Lower my car?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 764
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Lower my car?
I read a a lot of threads here where members show pictures of their rides with new wheels, mods etc. The responses are usually positve but will many times include " lower that car" or "needs to be lowered". These same members will jump all over some mods for being too ricer. Isn't slamming a car about the first thing ricer owners do? Having said that, I like the slightly lowered look on Vettes. I'd like to know from lowered owners, what problems lowering has caused you. For instance, I'm stock height and still can't back out of my steep driveway without scraping my front spoiler. I want to lower but I'm worried about the resulting damage. Should I be? 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Stock height on the production C5 was set on a worst-case, real-world basis. Ground clearance has to be set so the typical owner has no problem negotiating normal roadways and parking lots. That means a lot of us are going to be dissatisfied with the ride height, and thus, the stance of the car. Looks like a 4x4. The handling can also be improved by lowering the car's center of gravity. Using the height adjustment built into the suspension, you can easily stay within the suspension travel tolerances the car needs to remain streetable. Getting the wheels to look more neatly tucked into the wheel wells is just a few screw turns away.
Consider the pics of mine below and after lowering shortly after I brought it home.
Before - 4x4!!!
After
It just looks so much better and I can still get over most speed bumps and obstacles with no problem.
Consider the pics of mine below and after lowering shortly after I brought it home.
Before - 4x4!!!
After
It just looks so much better and I can still get over most speed bumps and obstacles with no problem.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I don't mean to hijack the thread, and along the same lines, I have a question...
A buddy of mine has an '03 Coupe with F55, and I've been on him for nearly a year about getting rid of the off-road look!
Has there been any definitive answer as to whether lowering is bad or okay with F55? Has anyone else lowered their car with the F55, and then how much? He's not considering cutting the bushing or dropping it into the weeds, just dropping the back about an 1 1/2", and the front about 3/4"......thanks!
A buddy of mine has an '03 Coupe with F55, and I've been on him for nearly a year about getting rid of the off-road look!
Has there been any definitive answer as to whether lowering is bad or okay with F55? Has anyone else lowered their car with the F55, and then how much? He's not considering cutting the bushing or dropping it into the weeds, just dropping the back about an 1 1/2", and the front about 3/4"......thanks!
Moderator Emeritus
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From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
I'm lowered as far as I can go on stock bolts without cutting the bushings. The only problem you may run into is the obvious....scraping. Remember, though, that the front spoiler is on a hinge and is meant to "give." The ride may be just a bit harsher also.
The ride may be just a bit harsher also.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
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From: Loveland CO
Mine has been lowered as far as it will go without coil overs. Meaning no stops in the front and longer bolts in the back. I have about a finger and a half clearance between the tire and the 1/4 panel. I have not had any issues with this set up in a year and a half. I have scraped on a few speed bumps but nothing exsessive. The ride is a little stiff but you get used to it. Kaley
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,494
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From: McKinney Tx
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '05
lowered with no regrets and I have the inclunded driveway. I've learned to approach it at a 45 degree angle and generally dont hear any scraping up front Lower it, it wont hurt it
Lower it, it wont hurt it
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 650
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From: Southern California CA
Lower it all the way down on the stock bolts. This will take you down ~1", and will lower your CG, improve handling, braking, and aesthetics.
Combine this with a set of A&A's frame savers and rocker rails, $109 for both, and a must for lowered cars, to protect you from tire stops and inclined driveways. Also, consider adding a set of Bilstein sports shocks for ~$300 and a set of Z06 sway bars (~200) and you will have a very nice performing and looking C5. The front spoiler(s) can take a lot of abuse and it is not a big deal if they scrape. Remember to do an alignment if you lower it. Start by lowering it only and drive it for a couple hundred miles to see how you like it. You don't need to align it immediately. You can lower the car yourself or pay ~$100 to have it done.
