not low enough! sorry long
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 415
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From: new haven ct
not low enough! sorry long
I decided to lower my 02 coupe with Z51. It only dropped less than 1/2 inch. Im now thinking to cut the front derlin bushings and get long rear bolts. The problem is Need to know whats the lowest I can go without bottoming out the Z51 shocks, being able to bring camber back to specs, factory eccentric bolts can only correct so much, also has anybody run into the need to use adjustable tie rod ends to correct bump steer. If anyone has any good how to links on cutting front bushings id appreciate it.
thanks in advance Steve
thanks in advance Steve
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by gamisou
I decided to lower my 02 coupe with Z51. It only dropped less than 1/2 inch. Im now thinking to cut the front derlin bushings and get long rear bolts. The problem is Need to know whats the lowest I can go without bottoming out the Z51 shocks, being able to bring camber back to specs, factory eccentric bolts can only correct so much, also has anybody run into the need to use adjustable tie rod ends to correct bump steer. If anyone has any good how to links on cutting front bushings id appreciate it.
thanks in advance Steve
thanks in advance Steve
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
The stock front bushings are not delrin...they are a very soft squishy rubber.
If you can jack up the end of the spring, you can reach in there and saw them off in place without disassembling anything. If you need to do it the hard way, here's the how-to:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=90&TopicID=1
If you find your shocks bottom out, just buy some Bilstien sport shocks.
I don't know about alignment limits...but I'm at 25 7/8" front on cut bushings, and camber is fine. No bump steer kit, although I could probably use it.
If you can jack up the end of the spring, you can reach in there and saw them off in place without disassembling anything. If you need to do it the hard way, here's the how-to:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=90&TopicID=1
If you find your shocks bottom out, just buy some Bilstien sport shocks.
I don't know about alignment limits...but I'm at 25 7/8" front on cut bushings, and camber is fine. No bump steer kit, although I could probably use it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: new haven ct
Today 12:27 AM
leaftye To go real low, get VBP springs (they're flatter), take out the front bolts, and get the long rear bolts....have fun draggin' the oil pan!
C'mon lets lets not get sarcastic now
leaftye To go real low, get VBP springs (they're flatter), take out the front bolts, and get the long rear bolts....have fun draggin' the oil pan!
C'mon lets lets not get sarcastic now
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by gamisou
Hows your alignment Y2Kvert4me is adjusted back to factory specs. Also whats your rear ride hight, your front of 25 7/8" is probably what im shooting for.
thanks Steve
thanks Steve
As for the rear height, I wish I could go measure it now, but since I'm out of town and my car is about 1000 miles away...I'm gonna guesstimate it's about 26 1/2"-26 3/4".
I have longer rear bolts, which have a much more adjustable "lowering range" than the front...so I got the front as low as I could tolerate it (for street usage), and just adjusted the rear to best match it and keep a little bit of rake. I could crank the rear down more if I wanted to, the rear is so much easier to adjust and fine tune, so I just set it where it looks best..
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
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From: SoCal
I had my front bushing cut and could only get it down to 26.5.....this is with adding brand now Z06 springs....which I am told keep it up higher. I was shooting for 26 but looks like I would have to completely remove adjuster bolts...and I am leary of this.
The rear has long bolts and was easy to get down to 26.5....I have raised it two times. Finally today its up to 27 which gives me an equal
front and rear fender/wheel gap and a little rake.
Started off with maximum adjustment of stock bolts of:
27.5 front and 28.25 rear.
The rear has long bolts and was easy to get down to 26.5....I have raised it two times. Finally today its up to 27 which gives me an equal
front and rear fender/wheel gap and a little rake.
Started off with maximum adjustment of stock bolts of:
27.5 front and 28.25 rear.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,335
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From: Northwest Suburbs of Chicago IL
I have removed bolts front and longer bolts for the rear.... I wonder how low my car sits...
where exactly do you guys measure from? top of the wheel well fender to the ground?
where exactly do you guys measure from? top of the wheel well fender to the ground?
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 1
From: Defending the US Constitution in Northern CA
I'll offer a word of caution. Your front lower A-arm will contact the frame when you spindle centerline to fender lip measurement gets to 12 1/4. Your stock shock should bottom out at about 13 1/4". Keep in mind that even if you go to shorter shocks up front, to be safe you need at least 1 1/2" compression travel before bottoming out or you could lose control of the car at speed over large bumps.
