To lower or not to lower
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
To lower or not to lower
Getting ready to install new shoes. 
Going with a 19/18 inch setup. I'm considering lowering on stock bolts. I drive my car daily.
Give me all the reasons I SHOULDN'T lower.
Going with a 19/18 inch setup. I'm considering lowering on stock bolts. I drive my car daily.
Give me all the reasons I SHOULDN'T lower.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,602
Likes: 967
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Plus the ride is a lot harder. I lowered mine for a short time. I have the F45 suspension package and I cannot use it except in the Touring mode because of the ride. Let’s face it also screws up the geometry of the suspension system. Sure it looks cool and all that, but I for one would not lower it to the max if at all. The only good thing about lowering it on the stock bolt’s, is you can always raise it back up.
Flame suit on.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 313
Likes: 1
From: Cypress, TX
It looks stupid if the car is not lowered.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,588
Likes: 976
From: Communist Colorado
I think it looks stupid when a car is too low.
When I see a Vette thats too low I throw up a little in my mouth.
Sports cars are meant to handle with predictability and have as little movement as possible while being manuvered, YET, still retain suspension jounce and some level of comfort.
I had my 02 lowered all the way on stock bolts and hated it. It rode like a dump truck and lost what little comfort it had to begin with. I raised it back up to almost stock ride height. Much happier now.
2 sides to every coin
When I see a Vette thats too low I throw up a little in my mouth.
Sports cars are meant to handle with predictability and have as little movement as possible while being manuvered, YET, still retain suspension jounce and some level of comfort.
I had my 02 lowered all the way on stock bolts and hated it. It rode like a dump truck and lost what little comfort it had to begin with. I raised it back up to almost stock ride height. Much happier now.
2 sides to every coin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
It looks stupid if the car is not lowered.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 99
From: Apache Junction, Arizona
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It looks stupid if the car is not lowered.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Whenever I see a vette, and its ridin 4x4...I cry a little inside.
Its a Sports Car, its not ment to be driven over roads that most normal cars have a hard time on. Lower it, you'll be far more happier.
Been daily driving a slammed 02' z06 for 2 years, i have some small scrapes underneath the sideskirts, but nothing major.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,220
Likes: 208
Lowered doesn't have to mean slammed to the weeds. Getting the stance just right is the most important thing that really sets how the car looks. If you don't have the stance right you should just stay home.
4x4 look and sports cars:
And if you know your suspension stuff you also know that there are ways to lower it with out ruining the ride...
4x4 look and sports cars:
And if you know your suspension stuff you also know that there are ways to lower it with out ruining the ride...
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
Hmmmm... didn't mean to open a can of worms. 
I do like the looks of having less space between the tires and the fender, but not sure I like it enough to put up with all the issues. As mentioned this is a daily driver (except when raining, cause I hate having to wash).
Since I'd be staying on stock bolts, I guess I could always raise it back, but then I'd have to have another alignment.
Would it make any sense to compromise and just lower half the stock bolts?
Wheels, new TPS, and new tires go on Friday!
I do like the looks of having less space between the tires and the fender, but not sure I like it enough to put up with all the issues. As mentioned this is a daily driver (except when raining, cause I hate having to wash).
Since I'd be staying on stock bolts, I guess I could always raise it back, but then I'd have to have another alignment.
Would it make any sense to compromise and just lower half the stock bolts?
Wheels, new TPS, and new tires go on Friday!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
Drop it a 1/2" from where it is now and you'll still be ok around town. It won't be slammed and you will still be able to retain the factory bushings. Once you start cutting those out or removing front bolts all together and adding longer rear bolts, you start to get really low with the inherant poor ride and scraping issues. Get it aligned after the new tires are on or they won't last long. Worst case if it is to low for you and you have scraping issues in town, just raise it back up, but until you try it how will you know.
P.S. just some advice, start backing into lots with concrete curbs. the nose just doesn't like that abuse lowered or not. Learn to take inclines or declines at an angle and you'll be fine. It becomes second nature after a while.
P.S. just some advice, start backing into lots with concrete curbs. the nose just doesn't like that abuse lowered or not. Learn to take inclines or declines at an angle and you'll be fine. It becomes second nature after a while.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oviedo Florida
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Here is my ONE reason to lower.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oviedo Florida
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chill99---18/19 CCW wheels. Now stock bolts. Was slammed
but the ride suffered even with a 4 wheel align. My suspension
is a C-6 ZO-6 except springs (C-5 ZO-6). This will help stop
some of the scrapeing. Now I don't scrape any more than stock.
Good luck.
but the ride suffered even with a 4 wheel align. My suspension
is a C-6 ZO-6 except springs (C-5 ZO-6). This will help stop
some of the scrapeing. Now I don't scrape any more than stock.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 777
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From: Sooke BC
Did mine on stock bolts. Some may disagree but after I did new wheels and tires and lowered I drove it for a while to see if I liked it then got the 4 wheel alignment done. It's your car do what you like!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
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From: Springfield MO
Rims came from JW Motoring. Great to do business with. Good communication. Got them quick.
As to wheel quality... They are lower priced wheels from China. Time will tell how they hold up, so can't comment there. I didn't want to spring for the higher priced stuff, so I'm very pleased with what I got. The wheels came packaged nicely - they are protected pretty good for the shipping process. I closely looked over the chrome, and it's smooth and consistent throughout the wheels.
I think they're gonna look good and meet my goals. I wanted chrome and deep dish. I wanted to push the wheel/tire out to the edge of the fender well. I want just a little bigger diameter and width. And I didn't want to spend a whole lotta money. Thanks JW for meeting my goals.
EDIT: Oh yeah, one more goal. My car is a Commemorative Edition and the center caps state that on them. These wheels will allow me to reuse those center caps if I choose to. (The wheels also came with new center caps).
As to wheel quality... They are lower priced wheels from China. Time will tell how they hold up, so can't comment there. I didn't want to spring for the higher priced stuff, so I'm very pleased with what I got. The wheels came packaged nicely - they are protected pretty good for the shipping process. I closely looked over the chrome, and it's smooth and consistent throughout the wheels.
I think they're gonna look good and meet my goals. I wanted chrome and deep dish. I wanted to push the wheel/tire out to the edge of the fender well. I want just a little bigger diameter and width. And I didn't want to spend a whole lotta money. Thanks JW for meeting my goals.
EDIT: Oh yeah, one more goal. My car is a Commemorative Edition and the center caps state that on them. These wheels will allow me to reuse those center caps if I choose to. (The wheels also came with new center caps).
Last edited by chill99; Mar 9, 2011 at 06:25 PM.
Race Director
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I lowered mine on stock bolts when I lived outside Chicago. I moved to Florida in 2005 and about six months later, I raised it back up to just under stock height. It provides a little bit of a stealth look, however the scraping of the flex spoiler on everything was like nails on a chalk board.
Many of the Florida roads are designed with a pitch to encourage the run off of the heavy summer rains. Although they look nice and smooth (and they are), the access driveways into many strip malls, business parks, restaurants, etc. are pitched and not Vette friendly.
I love the look of a lowered C5, I just love my rockers more!
Many of the Florida roads are designed with a pitch to encourage the run off of the heavy summer rains. Although they look nice and smooth (and they are), the access driveways into many strip malls, business parks, restaurants, etc. are pitched and not Vette friendly.
I love the look of a lowered C5, I just love my rockers more!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,828
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You are semi-at peace with yourself and still have a small amount of gray matter between your ears. Unless your on the track there is not advantage and a endless amount of reasons not to do. Enough Said!
Last edited by dquagliaroli; Mar 9, 2011 at 07:15 PM.