Combine this with a set of A&A's frame savers and rocker rails, $109 for both, and a must for lowered cars, to protect you from tire stops and inclined driveways. Also, consider adding a set of Bilstein sports shocks for ~$300 and a set of Z06 sway bars (~200) and you will have a very nice performing and looking C5. The front spoiler(s) can take a lot of abuse and it is not a big deal if they scrape. Remember to do an alignment if you lower it. Start by lowering it only and drive it for a couple hundred miles to see how you like it. You don't need to align it immediately. You can lower the car yourself or pay ~$100 to have it done.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,120
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From: Ypsilanti MI
Black Sedan...I had the F45 suspension but I had that option deleted for about $80 by a Chevy Dealership. Then I installed the Bilstein Sport Shocks and Hotchkis sway bars and lowered it 1.5 inches. I still can go lower and probley will eventually.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I was against lowering for the longest time, but after seeing many lowered C5s and how much better they looked, I decided I HAD to try out the lowered look. You'll notice that the trend with most cars today is with minimal tire-to-fender gap. BMW seems to have started this design philosophy and many other manufacturers have folowed suite. My sig pic shows what lowering on the stock bolts will do.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Lowering has been a popular hotrod mod since the 30's and 40's and is a trend that will likely never go away.
Sure the ricers do it too, but it was popular long before they were even born, so to call this a ricer mod is ridiculous.
With that said....Slam it!!
Sure the ricers do it too, but it was popular long before they were even born, so to call this a ricer mod is ridiculous.
With that said....Slam it!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by MikeJamesC5
Black Sedan...I had the F45 suspension but I had that option deleted for about $80 by a Chevy Dealership. Then I installed the Bilstein Sport Shocks and Hotchkis sway bars and lowered it 1.5 inches. I still can go lower and probley will eventually.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
Lowering has been a popular hotrod mod since the 30's and 40's and is a trend that will likely never go away.
Sure the ricers do it too, but it was popular long before they were even born, so to call this a ricer mod is ridiculous.
With that said....Slam it!!
Sure the ricers do it too, but it was popular long before they were even born, so to call this a ricer mod is ridiculous.
With that said....Slam it!!
"whateva, whateva I'ma do what I want."
Last edited by Neablas; Dec 3, 2004 at 03:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by MikeJamesC5
Black Sedan...I had the F45 suspension but I had that option deleted for about $80 by a Chevy Dealership. Then I installed the Bilstein Sport Shocks and Hotchkis sway bars and lowered it 1.5 inches. I still can go lower and probley will eventually.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
I believe the F55 is the same thing almost as the F45 just the newer version. I've also been told that you don't have to delete it but it depends some people have problems if they don't. I just did because a forum tuner recommended it.
Cajun...How do you like your Z51 leaf springs? I'm debating on getting those or the Z06 ones.
PM sent......
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
No such thing as too low!!
Check out a member's car - ALLKAR. Now THAT is low!! I would love to get my car that low - and if I can't negotiate a entrance/street/state- I'll drive my DD there
Lowered to the max on stock bolts - now Inferno is *really* going d-o-w-n
Check out a member's car - ALLKAR. Now THAT is low!! I would love to get my car that low - and if I can't negotiate a entrance/street/state- I'll drive my DD there
Lowered to the max on stock bolts - now Inferno is *really* going d-o-w-n
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I don't mean to hijack the thread, and along the same lines, I have a question...
A buddy of mine has an '03 Coupe with F55, and I've been on him for nearly a year about getting rid of the off-road look!
Has there been any definitive answer as to whether lowering is bad or okay with F55? Has anyone else lowered their car with the F55, and then how much? He's not considering cutting the bushing or dropping it into the weeds, just dropping the back about an 1 1/2", and the front about 3/4"......thanks!
A buddy of mine has an '03 Coupe with F55, and I've been on him for nearly a year about getting rid of the off-road look!
Has there been any definitive answer as to whether lowering is bad or okay with F55? Has anyone else lowered their car with the F55, and then how much? He's not considering cutting the bushing or dropping it into the weeds, just dropping the back about an 1 1/2", and the front about 3/4"......thanks!