a long nut and bolt with like 6-7 threads sticking out. Loosen/tighten (depending on your point of view) until there are only 1-2 threads showing.
Now your C5 is 1" lower and even
Loosen the 10mm bolt that goes through the leaf springs on the front until it wont loosen anymore. On the back there is a long nut and bolt with like 6-7 threads sticking out. Loosen/tighten (depending on your point of view) until there are only 1-2 threads showing.
Now your C5 is 1" lower and even
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
You will kick yourself after doing this. Its really easy.
When your ready for more lowering......I then lowered it on C6 bolts and longer bolts in the rear.
When your ready for more lowering......I then lowered it on C6 bolts and longer bolts in the rear.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 270
Likes: 16
From: Bowling Green Kentucky
What do you mean C6 bolts? I am planning to lower mine over the wknd. I can come up with the longer bolt no problem (quick trip to Lowes). Did you cut/remove the rubber bushing in the front?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I lowered mine using the stock bolts, but I took some of the bushing material off. I cut 2/3 of the rear bushings off and left 3 threads showing.
On the front, It took me a bit longer because I cut the entire bushing, just left like 1/16 of rubber showing. To get that done, you have to remove the entire screw which required removing the upper control arm bolts, lower shock bolts and brake calipers.
This allowed the front to drop about 1.5 inches and gave me that bad azz stance (and rake). Hope this helps.
On the front, It took me a bit longer because I cut the entire bushing, just left like 1/16 of rubber showing. To get that done, you have to remove the entire screw which required removing the upper control arm bolts, lower shock bolts and brake calipers.
This allowed the front to drop about 1.5 inches and gave me that bad azz stance (and rake). Hope this helps.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/p-1...-bolt-kit.aspx
Originally Posted by BMG
I love your car! Just sick
Toque
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Toque
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 904
Likes: 36
From: Santa Cruz CA
Question about lowering on the stock bolts.
I heard that lowering the car on the stock bolts more than 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch causes the car to actually handle worse because it unloads some of the force on the springs and changes the spring rate. Also they said it puts the car in danger of bottoming out the stock shocks if you go too far down. Which obviously would cause the car to have no dampening for the time it was bottomed. Is this only if you push the car hard enough for it to lean or?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,221
Likes: 987
From: Think BEFORE hitting "Submit Reply"
I heard that lowering the car on the stock bolts more than 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch causes the car to actually handle worse because it unloads some of the force on the springs and changes the spring rate. Also they said it puts the car in danger of bottoming out the stock shocks if you go too far down. Which obviously would cause the car to have no dampening for the time it was bottomed. Is this only if you push the car hard enough for it to lean or?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
Strongly!!You do lose quite a bit of functional suspension travel if it is lowered too much on stock bolts.
Remember, the car will do close to 1g cornering at stock height.
IMO, the only thing you gain by going lower is a certain "look".
Based on some info I found, I lowered my car 5 turns at each corner on stock bolts and got it realigned.
This dropped it about 5/8", and kept the factory front-to-rear rake.
If you want to go lower, I'd also suggest a true coilover and a good alignment.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Strongly!!You do lose quite a bit of functional suspension travel if it is lowered too much on stock bolts.
Remember, the car will do close to 1g cornering at stock height.
IMO, the only thing you gain by going lower is a certain "look".
Based on some info I found, I lowered my car 5 turns at each corner on stock bolts and got it realigned.
This dropped it about 5/8", and kept the factory front-to-rear rake.
If you want to go lower, I'd also suggest a true coilover and a good alignment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 354
From: Madison Alabama
The guys in my club always suggest that I "lower that 4 x 4"...
I agree, the lowered ones look great but two reasons I've not lowered mine
1. I already hit/scrape/run over enough crap driving around town at stock height
2. Alignment nightmare stories - I got over 24K miles out of the stock F1 tires. The fronts were worn in the usual place; inside shoulders. This is due to the factory set-up. The rest of the front tires and rears were perfect. After dropping over $1K on new tires I'm not changing a thing.
The car handles like it's on rails and "looks" low enough to me from the driver's seat...plus, my floor jack - barely - fits under the car now!
