Lower...Raise...Level...?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 111
Likes: 12
From: USMC Veteran Santa Fe, NM. USA!
C5 of Month Finalist 2017
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 15
From: South Orange Co. CA
Until recently I had my C5 lowered quite a bit. I even got the longer lowering bolts for the rear. But over the years I noticed the harshness in the rear because of lack of travel in the suspension. So I just now went back to the standard bolts and raised the car back up just over an inch in the rear. Much better ride now, and no noticeable difference in handling. Doesn't look as cool though! I will also be raising the front back up a bit, too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 859
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
We head up there for lunch or shopping every now and then. The only club I know of meets at Reliable Chevrolet in Albuquerque. First Sunday of every month, I believe? Ha. Always meant to check it out, but you know how that goes.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 898
Likes: 25
From: Dallas, TX
Bill Dearborn has a great, concise explanation of how to calculate the rake based in the tire size https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1595124165
It really is about not confusing the pitch and yaw sensors etc. If you change the attitude of the car by leveling or raising/lowering one end too much more than the other the calculations are off and the car can't figure out what the driver is doing.
Causes TC light to come on and ABS to fire at weird times like in a turn when it shouldn't. Pretty dangerous. Sometimes happens when people slam their cars so low like they do without maintaining a little butt in the air attitude.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 898
Likes: 25
From: Dallas, TX
Yeah, not too sure how far off it has to be for the problems to show up. When I first got my car I had a brand new set of stock GY runflats. Wasn't too long before I realized how bad they were. But then I learned how expensive new shoes were too. Love the Conti choice for a DD and the sizes worked great too. Just couldn't afford to drop a grand on a mistake so I maintained the rake as close as I could after reading all of the problems people were having.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 111
Likes: 12
From: USMC Veteran Santa Fe, NM. USA!
C5 of Month Finalist 2017
We head up there for lunch or shopping every now and then. The only club I know of meets at Reliable Chevrolet in Albuquerque. First Sunday of every month, I believe? Ha. Always meant to check it out, but you know how that goes.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
They are...lucky for me, every single one of my cars I have ever owned with the exception of two trucks, were low-riders....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Take a look at YouTube and search C5 Corvette lower on stock bolts.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
Likes: 160
From: Landenberg PA
I had my car lowered on stock bolts last year and I am running stock tire sizes. I do throw a Code for TCS/ABS every so often I believe it is C1271.
To me the car looks almost level, not much of a rake at all. I am starting to wonder if this is a possible cause for the TCS/ABS lights coming on and maybe I should raise the rear?
To me the car looks almost level, not much of a rake at all. I am starting to wonder if this is a possible cause for the TCS/ABS lights coming on and maybe I should raise the rear?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 964
Likes: 92
From: Rio Rancho NM
We head up there for lunch or shopping every now and then. The only club I know of meets at Reliable Chevrolet in Albuquerque. First Sunday of every month, I believe? Ha. Always meant to check it out, but you know how that goes.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
Welcome, and get that thing raised a bit! These NM driveways are nightmarish.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 859
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You might consider having the wheels balanced after adjusting the lowering bolts. Some say yes, others no. I figure it's always best to be on the safe side. No sense trashing expensive tires on anything but burnouts. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 859
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Nice. You've got the technique mastered, no doubt. You might consider having the wheels balanced after adjusting the lowering bolts. Some say yes, others no. I figure it's always best to be on the safe side. No sense trashing expensive tires on anything but burnouts.
You might consider having the wheels balanced after adjusting the lowering bolts. Some say yes, others no. I figure it's always best to be on the safe side. No sense trashing expensive tires on anything but burnouts.
Last edited by MrLeadFoot; Aug 17, 2017 at 06:24 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 859
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
