Lowering your corvette. Why?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Ky
Lowering your corvette. Why?
Lowering seems to be a popular mod to do. Apparently, it's an easy DIY.
What are the advantages? My first thought is handling. Does the lower center of gravity help that much?
Or, is it mostly cosmetic.
In addition, how low do most of you go?
Lastly, is there a site which shows how?
Thanks!
What are the advantages? My first thought is handling. Does the lower center of gravity help that much?
Or, is it mostly cosmetic.
In addition, how low do most of you go?
Lastly, is there a site which shows how?
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
I lowered mine as the 1st mod. I did it mainly to see if I could and also for aesthetics, not for performance. I used the information in the following link to lower it. I DID NOT cut the bushings I just left them as they were.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=27&TopicID=1
I also ended up needing new shocks and got the bilstien shocks which lowered it a little more.
MAKE SURE YOU GET AN ALIGNMENT a few days after lowering the car.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=27&TopicID=1
I also ended up needing new shocks and got the bilstien shocks which lowered it a little more.
MAKE SURE YOU GET AN ALIGNMENT a few days after lowering the car.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Originally Posted by Zippy The Wonderdog
Lastly, is there a site which shows how?
I'll let those who have lowered their cars answer your other questions.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
In most cases, people do it to close the large gap between the top of the tire and the edge of the fender. If you look at a lowered car, it will become evident that shortening that gap gives a much nicer look. Mine didn't come down, as much in the back as the front, but that is fine with me. The front gap is what really bothered me. It has a more aggressive stance now.
Some refer to a non-lowered Corvette as a 4 wheeler; as in 4 wheel drive SUV or pick-em up truck .
Some refer to a non-lowered Corvette as a 4 wheeler; as in 4 wheel drive SUV or pick-em up truck .
Last edited by StevieB; Oct 11, 2004 at 11:10 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
At first I was worried .. now after a couple of weeks, I can feel a smoother ride. My buddy says Euopean cars come lower, maybe Amercian manuf. think about the bad roads here? It's been one of the best performance mods I've done! 
IMHO.
IMHO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 0
From: arlington tx
also, compare a C6 to the C5 and see how much lower the frt air dam is to the ground? ive noticed it anyway...anyhoo, i raised mine up a smidge from where i initially had it and its great. rides great, handles great, etc etc etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by JnJ
Because all the cool kids are doing it! 
It's sorta like wearing Bass Weegan penny loafers without socks, and Gant shirts back in the Stone Age.
Lowered and Slammed............
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Couldn't wait to lower mine after I got it home. Thank goodness for this forum for educating me before it arrived so I wouldn't drive around naively in a 4x4 thinking it was a vette.
Before
After 1" drop
Here are a few pics of the process.
Before
After 1" drop
Here are a few pics of the process.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
At first I wanted to lower the vette but I noticed that when I bought my car the that 1/3 of the skid pads were scraped off. In addition to that something in the front of my car scrapes when I come across bumps or dips in the road, what more if I lowered it. But lowered vettes look a lot better IMO.
the vette gets lowered when I sit in it anyways
the vette gets lowered when I sit in it anyways
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
It looks better lowered and lowerring the center of gravity has to help it corner, but I can't compare it to the non lowered version of my car. It was lowered with 90 miles on it.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,795
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Many do it for looks - and it does look good. Unfortunately, if I did this, I would not be able to get up my driveway. It scrapes as it is.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 16,398
Likes: 0
The cornering did improve and the ride is a little stiffer but I like it. If you do it, don't tighten the front bolts all the way down. Go all the way down but then back it off about a 1/2 turn, the ride will be much nicer like that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 30
From: Friendswood, Tx
For me it was looks only- I'm not much of a canyon carver. It was/still is the best appearence mod I've done. After lowering it, I would never own a stock height Vette again.- see my sig pic.
