Thinking About Lowering My C5
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Holden Beach North Carolina
Thinking About Lowering My C5
Somewhere I remember hearing that if your C5 has MSRC, F55 option, that it should not be lowered. I was considering dropping it about 1 inch on all four corners without the use of any adapters, but am now wondering if this would be adviseable. Thanks in advance for any comments.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Here -- read all about it:
http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm
For your purposes F45/F55, same difference.
Hib Halverson is pretty knowledgeable.
Cheerio!
http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm
For your purposes F45/F55, same difference.
I checked with automotive author and C5 guru Hib Halverson who said: "Both Delphi and the Corvette Team people told me that F45 has a problem with lowered cars and increased damping, i.e.: the car rides more stiffly." and "I think you can use the spring jack screws to lower the car as much as that will allow. Then road test the car, if you don't like the ride, simply crank up the adjustment again." Followed by: "There won't be damage to the shocks. What I was told is that the F45 system "sees" the decrease in ride height and sometimes increases damping during normal driving where ordinarily there would be no increase." Keep in mind that F45 cars have base springs. Softly sprung cars may have more of a problem with lowering than will Z51s.
Cheerio!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville Georgia
My rubber piece under my front bumper already scrapes everything! I wouldn't want to even know what It would be like lowering It any more....It would probably scrape going over a pot hole LoL...I see your point though...There's like a 3-4" gap between the top of the wheel and the fender, so It would look better lowered an Inch or 2.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
My F55 is down as low as it will go on stock bolts. No difference in ride quality. Be sure to get the car aligned though, after dropping it. The alignment will change and that will effect handling and ride. Getting the alignment done after dropping it will restore the ride and handling.
yes, the air dam underneath scrapes more, but yes, it is hinged so other than some noise it's no biggy. If it bugs you enough take the two bolts out, run it across a table saw, and put it back on.
yes, the air dam underneath scrapes more, but yes, it is hinged so other than some noise it's no biggy. If it bugs you enough take the two bolts out, run it across a table saw, and put it back on.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
I have some thoughts from the great article @ http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm
1. It is easier to work with the wheels off. I did one wheel at a time and still got the same results.
2. The clockwise rotation in the back is to *loosen* and lower the threads through the leaf spring. A good hint is to "drop" the rear suspension away from the leaf spring and to "tighten" the front suspension into the leaf spring.
3. Make sure you use a floor jack or something to support the lower A-arm when you try to remove the lower shock bolts and move the front shocks.
4. It looks like the front end "toes out" when complete and lowered so get your front end alignment done. I got 1/2 inch out of the front and about 1 inch out of the rear.
Thanks, Mike
1. It is easier to work with the wheels off. I did one wheel at a time and still got the same results.
2. The clockwise rotation in the back is to *loosen* and lower the threads through the leaf spring. A good hint is to "drop" the rear suspension away from the leaf spring and to "tighten" the front suspension into the leaf spring.
3. Make sure you use a floor jack or something to support the lower A-arm when you try to remove the lower shock bolts and move the front shocks.
4. It looks like the front end "toes out" when complete and lowered so get your front end alignment done. I got 1/2 inch out of the front and about 1 inch out of the rear.
Thanks, Mike
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Sterling Virginia
My biggest regret about lowering is that I didn't get rocker rails and front end rollers before lowering! 
Other than that it's great! I did end up taking the air dam corner pieces and trimming them about an inch. I figure the middle will scrape down to where it needs to be eventually
-Rich
Other than that it's great! I did end up taking the air dam corner pieces and trimming them about an inch. I figure the middle will scrape down to where it needs to be eventually
-Rich
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