Anyone regretted lowering?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Anyone regretted lowering?
Thinking about lowering our '00 coupe...have seen several lowered coupes, and they look great...but concerned about the drawbacks...let us know your feedback, Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138,650
Likes: 177
From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
Pretty much slammed mine, love it!
This is lowered on stock bolts...
This is with aftermarket rear bolts and cutting the front bushings...
I have since raised the rear a bit...
Negatives??? On the stock bolts with no bushings cut, none really (except being very careful not to scrape stuff)...
In the second setup, the ride takes about a day to get used to but it still ok, and you will hit your lower air dam on everything... go slow on bumps and use angles!
This is lowered on stock bolts...
This is with aftermarket rear bolts and cutting the front bushings...
I have since raised the rear a bit...
Negatives??? On the stock bolts with no bushings cut, none really (except being very careful not to scrape stuff)...
In the second setup, the ride takes about a day to get used to but it still ok, and you will hit your lower air dam on everything... go slow on bumps and use angles!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 66
From: SoCal
Bought mine lowered. Its ok. Looks 
of course. Drawback is it hits sometimes. Have to get used to going in an angle more often i suppose, since mine came lowered I don't know what stock is like. Protection for the lower panels would be nice to have if lowering. Overall though, I like it.
of course. Drawback is it hits sometimes. Have to get used to going in an angle more often i suppose, since mine came lowered I don't know what stock is like. Protection for the lower panels would be nice to have if lowering. Overall though, I like it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
I had my 98 lowered. Since I got my Z I've been debating back and forth on whether or not to lower it. My entrance at work is at a very steep and sudden incline and it is next to impossible to get in/out without dragging the front plastic air dam. I fear if I lowered it I would be dragging painted parts 
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Bought mine lowered. Its ok. Looks of course. Drawback is it hits sometimes. Have to get used to going in an angle more often i suppose, since mine came lowered I don't know what stock is like. Protection for the lower panels would be nice to have if lowering. Overall though, I like it.
of course. Drawback is it hits sometimes. Have to get used to going in an angle more often i suppose, since mine came lowered I don't know what stock is like. Protection for the lower panels would be nice to have if lowering. Overall though, I like it.
Also bought mine already lowered.... I don't know if I would have chosen to do this if it wasn't already lowered...but it looks good. It does scrape quite a bit on any slight inclines or speed bumps....
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Bad roads and lowered vettes !
Personally, I'd never lower a C5 or a C6. Around here the roads are so chopped up that you'd be dragging and scraping all day long. But. . . A lot of people love the lowered look. I just had my 2003 in for State inspection and the yearly oil and filter change. But no way I'd ever lower the car, it drags already set up stock ! Save the wave !
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Would love to "slam" it, but hell, I'm too old, for that low.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,561
Likes: 945
From: Communist Colorado
The real reason GM included the capability of lowereing is for track use. The bolts are adjustable so they can be put back to stock ride height when the track session is over. I realize only a small percentage of us lower for that reason. Obviously, its mostly done for asthetics.
I really think the only proper way to lower the car for street use is with coil over shocks. The coil overs will achieve the "look" most are looking for and maintain enough suspension travel to keep the ride comfort.
All thats really happening when you max out the lowereing bolts to their lowest point is youre lessening suspension travel causing a rough riding car. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do things. Lowering the car to maximum low or slammed is not the right way.
Removing all the jounce or travel from the suspension as well as shock absorber travel is the wrong way to do it especially if the car is street driven. The suspension on the car works as a system. When you severely alter one of the adjustments in the system the rest of the components in that system have to work harder or wont work properly at all.
Dont mean to be a wet towel here guys, I know it looks great. Just save your pennies and pony up your dough for a set of coil overs.
I really think the only proper way to lower the car for street use is with coil over shocks. The coil overs will achieve the "look" most are looking for and maintain enough suspension travel to keep the ride comfort.
All thats really happening when you max out the lowereing bolts to their lowest point is youre lessening suspension travel causing a rough riding car. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do things. Lowering the car to maximum low or slammed is not the right way.
Removing all the jounce or travel from the suspension as well as shock absorber travel is the wrong way to do it especially if the car is street driven. The suspension on the car works as a system. When you severely alter one of the adjustments in the system the rest of the components in that system have to work harder or wont work properly at all.
Dont mean to be a wet towel here guys, I know it looks great. Just save your pennies and pony up your dough for a set of coil overs.
Last edited by 81c3; Aug 30, 2010 at 12:15 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Never regretted it because I've never been brave enough to do it.
I ground the air dam on one section of road in the wilds of Lincolnshire even now. I think I'd wear away the skid bars if I lowered it.
I ground the air dam on one section of road in the wilds of Lincolnshire even now. I think I'd wear away the skid bars if I lowered it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 12
From: NOLA
I am lowered on stock bolts. I am considering coilovers as a future mod.... Just be careful where you drive and you wont have any issues
Rob
Rob
Last edited by Robert 2000; Aug 30, 2010 at 01:45 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 8
From: Redwood City CA
I regretted lowering the rear on a longer 7" bolt. The car rode like crap and bottomed out everywhere. I now have Pfadt Coil overs and lowered it even more, and love the better handling and ride.
Last edited by jpandes; Sep 9, 2010 at 03:24 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 678
Likes: 14
From: Carlisle KY
Pretty much slammed mine, love it!
This is lowered on stock bolts...
This is with aftermarket rear bolts and cutting the front bushings...
I have since raised the rear a bit...
Negatives??? On the stock bolts with no bushings cut, none really (except being very careful not to scrape stuff)...
In the second setup, the ride takes about a day to get used to but it still ok, and you will hit your lower air dam on everything... go slow on bumps and use angles!
This is lowered on stock bolts...
This is with aftermarket rear bolts and cutting the front bushings...
I have since raised the rear a bit...
Negatives??? On the stock bolts with no bushings cut, none really (except being very careful not to scrape stuff)...
In the second setup, the ride takes about a day to get used to but it still ok, and you will hit your lower air dam on everything... go slow on bumps and use angles!
