C5 Front Lowering Bolts
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ponca City Ok
C5 Front Lowering Bolts
My mechanic tried this without success. We had the pics and directions from the forum. What did he do wrong? It didn't work. I was not there so I'm assuming he followed the guidelines.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ponca City Ok
C5 Front Lowering Bolts (Existing)
The car was put on his lift and he says that he took the tension off of the spring to back out the bolts. One at a time and then dropped the car back down and checked the distance between the tire and the fender. No difference! ??? I guess I'm wondering if he really did lift the spring to take the pressure off the bolt. With the car in the air I'm kind of wondering what he would of used to do this. This guy is the best mechanic in town and has done other stuff to my car with no problems. Thanks for your input.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 905
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
You must drive the car a while after lowering to let the suspension settle. It will usually look like it's actually higher right after you jack the car up as the suspension is loaded and must settle back down.
Drive it for a while.
Drive it for a while.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
Get your wheel off the ground and look under there and see if the bolt is indeed turned all the way up with no space between the bottom of the bolt bushing flat surface and the lower A arm facing. You will be able to see right away if the bolt has been turned all the way or not.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ponca City Ok
Thanks for the input. Just talked to my mechanic and he said he did leave the bolts all the way out but in doing so he "DID NOT" take the tension off the spring. I drove the car several miles and it didn't lower a bit !!! He can't see how the spring tension would make a difference. Any ideas??? Thanks.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
2 cents worth
Thanks for the input. Just talked to my mechanic and he said he did leave the bolts all the way out but in doing so he "DID NOT" take the tension off the spring. I drove the car several miles and it didn't lower a bit !!! He can't see how the spring tension would make a difference. Any ideas??? Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
You can either look and see how much bolt is above the front spring or reach under and feel. My car is lowered to the max on the stock front bolts and I have about 1.3 inches of bolt above the spring. Is it possible he went the wrong way with the bolts? I believe the front are reverse thread. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
I lowered mine last night to the max w/ stock bolts & bushings. Took measurments before & after. Not even a 1/8" difference. I'm not a bit worried because I have read in previous post that you have to drive on it for a couple of hundred miles to let things settle and then get a propper allignment. On the rear I took out the stock bolts and put in the longer lowering bolts and WOW! It's really dropped to the point that I may have to bring it up a tad. I have'nt moved the car , and its still on the ramps, but if the car settles any lower in the rear when driving around then I will definely have to raise it up a little. I left 4 thraeds @ the top of the longer lowering bolts. Has anyone tried the longer lowering bolts in the front? If so what is your oppion?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I lowered mine last night to the max w/ stock bolts & bushings. Took measurments before & after. Not even a 1/8" difference. I'm not a bit worried because I have read in previous post that you have to drive on it for a couple of hundred miles to let things settle and then get a propper allignment. On the rear I took out the stock bolts and put in the longer lowering bolts and WOW! It's really dropped to the point that I may have to bring it up a tad. I have'nt moved the car , and its still on the ramps, but if the car settles any lower in the rear when driving around then I will definely have to raise it up a little. I left 4 thraeds @ the top of the longer lowering bolts. Has anyone tried the longer lowering bolts in the front? If so what is your oppion?
Some have used the C6/Z06 front bolts or HARDBARUSA front bolts, which have different thickness of bushings. Some elect to cut or remove the bushings, or remove the bolts in the front entirely. But then you have the spring rubbing to contend with. Those same people usually fashion some type of pad for the spring to rest on.
My personal oppion (sic)...going to low (ala "lowrider") really screws up the engineering that GM engineers spent lots of time/money to figure out. However, lowering on stock bolts/bushings might allow for an improved ride (road condition?) and is within the 5/8-3/4" lower recommendation which GM suggested.
It's your car to do with as you please.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Cottonwood CA
Just another lowering question....
I did the back and it came right down.
I did the front this afternoon. I backed it off what seems like 30-40 turns (OK, quarter turns with the available room.) Is there a point where you feel it bottom out? I am still not sure if I turned it enough.
I drove it for a bit and I don't see a difference...is there a time/distance factor before I should try turning it some more?
Thanks
I did the back and it came right down.
I did the front this afternoon. I backed it off what seems like 30-40 turns (OK, quarter turns with the available room.) Is there a point where you feel it bottom out? I am still not sure if I turned it enough.
I drove it for a bit and I don't see a difference...is there a time/distance factor before I should try turning it some more?
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Riverview Florida
Just another lowering question....
I did the back and it came right down.
I did the front this afternoon. I backed it off what seems like 30-40 turns (OK, quarter turns with the available room.) Is there a point where you feel it bottom out? I am still not sure if I turned it enough.
I drove it for a bit and I don't see a difference...is there a time/distance factor before I should try turning it some more?
Thanks
I did the back and it came right down.
I did the front this afternoon. I backed it off what seems like 30-40 turns (OK, quarter turns with the available room.) Is there a point where you feel it bottom out? I am still not sure if I turned it enough.
I drove it for a bit and I don't see a difference...is there a time/distance factor before I should try turning it some more?
Thanks
