How much is involved in lowering the Z with the standard bolts on the car, do I need a lift, how much will it drop the car ? :confused:

 

The few 02's that I have done only drop the rear slightly, if you want more you will need longer bolts or to cut the bushings, here are instructions from Gary Grant

Lowering your C5
Purpose
Lowering the C5 is fast, easy, and best of all, free. Here's how to do it.

Tools Required
The following tools were used to make the modification.

Floor Jack
Jack Stands (2)
Wheel Blocks
Hog ring Pliers or Needle nose Pliers
Hacksaw or Serrated Knife (optional; see below)
10mm Ratcheting Wrench or 10mm Socket Wrench w/swivel extension
18mm Combination Wrench or 18mm Socket Wrench
13/16" Combination Wrench or 13/16" Deep Socket Wrench
Lowering the Rear
Make certain the car is located on a level surface.
Place blocks or boards under the front wheels to prevent the car from rolling.
Using the floor jack, raise the rear of the car, insuring that the jack is positioned in the center of the rear cross member (silver/gray in color).
Place two jack stands under the rear cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them. Make sure you have raised the car high enough to allow plenty of workspace.
Locate the rear leaf spring. There is a bolt on each end (18mm bottom, 13/16" nut on top), with a rubber bushing top and bottom. At the top of the bolt, above the nut, you will see a small c-clip. This clip must be removed in order to get the nut off the top. Use hog ring pliers or needle nose pliers to remove the clip. NOTE: Only remove the bolt if you wish to lower the car more than about 1 inch in the rear. It is possible, in most cases, to lower about 1 inch without removing the bolt at all and without cutting the bushing. Cutting the bushing may make your ride a bit more harsh than before.
(SKIP IF YOU DID NOT REMOVE THE BOLT) With the c-clip removed, loosen the top nut from the bolt.
(SKIP IF YOU DID NOT REMOVE THE BOLT) Pull out the bolt and bushings from the leaf spring(the leaf spring is NOT under pressure).
(SKIP IF YOU DID NOT REMOVE THE BOLT) Cut both bushings so that the section with the extension is the only one left. Use a hacksaw or serrated knife. NOTE: If the car is too low for your personal preference, you can add back the piece or pieces you cut off.
Once the bushings are cut, reassemble the bolt, bushings, and nut through the leaf spring and A-Arm. Leave TWO threads showing on top when you re-tighten. It will seem loose, but when the car is lowered onto the ground, the weight will load the spring. Don't forget to put the c-clip back on.
Lower the car, the rear is done.
Lowering the Front
Make sure the car is in gear to prevent it from rolling.
Raise the car with the jack positioned in the center of the front cross member.
Place the two jack stands under the cross member, and slowly lower the car onto them.
Remove the front wheels. It may be necessary to slightly loosen the lug nuts before the wheels are completely off the ground.
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).
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. NOTE: On a Z51 car, the car will not drop as much as one that has the standard suspension. You can completely remove the front lowering bolt if you would like to go even lower. A spreading tool or removal of the a-arm is required to allow removal of the adjusting bolt and bushings.
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.

 

Thanks,

I'll keep the car in the nose bleed section. :rolleyes:

 

That's no fun, you have to smash the front spoiler every chance you get. ;)

 

Jeff,
This is a piece of cake. An hours work with no cutting of bushings or long bolts in the rear and I lowered mine about 1.5 inches in the front and 1 inch in the rear. This gives me a little bit of aerodynamic "rake" to the car.
See tech tips for directions.

 

Sub,
I have never heard of any Z that was lowered coming close to the amount of drop that you got using stock adjusters.
Mine dropped about 3/4 inch in front and about 1 inch in the rear.
Are you sure the front of yours dropped 1 1/2 inches or was that the rear?
Not doubting you, but that is a lot of drop on stock adjusters.
Dave

 

The 3 Z06's that I lowered only dropped about 3/4" in the rear, we needed longer bolts to go lower than that

 

Why?! :confused:

Lowering your car is one of the easiest mods to do -- AND it's the easiest mod to reverse if you don't like something about it (which will not be the case).

-Kirk

 

Really?? Why?? :confused:

 

My 2000 convertible used to bottom out a lot on the front air dams. The Z doesnt, I'm not sure that I would enjoy it lower enough to cringe everytime the car hits the pavement in the front. I'll keep it as is until I see some of the CCDV members cars that have been lowered. Thanks to all for the input. :confused:

 

I lowered mine two days ago and it is pretty simple to do but I did not have any clips on my back bolts I just left two threads showing. The front is tougher and your wrench will slip and youll cut your hand or arm on the first one, and be faster finishing the second. I ran the front bolt all the way up to bottom out the bolt on the a arm and I got maybe 3/4" in the front. I maybe got 1"in the back. Looks great and it has scrubbed once or twice where it used to not scrape. But I know 1/2" just as well be a foot when your clearing something But I can live with the height, Its not as low as I've seen :cheers:

 

Also if your going to do the front I would suggest getting a 10mm wratcheting end wrench. Its one of those box wrenchs that has a wratchet in the box end. You know the one you flip over to tighten or loosen. It makes it alot easier because it can get around the front shock where a regular socket cant :yesnod:

 

LOL!!! :) Then why were you asking in the first place, Jeff?!

-Kirk

PS -- When you see one lowered, you won't be able to stand your stock height anymore... TRUST ME!

 

I didnt hacksaw anything either I left mine with all the original hardware stiil intact. Go for it youll love it :yesnod: :yesnod:

 

Is the procedure the same for a C5 coupe?
:cool:

 

If it ain't scraping something sometime, it ain't low enough...

I cut the front and rear bushings on mine, dropped it a little over an inch. The only thing that ever scrapes is the spoiler, so I bought all three pieces from Ken and stashed them in the rafters of my garage. I now consider the original spoiler a sacrificial surface... :eek:

 

Yes, it is!! :yesnod:

 

TX,
Good suggestion about the wrench.
When I lowered the front of mine, I took the tension off the lower control arm and just turned the bolt up with my fingers.
May be because the car was only 1 day old. :D
Anyone else able to do this without a wrench?
Dave

 

i tried the second jack idea to let off some tension and it didnt helpin my case Mine was stubborn but steady all the way :cheers:

 

Jeff, look at Ellis Gray ("Indypacecar") at our next meeting. Ellis is more than willing to meet you so you can look at his car... Bill