How do you lower a car?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
How do you lower a car?
I recently had new wheels and tires put on my car and after posting pics, it was recommended that I should lower my car to reduce the gap between the tires and the fenders. Any suggestions on how to do this without having to resort to coilovers? Also, what kind of negative effects could this produce if not done correctly? Thanks in advance! Here's a pic, and thanks again DOCZ for the great wheels!
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Here you go...
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...weringkit.html
You can lower on the OEM bolts
or
get longer ones for the rear
You will need an alignment
Peace
Chip
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...weringkit.html
You can lower on the OEM bolts
or
get longer ones for the rear
You will need an alignment
Peace
Chip
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
Are these tires shorter than the factory ones you removed?? 
....From the pics it looks like they are 
....You may have a speedo-issue unless you recalibrate the speedo...You may also experience an ABS issue if you changed the diameter from the front to the back vs the factory diameters.....Overall outside tire diameter should remain the same when doing a tire/wheel swap..
....From the pics it looks like they are ....You may have a speedo-issue unless you recalibrate the speedo...You may also experience an ABS issue if you changed the diameter from the front to the back vs the factory diameters.....Overall outside tire diameter should remain the same when doing a tire/wheel swap..
Supporting Vendor - Supporting Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,309
Likes: 142
From: FLORIDASPEEDSHOP.COM
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'14-'15
Car looks great. As long as you keep the rear diameters taller than the fronts then there will not be any issues with the active handling. Its almost imposible to keep the same diameters with the stock when going with a 18/19 or 19/20 with wider tires. C5 owners have been changing out there tire sizes since 1997, its nothing new. It all depends on the particular look the indivual is seeking. The spedo can easily be corrected with a handheld tuner if its even off by 1mph. You can just lower on your stock bolts which is what the majority of C5 members do. Most shops will charge $100-150.00 for the labor. If you want to really slam it pick up the lowering bolts from CCA.
Last edited by DOCZ- 1st Rate Corvette Parts & Acc.; Jun 8, 2011 at 10:31 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Walnut Creek CA
Lowering isn't that big of a deal, but if you've never done it before I suggest having a good shop that knows Corvettes give you a hand - you have to have it aligned afterwards anyways so you may as well.
If you do the stock bolts you need to trim the stops. However, I personally recommend getting a set of aftermarket bolts (less than $50) so that you have something that was meant to adjust that much.
The change in ride quality isn't as intense as I've had on other cars I've owned. The suspension just feels more "ready" now than it did before, I guess because it's pre-loaded. I don't scrape on much, just the plastic air dam occasionally when I go over high speed bumps, but you learn to approach steep driveways and speedbumps a bit more sideways than before.
If you do the stock bolts you need to trim the stops. However, I personally recommend getting a set of aftermarket bolts (less than $50) so that you have something that was meant to adjust that much.
The change in ride quality isn't as intense as I've had on other cars I've owned. The suspension just feels more "ready" now than it did before, I guess because it's pre-loaded. I don't scrape on much, just the plastic air dam occasionally when I go over high speed bumps, but you learn to approach steep driveways and speedbumps a bit more sideways than before.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
Car looks great. As long as you keep the rear diameters taller than the fronts then there will not be any issues with the active handling. Its almost imposible to keep the same diameters with the stock when going with a 18/19 or 19/20 with wider tires. C5 owners have been changing out there tire sizes since 1997, its nothing new.
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