Atempted to Lower My C5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
I got the car supported by jack stands. Took a 4x4x6 piece of wood and stood it upright on the end of my jack and placed it on the leaf between the wishbone. I jacked up the spring until the car was just about to lift with it. That gave me room to back the bolt out almost all the way. I ended up taking out the 4 bolts that hold the upper A arm to the frame. This allowed the entire Assembly to drop down away from the leaf spring giving me plenty of room to work. I dropped it so I could also replace the shock. This could be a way for you to see if the rubber bushing is vulcanized to the a arm below.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 46
From: Severn Maryland
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Getting ready to lower my ride....I think I will pick up some PB Blaster first!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
I had a bolt in the Z06 spings I had on my car that wouldn't budge with the spring OFF the car. PB Blaster, a little heat and lots of finesse finally got it loose.
It only takes a few minutes to get the spring off.
It only takes a few minutes to get the spring off.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
PM me if you want more info.
Last edited by socalman; Mar 15, 2010 at 01:05 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Did you remove the A arm bolt and the sway bar end link bolt? If not, you can't seperate the spring from the A arm so lifting the spring is doing exaclty what you said- lifting the whole thing together. You didn't strip anything that you need so don't panic. Once you've got the spring and a arm seperated correctly (which I don't think you did), the lowering bolt will come out bare handed and a squirt of WD 40.
PM me if you want more info.
PM me if you want more info.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
In his case, it's best to remove 4 bolts, the 2 shock bottoms, the A arm and the endlink. Drop the A arm and now the Spring has no tension on it, pushing against the A arm. and he can unscrew it from underneath since the top is shot. He needs to do a lowering bolt removal anyways so he can replace it for future use and you have to drop the A arm to get that bolt out.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 465
Likes: 16
I found out the hard way that you cannot just go to the dealer & buy one of the spring ride height bolts. They only come with a new spring - C5 or C6. That means if you take it to have the bolt replaced, you'll need to buy nad have on hand a new pair from a supplier.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
Just use aftermarket bolts or C6 bolts.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
I've done this on both of my C5s ... just raise the car up and spray the bolt with PB blaster .. let it sit for a while and just turn. Make sure you soak the arm too where the bolt touches and just work it back and forth a little until it frees up. After that it's easy to turn ... I didn't even put any tension on the spring or anything. Just gotta have the right socket / ratchet on there and it's no problem.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
well i attempted it again just to make sure the temsion was off and it was i can slip a puddy knife under it and i tried everything from vice grips to a pipe wrench and it will not budge!!!! so the theory of weight still on the spring is out !!! next option?
The passenger side front took all of 5 mins to do the driver side today alone took over 2 hours!!! 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor Florida
DRKMATTER's looks great but notice the curbage scars...no room for error when ur down that low...beware...I had same problem with bolt..I just went and bought a new leafspring off ebay for $30.00...yea I had to swap but at least I didnt have bolt issues afterward.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 28,861
Likes: 819
From: Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '26
Good luck with your predicament. I thought I was the only person that those sort of things happened to. I love the the looks of a lowered C5. In my neighborhood it would never survive unfortunately. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
