Lowering Questions
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its pupils.
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Lowering Questions
Ok, I’ve already spoken to ALLKAR about lowering and he’s said that to really SLAM the car I’d need to go with Bilstein coilovers. I don’t believe I can afford them right now (don’t really know as I haven’t been able to price them online yet) so in the meantime what can I do to drop the car as low as possible?
I’ve already followed the Lowering the C5 Tech Tip w/o swapping out the bolts in the rear. I can still get 3 finger widths between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well. Actually, it’s slightly more on the front and slightly less on the rear. This is after a few weeks now so the car has had some time to settle.
Replacing the stock bolts with longer grade 8’s and cutting some (most) of the bushing will drop the rear some more but as it is the rear is already lower than the front. I’ve heard that you can completely remove the front bolts to lower it more. Huh?
I’m confused. What are the bolts holding and wouldn’t they need to stay there to hold whatever it is they are holding? When I lowered it, I didn’t see the bottom of the front bolts so I don’t know how they are configured, what they are holding or fastened to other than the leaf spring.
Any information on lowering the car as far as possible without swapping shocks would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve already followed the Lowering the C5 Tech Tip w/o swapping out the bolts in the rear. I can still get 3 finger widths between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well. Actually, it’s slightly more on the front and slightly less on the rear. This is after a few weeks now so the car has had some time to settle.
Replacing the stock bolts with longer grade 8’s and cutting some (most) of the bushing will drop the rear some more but as it is the rear is already lower than the front. I’ve heard that you can completely remove the front bolts to lower it more. Huh?
I’m confused. What are the bolts holding and wouldn’t they need to stay there to hold whatever it is they are holding? When I lowered it, I didn’t see the bottom of the front bolts so I don’t know how they are configured, what they are holding or fastened to other than the leaf spring.Any information on lowering the car as far as possible without swapping shocks would be greatly appreciated.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 166
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From: Huntington Indiana
I have mine lowered like you are asking although I did not take the front bolts out. The only thing that the front bolts hold is the bushings. They really don't hold anything. I am completely happy with the way the car sits when I took out the rear bolts and replace with longer ones. You have to take measurements to insure that you don't go lower in the back verses the front. I can get 2 fingures ( Barely ) in the back fender well and the same in the front. This is really a good free mod that you can do when you can't afford coil overs. Good luck! 
Mike
Mike
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its pupils.
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks for the info Mike.
With some additional research I found out about removing the front bushings. I suppose I could remove the front bushings and then add the longer bolts in the rear and that will probably be as low as it will go w/o putting on the Bilstein coilovers.
Anyone else?
With some additional research I found out about removing the front bushings. I suppose I could remove the front bushings and then add the longer bolts in the rear and that will probably be as low as it will go w/o putting on the Bilstein coilovers.
Anyone else?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Fly Over State
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Cruise-In V Veteran
If you deceide to remove the front bolts, you won't have much travel left with the stock shocks. The ride will be Crap! I would suggest getting a set of Bilstein sport shocks. They are about an inch shorter and will give you some wheel travel back before bottoming the shocks out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its pupils.
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Yeah, sounds like a good idea lvvette777. I'll take it slowly one piece at a time and test it before going any further.
I don't plan on removing the bolts at this point ALLKAR but if I do I will definitely look into replacing the stock shocks.
Thanks for the tips guys!
I don't plan on removing the bolts at this point ALLKAR but if I do I will definitely look into replacing the stock shocks.
Thanks for the tips guys!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
My car is lowered on stock bolts with no bushings cut...the car is 5 years old with 55,000 miles.. Lowering it was my first mod 5 years ago..
I have Z51 suspension.. I can barely get one finger between the tire and my rear quarter panel.,.The clearance became dramatically different after the CCW install.
I have Z51 suspension.. I can barely get one finger between the tire and my rear quarter panel.,.The clearance became dramatically different after the CCW install.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 650
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From: Southern California CA
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
My car is lowered on stock bolts with no bushings cut...the car is 5 years old with 55,000 miles.. Lowering it was my first mod 5 years ago..
I have Z51 suspension.. I can barely get one finger between the tire and my rear quarter panel.,.The clearance became dramatically different after the CCW install.
I have Z51 suspension.. I can barely get one finger between the tire and my rear quarter panel.,.The clearance became dramatically different after the CCW install.
I had my car lowered all the way down on stock bolts ~1" but my car does not look as low as yours.
BTW, your car looks AWESOME! I like the brake ducts. Where did you get those?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
David - If you decide to go lower with longer bolts for the rear - I've got a new set of bolts that I didn't use including new bushings that you can have. I'll bring them to the CCM meeting Thursday night.
But, I'd suggest that you drive your car for a few weeks to let it settle after lowering as much as you already have before thinking about going any further. Just lowering on stock bolts without cutting the bushings can give you a pretty dramatic change in both appearance and handling without affecting your ride. Keep in mind that you may want to change the type of tire you are riding on at some time and the sidewall height may be different on those tires, too.
You might also want to talk with Manny and a few others about going much lower and the characteristics that change (such as clearing drive ways, speed bumps and your access/egress for your car. Both mine and OOH YEAH's cars have been lowered about the same amount and have settled so you might want to park next to us sometime to see what it will be like.
Oh, and after settling - I'd recommend a 4-wheel alignment. I bought a life-time alignment program for $140 at a shop that can easily handle a lowered Vette and they also set my camber, too.
Jim
But, I'd suggest that you drive your car for a few weeks to let it settle after lowering as much as you already have before thinking about going any further. Just lowering on stock bolts without cutting the bushings can give you a pretty dramatic change in both appearance and handling without affecting your ride. Keep in mind that you may want to change the type of tire you are riding on at some time and the sidewall height may be different on those tires, too.
You might also want to talk with Manny and a few others about going much lower and the characteristics that change (such as clearing drive ways, speed bumps and your access/egress for your car. Both mine and OOH YEAH's cars have been lowered about the same amount and have settled so you might want to park next to us sometime to see what it will be like.
Oh, and after settling - I'd recommend a 4-wheel alignment. I bought a life-time alignment program for $140 at a shop that can easily handle a lowered Vette and they also set my camber, too.
Jim
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its pupils.
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St. Jude Donor '07
Yeah ET, your car rocks. Love that look. I want those rims so bad I can hardly stand it.
Jim - Thanks, I'd be glad to take those bolts off your hands.
I lowered it all the way down on the stock bolts about a couple of weeks ago and it's still too high. You'll see Thursday. It certainly doesn't look or feel dramatic to me. I'm beginning to wonder if it's not "stuck" or something.
I'll also need you to give me the name of that place you got your alignment from again. I think I remember but you know how forgetful I am.
Jim - Thanks, I'd be glad to take those bolts off your hands.
I lowered it all the way down on the stock bolts about a couple of weeks ago and it's still too high. You'll see Thursday. It certainly doesn't look or feel dramatic to me. I'm beginning to wonder if it's not "stuck" or something.
I'll also need you to give me the name of that place you got your alignment from again. I think I remember but you know how forgetful I am.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Let John drive your car in the next autocross.....I'm sure it will come back lower, wetter, grassier, maybe some mud, and a few fish in it.
Our cars should be fairly close to even. We'll check Thursday night.
Our cars should be fairly close to even. We'll check Thursday night.