[Z06] lowering help
Pro
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 624
Likes: 3
From: West Point Utah
Re: lowering help (joe03z06)
Joe,
I think from my experiences, and available tech info on suspension setup, lowering the car won't change toe setting, but will affect camber. It will cause a car to have more negative camber when lowered. Depending how your car is currently aligned, it will only get better, or worse, depending on your viewpoint. This is what I can find on the subject.
I think from my experiences, and available tech info on suspension setup, lowering the car won't change toe setting, but will affect camber. It will cause a car to have more negative camber when lowered. Depending how your car is currently aligned, it will only get better, or worse, depending on your viewpoint. This is what I can find on the subject.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 624
Likes: 3
From: West Point Utah
Re: lowering help (C5 Hardtop)
I had my car aligned with 1 degree of negative camber, and it was as low as any Vette I have ever seen. It did not result in any uneven tire wear for the life of my tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,331
Likes: 32
From: USA
Re: lowering help (joe03z06)
The answer is "no" it is not necessary to have the car aligned after lowering, unless you do not care about wearing out a set of tires prematurely.
Camber will certainly change after lowering and with it goes the toe settings. Caster can also change.
Dave
Camber will certainly change after lowering and with it goes the toe settings. Caster can also change.
Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Re: lowering help (joe03z06)
I will pass along to you what the corvette tech at my local dealer told me about "needing an alignment post lowering". I was told that lowering to the extent of the factory bolts is not enough to make a change in the alignment to where it will wear out tires. Yes, it will change your camber. Which, if it is out too far will make the car handle like crap on the road. So really it depends on how close your car's preloweing alignment is to the specified range and how much you want to lower it. If you plan to go beyond the factory bolts which you will most likely need to in order to get 1 inch lower you should have it aligned.
Just a word of caution. Make darn sure whoever you have align it knows what they are doing and DO NOT allow them to attach the alignment sensors to your wheels. Make sure they use the plastic bushings on the sensor prongs and attach the sensors via the back side of the TIRE and not the wheel. My local dealer was uneducated about doing alignments on these cars and chipped every one of my wheels at the four spots where the sensors were attached. That cost them a whole new set of wheels. One expensive lesson learned and the loss of my future business.
Just a word of caution. Make darn sure whoever you have align it knows what they are doing and DO NOT allow them to attach the alignment sensors to your wheels. Make sure they use the plastic bushings on the sensor prongs and attach the sensors via the back side of the TIRE and not the wheel. My local dealer was uneducated about doing alignments on these cars and chipped every one of my wheels at the four spots where the sensors were attached. That cost them a whole new set of wheels. One expensive lesson learned and the loss of my future business.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 4
From: denver colo
Re: lowering help (joe03z06)
I lowered mine using the factory bolts, down to where two threads were showing on each bolt. The tires wore on the inside very prematurely compared to the rest of the tire. I have about half tread life left on front tires, but need to replace them due to the tires being so worn on the inside. Wish I would have aligned it after I lowered it. Now I need to buy new tires about a year earlier. Thats my experience. :chevy
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Re: lowering help (denverfire)
i lowered mine also and i did not align it and the tires wore in the inside.. so my honest opinion you need to align it again because the cost of the tires is a hell of alot more than the alignment :thumbs:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,331
Likes: 32
From: USA
Re: lowering help (Z06ufgrad2002)
[QUOTE]I will pass along to you what the corvette tech at my local dealer told me about "needing an alignment post lowering". I was told that lowering to the extent of the factory bolts is not enough to make a change in the alignment to where it will wear out tires. Yes, it will change your camber. Which, if it is out too far will make the car handle like crap on the road. So really it depends on how close your car's preloweing alignment is to the specified range and how much you want to lower it. If you plan to go beyond the factory bolts which you will most likely need to in order to get 1 inch lower you should have it aligned.
The tech you talked to is wrong, very wrong. I guess he knows the prelowering alignment specs for every corvette out there. Some corvettes will be fine, most won't. How can anyone say 1" or lower needs to be aligned.
What you added to the post is correct. It depends entirely on what the alignment specs were before the car was lowered.
So really the original question of if the car should aligned after lowering can't be answered. Who knows what the alignment settings are in the cars we are riding around in.
I hope that helps. Pet peeve of mine.
Dave
The tech you talked to is wrong, very wrong. I guess he knows the prelowering alignment specs for every corvette out there. Some corvettes will be fine, most won't. How can anyone say 1" or lower needs to be aligned.
What you added to the post is correct. It depends entirely on what the alignment specs were before the car was lowered.
So really the original question of if the car should aligned after lowering can't be answered. Who knows what the alignment settings are in the cars we are riding around in.
I hope that helps. Pet peeve of mine.
Dave
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: granada hills california
Re: lowering help (Vette Lag)
Is it possible to adjust the camber myself . If i mark where it is now and pull lower arms in slightly on both lower bolts the same amount shouldn't that just effect the camber?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,331
Likes: 32
From: USA
Re: lowering help (SQEZN BI)
Is it possible to adjust the camber myself . If i mark where it is now and pull lower arms in slightly on both lower bolts the same amount shouldn't that just effect the camber?
Changing the camber also changes the toe. It may also change the caster.
The caster I would not worry about. The toe I would.
Dave