I agree, the lowered ones look great but two reasons I've not lowered mine
1. I already hit/scrape/run over enough crap driving around town at stock height
2. Alignment nightmare stories - I got over 24K miles out of the stock F1 tires. The fronts were worn in the usual place; inside shoulders. This is due to the factory set-up. The rest of the front tires and rears were perfect. After dropping over $1K on new tires I'm not changing a thing.
The car handles like it's on rails and "looks" low enough to me from the driver's seat...plus, my floor jack - barely - fits under the car now!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
I heard that lowering the car on the stock bolts more than 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch causes the car to actually handle worse because it unloads some of the force on the springs and changes the spring rate. Also they said it puts the car in danger of bottoming out the stock shocks if you go too far down. Which obviously would cause the car to have no dampening for the time it was bottomed. Is this only if you push the car hard enough for it to lean or?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
This information was from the last issue of Vette magazine in an article where they put on LG coilovers and were talking about why they did that rather than just lowering on the stock bolts. Any truth to this or was the magazine just trying to help sell coilovers that they wanted to put on their project car?
Lowering on stock bolts may hurt your handling until you get an alighnment. The car was was engineered to be lowered for max performance, and is recommended by GM for racing applications. Most of the cars racing on stock suspension are lowered. However, a good alighment is critical. Anyone who says otherwise is making assumptions.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,221
Likes: 987
From: Think BEFORE hitting "Submit Reply"
Lowering on stock bolts may hurt your handling until you get an alighnment. The car was was engineered to be lowered for max performance, and is recommended by GM for racing applications. Most of the cars racing on stock suspension are lowered. However, a good alighment is critical. Anyone who says otherwise is making assumptions.
I do believe that it was some info from GM that stated to lower it only about 15-20mm on stock bolts.
That was the info I referenced when I mentioned my choice to go only 5 turns on the bolts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 904
Likes: 36
From: Santa Cruz CA
Makes sense.
20mm is just about 3/4 of an inch so if that is what GM is saying it does seem to fall into that 1/2 to 3/4 range the magazine was talking about. Good to know for once that what the factory says and the 'word on the street' from people driving and racing for fun seem to be on the same page. Gives me a good target for when I lower mine.
My problem is like a lot of people on here mentioned in that even at the stock height it scrapes a lot where I live. I just want the ZO6 to feel as tight as the suspension in my modded C4. Feels a bit squishy. But I have full urethane bushings in the C4, maybe doing that and the 20mm lowering would tighten things up with a good alignment to dial it all in.
My problem is like a lot of people on here mentioned in that even at the stock height it scrapes a lot where I live. I just want the ZO6 to feel as tight as the suspension in my modded C4. Feels a bit squishy. But I have full urethane bushings in the C4, maybe doing that and the 20mm lowering would tighten things up with a good alignment to dial it all in.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Sedalia Missouri
I have mine lowered on stock bolts.
I do HPDE's regularly and run the car VERY hard.. It is just a regular FRC w/Z51 but never once has the car got even close to bottoming out the shocks under HEAVY cornering..
You will have no issues with bottoming out suspension parts even after lowering to the full extent with the stock bolts ( i didn't cut any bushing so i don't know what happens after that.. )
edit: I of course have an alignment which is SLIGHTLY more aggressive than a factory Z06 alignment, and i have no issues with BAD tire wear... .im on a pretty soft Kuhmo MX tire, which tends to not last too long, espeically with daily driving AND HPDE's.
I do HPDE's regularly and run the car VERY hard.. It is just a regular FRC w/Z51 but never once has the car got even close to bottoming out the shocks under HEAVY cornering..
You will have no issues with bottoming out suspension parts even after lowering to the full extent with the stock bolts ( i didn't cut any bushing so i don't know what happens after that.. )
edit: I of course have an alignment which is SLIGHTLY more aggressive than a factory Z06 alignment, and i have no issues with BAD tire wear... .im on a pretty soft Kuhmo MX tire, which tends to not last too long, espeically with daily driving AND HPDE's.
Last edited by wkchevy; May 24, 2008 at 05:09 PM.