I use spindle centerline to wheel lip measurements because so many of my customers have changed tire sizes that I don't need to factor that in. With the measurement that others have posted here, you either need to assume that they are running the same tire diameters as you, or their information may not translate well to your car.
I use spindle centerline to wheel lip measurements because so many of my customers have changed tire sizes that I don't need to factor that in. With the measurement that others have posted here, you either need to assume that they are running the same tire diameters as you, or their information may not translate well to your car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: new haven ct
Good call on that C5stein, I'll have to keep an eye on that. Anyways I decided to cut the front and rear bushings. It lowered a lot more, and I think I'm satisfied with it if I have no other problems later. Final floor to fender measurement is Rear 27 1/8, Front 26 1/2, still has a decent rake and looks good. Thanks for all the help guys.
thanks steve.
thanks steve.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 534
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From: New Brunswick
Mine is currently at 27 7/8 rear & 27 1/4 in front.
I just did mine a few weeks back & haven't driven it yet. Apparently it'll lower more once I start driving it.
Curious to see other ppls lowered vettes (stock bolts) measurements. (floor to fenderwell)
anyone?
Denis
I just did mine a few weeks back & haven't driven it yet. Apparently it'll lower more once I start driving it.
Curious to see other ppls lowered vettes (stock bolts) measurements. (floor to fenderwell)
anyone?
Denis
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Scarborough
Originally Posted by sirsenna
Mine is currently at 27 7/8 rear & 27 1/4 in front.
I just did mine a few weeks back & haven't driven it yet. Apparently it'll lower more once I start driving it.
Curious to see other ppls lowered vettes (stock bolts) measurements. (floor to fenderwell)
anyone?
Denis
I just did mine a few weeks back & haven't driven it yet. Apparently it'll lower more once I start driving it.
Curious to see other ppls lowered vettes (stock bolts) measurements. (floor to fenderwell)
anyone?
Denis
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Mark, great point
I recently installed Z06 springs and sways and my tuner recommended lowering a bit...I don't have measurements but I'd guess an inch lower on stock wheels/rubber.
Does anyone with a lower car that tracks it have any issue rubbing fender wells on long sweepers or high speed turns...
I'm new to having my car lowered, and to me it looks LOW, although it's nothing like some of the cars on here I've seen (ET and others).
Thanks!
I recently installed Z06 springs and sways and my tuner recommended lowering a bit...I don't have measurements but I'd guess an inch lower on stock wheels/rubber.
Does anyone with a lower car that tracks it have any issue rubbing fender wells on long sweepers or high speed turns...
I'm new to having my car lowered, and to me it looks LOW, although it's nothing like some of the cars on here I've seen (ET and others).
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Yes I had to cut 3/8" off the fenders they were cording the slicks last year and I didn't notice it. I saw it when I came in to do brkaes at Lime Rock and saw threads of rubber. It does such a nice job you don't notice it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by yellow01
Mark, great point
I recently installed Z06 springs and sways and my tuner recommended lowering a bit...I don't have measurements but I'd guess an inch lower on stock wheels/rubber.
Does anyone with a lower car that tracks it have any issue rubbing fender wells on long sweepers or high speed turns...
I'm new to having my car lowered, and to me it looks LOW, although it's nothing like some of the cars on here I've seen (ET and others).
Thanks!
I recently installed Z06 springs and sways and my tuner recommended lowering a bit...I don't have measurements but I'd guess an inch lower on stock wheels/rubber.
Does anyone with a lower car that tracks it have any issue rubbing fender wells on long sweepers or high speed turns...
I'm new to having my car lowered, and to me it looks LOW, although it's nothing like some of the cars on here I've seen (ET and others).
Thanks!
I did the Z06 springs too, and was told they don't go as low due to their stiffness. How do you like them??
Revised measurements:
Front 26.5
Rear 27.25
This is with a nearly empty gas tank.
The rake looks right and I have even fender/wheel gap (slightly more than 2 fingers)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by gamisou
drove it today I think I'm gonna have to bring it up a bit. Getting in and out of my driveway is a tight I hear scraping and don't think it's just the front air dam. Oh well.
