How Low is Too Low...?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 2
How Low is Too Low...?
I have base suspension with Bilsteins and Z06 bars and lowered and alligned to factory stops.
Want to go a half cut bushing lower in the front, and a little more in the back, but don't want to screw up my handling and aerodynamics for looks. I also don't want to lose too much of my ride quality...
Can these things really possess track-like handling past the factory stops...?
Want to go a half cut bushing lower in the front, and a little more in the back, but don't want to screw up my handling and aerodynamics for looks. I also don't want to lose too much of my ride quality...
Can these things really possess track-like handling past the factory stops...?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 925
Likes: 4
From: EXTON PA
lower is not better
If you intend not to ride the c5 ok, but start thinking about servicing the car, and a flat tire if your lowered. A flat and your car height drops to the road and the road will eat your fiberglass till you stop. I am sure you can think of the additional problems that come from this complusive desire to lowered this vehicle to the dirt. Stop, Look, Think and make a good choice for the type of driving you will use with your car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point Ca
Originally Posted by kg54trains
If you intend not to ride the c5 ok, but start thinking about servicing the car, and a flat tire if your lowered. A flat and your car height drops to the road and the road will eat your fiberglass till you stop. I am sure you can think of the additional problems that come from this complusive desire to lowered this vehicle to the dirt. Stop, Look, Think and make a good choice for the type of driving you will use with your car.
I've been lowered like this for over a year and no problems besides a less than perfect ride. I do have stiff coil overs, T1 sways, and no sidewall on my tires so that doesn't help. Go for it, the looks and cornering you get are more than worth it.
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
Originally Posted by vettethret
I don't know where you got this one, but my car is lowered 4" and I've gotten a flat with my 20" rears, I was no where close to scraping the car, which is not fiberglass anymore by the way! I've been lowered like this for over a year and no problems besides a less than perfect ride. I do have stiff coil overs, T1 sways, and no sidewall on my tires so that doesn't help. Go for it, the looks and cornering you get are more than worth it.
I've been lowered like this for over a year and no problems besides a less than perfect ride. I do have stiff coil overs, T1 sways, and no sidewall on my tires so that doesn't help. Go for it, the looks and cornering you get are more than worth it.
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 vettethret
I don't know where you got this one, but my car is lowered 4" and I've gotten a flat with my 20" rears, I was no where close to scraping the car, which is not fiberglass anymore by the way! I've been lowered like this for over a year and no problems besides a less than perfect ride. I do have stiff coil overs, T1 sways, and no sidewall on my tires so that doesn't help. Go for it, the looks and cornering you get are more than worth it.
I've been lowered like this for over a year and no problems besides a less than perfect ride. I do have stiff coil overs, T1 sways, and no sidewall on my tires so that doesn't help. Go for it, the looks and cornering you get are more than worth it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Originally Posted by mixermike
i own 3 cars and a truck,everything is lowered but the wife's new beetle! PRAISE THE LOWERED
Geez, my stock height 01 has trouble straddling a dead ground hog on the road. You lowered guys must inhale your share of dead skunks .....
Ron ...
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Katy
Originally Posted by RonJ
Geez, my stock height 01 has trouble straddling a dead ground hog on the road. You lowered guys must inhale your share of dead skunks .....
Ron ...
Ron ...
(and I'm at the stock 4x4 height)
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
Originally Posted by RonJ
Geez, my stock height 01 has trouble straddling a dead ground hog on the road. You lowered guys must inhale your share of dead skunks .....
Ron ...
Ron ...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 2
Just looking to drop another 1/2 inch really. Lowered to the stops and really little problems scraping or rubbing. Don't want to got otally slammed, just wondering where the threshold is where the suspension A arms are no longer in allignment and the lowering begins to truly negatively effect handling and ride.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 195
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by jmiller
No joke! I ran over a possum and I felt it hit everything under the car. I just knew it was going to knock the exhaust off (and I'm at the stock 4x4 height)
(and I'm at the stock 4x4 height)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 16
From: Nashville TN
You can cut 2/3 off the bushings, and put longer bolts in the back and the car can still be properly aligned. Go ahead and lower it, just be sure to keep some rake front to rear for aerodynamics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point Ca
Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
You learn to look a quarter mile ahead and dodge everything. 2300mile round trip from CT to KY and back for the Cruise In - and nary a thing was hit or scraped or dragged. It's just technique.
I once sucked up a man hole cover in my intake and had to buy a new one! The good news is that it didn't hydrolock the motor!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Originally Posted by vettethret
I once sucked up a man hole cover in my intake and had to buy a new one! The good news is that it didn't hydrolock the motor!
I've seen some crazy stuff turn up in these ram air hoppers....
Scott
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,031
Likes: 17
I've hit countless items at my lowered height, including something that looked like the arm off of a chair. I thought for sure I busted something up, but when I inspected I couldn't find much damage. I do have several bone jarring scrape encounters of the underbody kind to my experience. The car holds up well.
