Ive noticed ppl doing a variety of things to lower their Z's. My question is whats the best way to get rid of this dreadful wheelgap but still run a 19/18" setup? (like which bolt combo and where to order?)

 

Most people will just lower the front using the stock bolts while the rear has a little less adjustability you can purchase rear bolts that are more adjustable. Personally for me, with the front bolts lowered all the way there was still too much gap so I removed them altogether. I then lowered the rear to match. I bought my rear bolts from Corvette Garage. They were around $60.

 

you can buy 7in grade 8 bolt's at your local hardware store for about 5 buck's!

 

Zip Products..... $40.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/Zip/prod...DB12353754E443

 

If you go much lower than the stock lowering bolts allow(ie.: using longer rear bolts) you will experience bottoming out or hitting the bump stops. I just installed some 7" Grade bolts and dropped the rear an additional inch(lower than max low on stock bolts) and I hated how the car would hit the bump stops while hitting dips on the freeway. It didn't bottom out with the stockers. (I never got around to lowering the front.)

I ended up raising it a 1/2" and it looks better and rides better. The rear is a little firmer, with only hint of hitting the bump stops.

 

I just cut my front bushings totally off and it got me pretty low. For the rear. there was longer bolts already in there when I bought the car. The handling is alot better but the ride is rough. I can deal with the ride but I ended up purchasing Bilstein Sport Shocks so the lady wouldn't b**** anymore, which I haven't got around to install them. Im running 17" and 18" wheels....





GOOD LUCK!!!

 

If you lower the back too much you need to get a set of shorter shocks to prevent bottoming. If you lower it and notice that it at all rides rougher than it was before you are into the bump stops. The bump stops are progessive, that is, if you are actually hitting them and not hitting them hard, you will notice some difference in stiffness. If you are really into them the ride will be terrible and bouncy, since the only springs you have at that point are the tires.

Hitting the bump stops in the back while you are cornering hard is really dangerous. It will cause sideways hopping and nasty oversteer. If you are a waxer and just cruise around it isn't as noticable, if you are driving hard and it hits the bump stops you will spin.. If you lower the front all the way on stock bolts and keep the rake right, that is about as low as you can go with the stock shocks. The minimum right ride height for proper handling is about 4.5" at the front jacking point and about 5" at the rear jacking point. Don't measure the bodywork since that varies all over the place. Any more than that will screw up the geometry and the car won't handle as well.

The stock ride height is supposed to be about 6 inches as measured at the jacking puck holes on the frame. The rear shouldn't be any lesss than 5 inches to avoid bottoming the stock shocks. You should have between a half an inch to 3/4's of an inch of rake in the car as measured at the jacking locations on the frame.

All of the serious racers and autocrossers have learned a long time ago that just because you can lower the car more than that, it doesn't mean that you should, since it doesn't handle worth a darn if you do.

 

That's where I got em!

 

Thanks for the post! This is great information! Does installing Bilsteins correct this issue completely?

 

I think the Bilstiens get you an additional inch of travel, which lets you lower it an inch more than the stock shocks.

Actually if you lower it more than that you will screw up the goemetry and the car won't be as fast on the track, so other than looks, it is pointless to lower it more than that.

 

Could you forward me additional info?
Was it the 05-09 Zip lowering kit with bolts and cushions that you used to lower all four corners of your Z06. Why did you not use the 19x10 and 19x13 CCW wheel set up...and finally, what is your opinion of the 20x11 wheels for the rear? Thanks in advance for any help...and I must add, great job on your Z...looks great!!!!!

 

Thanks !

The kit I mentioned above is for the 97-04 corvettes,,,, It uses the exhisting rubbers on the car. I have 19x10 fronts and 19x11 rears. Anything wider would stick WAY out from the fender. You need to do a full minitub conversion if you want to run 19x13's (and custom backspacing). I like my 19" setup. A 20" rear would have such a small sidewall the ride would be really harsh, and a little too "pimp my ride" for my taste.

"97-04 FULL CORVETTE LOWERING KIT"
http://www.zip-corvette.com/Zip/prod...DB12353754E443

Let me know if you need more info...
Toque

 

Toque,

What exhaust is on your car?

 

+1 I like that look. Plus I think it might be time for a change.

 

Thanks...

My exhaust are the GHL Bullets. I like them a lot. Deep rumble, really brings out the crack/crack sound of my cam, and no resonance . Can't get better than that in my opinion... I had a bunch of other exhausts and I like the GHL Bullets the best.

They are on sale now too for $900 shipping included
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-shipping.html

Toque

 

The "lowered max on stock bolts" look is what GM should have made the car look like off the showroom floor IMO. I'll be tackling this when I swap in a set of C6Z shocks on my 03 C5Z.

 

Thanks for the reply,
Today I purchased a 2008 Z06, what is your opinion on custom wheel size for a similiar look? I don't know anyone in my area (NC) that has aftermarket wheels but looking at what some of the manufacturers are offering, I am curious about the 19x10 and 20x11 or the 19x10 and 19x13 set-ups. Tomorrow, I plan on ordering a lowering kit so I want to purchase a new wheel/tire combo as soon as possible. Is there a website available for viewing C6's with aftermarkets? Need all the help I can get obviously...don't want to screw this up. Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

I would go to the C6 Z06 section and see what the guys there are doing for sizes. I'm sure there are pleanty of guys with aftermarket wheels/tires so you can see diff setups before you buy. I know that the C6 Z06's are already low, so lowering more on the stock bolts may all you need.

Good luck and congrats on the 08 z06 !

Toque

 

Fronts removed... 7" grade 8 bolts from Home Depot that cost like 5$. Removed 1 rubber gromet on each side for the rear... I liked the staggered look on my car so i kept it that way. 19" rims all around!!

 

SWEET ! Man you can't beat a lowered Z06 with ANY CCW wheel,,