Lowering again
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
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From: Pembroke Pines Florida
Lowering again
I am going to lower the front a little bit more today. I will need to cut some off of the bushings. If the ride is a bit rougher, I understand I can get the Bilstein Sport Shocks to return to the original ride. Are these shocks shorter than the originals? Are the Bilsteins most people use the ones that cost $80.00 a shock? I saw some listed that were $300.00.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Jacksonville Florida
My understanding is the Bilsteins are shorter. They work well on my lowered 00. I've got the sportshocks and they ran $300+ but I'm sure there are other models.
Have you let your car "settle" down yet? You may want to drive a couple weeks before making it lower. If you go lower and cut the bushings you may need to consider another alignment, too.
BTW here's my lowered coupe with I-SPEED's slammed FRC. You may want to IM him for his comments on really lowered C5s. His is the lowest I've seen.
Have you let your car "settle" down yet? You may want to drive a couple weeks before making it lower. If you go lower and cut the bushings you may need to consider another alignment, too.
BTW here's my lowered coupe with I-SPEED's slammed FRC. You may want to IM him for his comments on really lowered C5s. His is the lowest I've seen.
Last edited by CAJUNY2KC5; Aug 13, 2004 at 07:39 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 673
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From: Pembroke Pines Florida
I lowered on the stock bolts a month ago. I had it realigned. I want the front just a bit lower. So the shocks you have were $300.000 a piece? Or $300.00 for a set of four?
Scott
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by Rattler71
I lowered on the stock bolts a month ago. I had it realigned. I want the front just a bit lower. So the shocks you have were $300.000 a piece? Or $300.00 for a set of four?
Scott
Scott
For the set. I got 'em from West Coast Corvettes. Along with my Hotchkis sway bars.
Much of this is personal taste on how you want to set up your car and how you want to use it. You might also consider your wheel width. Mine are Z06 width and I also auto cross the car so didn't go as low as many others have. I tried to set up my Z51 suspension for how I drive and use the car.
I do suggest you maintain some "rake" to your car (front end lower), but when I lowered mine about an inch on stock bolts and then measured the heights to keep the bottom of the car even - it came out fine.
Good luck. Let us know how it comes out.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,422
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From: SouthWest FL
I too am considering cutting my front bushings. I lowered my vette about a month ago and am not happy with the way the front has settled(still not quite low enough) If I do this I will add the Bilstein sport shocks. It is my understanding that these shocks are about 1" shorter than stock shocks and will give lowered cars more shock travel and improve ride quality. I've seen most vendors offering these shocks in the range of 300.00 to 330.00 price for a set of 4. Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,887
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From: Havin' fun in Frederick, MD!!!
St. Jude Donor '05 '09
Question: If you lower by cutting bushings and extending the nut, will the stock springs work without going to the Bilsteins? Is this true of both front and rear?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Bilstien Sport Shocks are a great choice in shocks for your car and should cost somewhere around $300 for the set of 4.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Scott:
If you'd like to, call Bobbie at WCC
Bobbie Yorba
West Coast Corvettes
888-737-8388 X206
And feel free to use my name.
You can get shocks that cost $300+ each, but the Bilsteins sure seem like the best for the bucks.
If you'd like to, call Bobbie at WCC
Bobbie Yorba
West Coast Corvettes
888-737-8388 X206
And feel free to use my name.
You can get shocks that cost $300+ each, but the Bilsteins sure seem like the best for the bucks.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 673
Likes: 1
From: Pembroke Pines Florida
Originally Posted by Rattler71
The $300.00 for the set of four Bilsteins are what I want.Thanks for the reference. I heard Autozone carries those. I will see what the price is there to compare.
Scott
Scott
just makes more sense to take it all apart once.Thanks for everyones input. That is what makes this forum great, all the different ideas.
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Great!
BTW the Hotchkis sway bars come with new end links. They are a little "beefier" than the Z06 sway bars but either would be a good choice.
You might also consider the Baer Bump Steer Kit if you are going to cut your bushings. Although I didn't technically need it I had that put on at the same time. It allows for more adjustment in alignment. Just a thought - not allows necessary.
Before you get her lowered, modded, aligned, adjusted - take a few turns and corners and notice how much body roll there is and how fast you can comfortably take the corner. Then after all the goodies are on, take the same corners under power. You are in for a treat.
BTW the Hotchkis sway bars come with new end links. They are a little "beefier" than the Z06 sway bars but either would be a good choice.
You might also consider the Baer Bump Steer Kit if you are going to cut your bushings. Although I didn't technically need it I had that put on at the same time. It allows for more adjustment in alignment. Just a thought - not allows necessary.
Before you get her lowered, modded, aligned, adjusted - take a few turns and corners and notice how much body roll there is and how fast you can comfortably take the corner. Then after all the goodies are on, take the same corners under power. You are in for a treat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
No. I've got the Z51 package, too. Z06 sway bars are "stiffer" than Z51, and Hotchkis are slightly stiffer than Z06. But you're only talking about a few mm difference. I liked the Hotchkis because they are a larger diameter than Z06 and the package included new metal end links and bushings.
In order of diameter/thickness and cost it would be:
Base FE1
Z51/FE3 - 1997-1999
Z51/FE3 - 2000-2004
Z06/FE4
Hotchkis
GM T1
But having the Z51 package is a good thing because you get better springs and a power steering cooler.
Be sure to use someone who knows what they are doing on suspensions for installation. You are setting up your car for how it handles and sticks to the road. Torque settings for the Hotchkis sway bar is the same as stock.
In order of diameter/thickness and cost it would be:
Base FE1
Z51/FE3 - 1997-1999
Z51/FE3 - 2000-2004
Z06/FE4
Hotchkis
GM T1
But having the Z51 package is a good thing because you get better springs and a power steering cooler.
Be sure to use someone who knows what they are doing on suspensions for installation. You are setting up your car for how it handles and sticks to the road. Torque settings for the Hotchkis sway bar is the same as stock.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,672
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From: cincinnati ohio
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
boy a ton of good info here. I like the slammed look but can only imagine the ride. Mine is lowered about an inch . . . I wish the rear was lowered but I maintained the rake. I guess if you do not maintain the rake you have to reaim your headlights
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by jsdanehy
boy a ton of good info here. I like the slammed look but can only imagine the ride. Mine is lowered about an inch . . . I wish the rear was lowered but I maintained the rake. I guess if you do not maintain the rake you have to reaim your headlights
BTW - the lowering/sway bars/shocks are some of the best mods I have for enjoyment of the car. It's like driving a go cart in the corners.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,672
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From: cincinnati ohio
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by CAJUNY2KC5
Did you not get the rear lowered, too? I took mine down both front and rear with no problems. If you go over an inch or so in the rear you have to get new bolts.
Yes i went down in the rear . . . an inch in the front and an inch in the rear.
Rear still is higher than I want . . . I kept the rake as it was . . . I guess I should get longer bolts and go a little more. The ride now is tolerable but I sure do not want it any rougher than it currently is
