Calling all experts.....if I lower my C5 Z06 on the stock bolts, do I really need a new alignment? Why?

 

It's always a good idea to get an alignment after changing suspension settings. Even if nothing has changed the piece of mind is well worth it. It beats chewing up a set of tires. Your alignment could be out right now potentially and you don't know it.

 

Thanks Mikey....

My alignment was just performed about 4 months ago (prior to buying) so while I want to lower it asap, I'd hate to have to pay for another alignment.

 

if you want it to drive straight, handle properly, and wear tires evenly then yes you need to have it done... if you don't care about any of those things then don't spend the extra $80 to get the alignment done, after all a new set of tires is only $800+

 

yes

 

What neutron said. Also don't lower it to much or you ruin the handling of the car

 

 

Yes... plain and simple.

 

You will want cycle the suspension before alignment. Bumpy roads, highway rumble strips. 5 to 10 miles should do it.

 

No idea where you get $80 alignments. That sounds like a toe check. Alignments range from $120 to $160 around me.

 

Yes, get the alignment done. Way cheaper than a set of tires.

 

The suspension is hooked up to the car in a specific way. The A-arms attach at a certain angle, for example, and the wheels are mounted with a certain amount of toe and camber in order to achieve a balance between performance, comfort, and utility.


When you lower the suspension, you change the angles at which the suspension components are mounted, thus changing the way they interact with each other, and in turn, changing the way that the tires interact with the road. You also affect the steering axis inclination (which affects the steering ratio, more or less).


This is why an alignment is a good idea after a ride-height change (in fact, one of the first checks before performing an alignment is to verify the ride height).

 

that's what they charge where I work, granted it would be rare if you see a vette come through there but even so I'm sure they would do it for the same price... even at $120-160 it is far cheaper than a new set of tires and in my opinion it's silly not to do an alignmenet after lowering the car

 

There are a couple of threads on here from actual experts that talk about this topic much more in depth. Obviously the initial answer is yes due to changing the suspension angles. However, when lowering on stock bolts, it's not necessarily needed.

Think for a minute why they have bolts that can lower the car. It's not to give you a free lowering kit. Our cars aren't hand built and no two are EXACTLY the same off the line. Just like any manufacturing facility, they have tolerances they have to stay within. They use the bolts to adjust the cars so they can be within those tolerances.

From what I remember (I'm sure you can find it in a search) you can lower on stock bolts to a certain extent without needing an alignment. But it really will depend on your car. People have posted on here wildly different amounts of drop available on the stock bolts. As a matter of fact, some have even posted on here that the front or rears were already lowered all the way on stock bolts from the factory.

I don't want to tell you what to do. It's your money and you need to decide if saving some money now is worth the risk of possibly tearing up a set of tires. If it was me and it was just aligned, I wouldn't worry about it unless you get multiple inches of drop.

 

I replaced tires on my C6, and had it aligned for $156.00, well worth it, tires aren't cheap for these cars.

 

I'm sure the spring adjustment bolts were added because the C4 has a tendency to lean and no thought of correction was designed into car.

 

A lowered car will handle better, not worse. It lowers the center of gravity.

 

Until "you lower too much", and you screw up the suspension geometry, reduce or eliminate the suspension travel, hence ruin the handling.

 

And to the OP, even if nothing else changes, when you lower the car, the toe settings WILL.

 

$80 for a 4 wheel alignment is the going rate from several big name chain tire shops here in my neck of the woods. Have had my Z06 done several times as well as my AWD Lincolns. And Assuming you’re going to get an alignment get a performance line done not just a standard OEM specs. Take advantage of the lowering to its full potential