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Reasonable Charge for lowering

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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 12:24 AM
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I did mine myself. it takes about 20 min. to do the rear, & I cut the fronts without taking anything apart. ea. side took about 1/2 hour.
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 12:24 AM
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A friend of mine lowered mine and his. But the going rate in Austin, TX is about $350.00.
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 01:09 AM
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Originally Posted by DOCZ
This seems more reasonable! In my situation they are wanting to charge almost 300 dollars for 90 minutes of work. So Do you have any noises from the front supension after you cut the bushings?
Nope!
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 04:48 AM
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$300.00 in your area is more reasonable than here in Austin. It is at least $350.00 for each car here. Bushings were cut on my car and I didn't have any noises or sqeaking for a few years but now the front and rear make a lot of noises when going over even bumps in the road or a parking lot without speed bumps. Doesn't even have to speed bumps. I am going to have the car checked out next week. The noises are very annoying. I have to have the crank shaft pulley replaced so will have them check out the noise issues. The mechanic originally told me Vettes cannot be greased and any parts making noise such as tie rods, bushing, suspension, etc. that they had to be replaced. I am a female and have worked on my car and other car I have owned but not being able to grease a Vette doesn't sound right to me. I replaced alternators, thermastats, etc. but as far as anything underneath the car I don't have a way to access the underneath so I will have to have a mechanic look at it. I am hoping lowering it is not what is causing the problems now. It was dropped pretty low. It was too low for awhile. I could hardly go anywhere not even pull in driveways. I raised it back up a bit. I can't stand the big tire well space the Vette have. So even if you know how to drive a low car and the tricks to not scraping be prepared to scrape when it is lowered. Good luck! They do look better lowered and they drive better. A lot of whinedy roads in Austin and the car just hugs the curves and handles better but bumpy!
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 01:00 PM
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My dealership did it for me for a half hour of their current labor rate. It cost me $50.
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by borasvette
$300.00 in your area is more reasonable than here in Austin. It is at least $350.00 for each car here. Bushings were cut on my car and I didn't have any noises or sqeaking for a few years but now the front and rear make a lot of noises when going over even bumps in the road or a parking lot without speed bumps. Doesn't even have to speed bumps. I am going to have the car checked out next week. The noises are very annoying. I have to have the crank shaft pulley replaced so will have them check out the noise issues. The mechanic originally told me Vettes cannot be greased and any parts making noise such as tie rods, bushing, suspension, etc. that they had to be replaced. I am a female and have worked on my car and other car I have owned but not being able to grease a Vette doesn't sound right to me. I replaced alternators, thermastats, etc. but as far as anything underneath the car I don't have a way to access the underneath so I will have to have a mechanic look at it. I am hoping lowering it is not what is causing the problems now. It was dropped pretty low. It was too low for awhile. I could hardly go anywhere not even pull in driveways. I raised it back up a bit. I can't stand the big tire well space the Vette have. So even if you know how to drive a low car and the tricks to not scraping be prepared to scrape when it is lowered. Good luck! They do look better lowered and they drive better. A lot of whinedy roads in Austin and the car just hugs the curves and handles better but bumpy!
I'd bet your noise is the sway bar bushings ....VERY easy to loosen and lube.
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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 07:22 AM
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Lowering is easy. Easy to mess up too.

Lowering properly, with alignment so the car handles properly, should run you about a grand.

Lowering is just NOT cranking 4 bolts
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by DOCZ
So your dealership installed the longer bolts in the rear and cut the front bushings?
No, they just lowered it to the max factory spec (.5"). I still needed to get it aligned
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 04:04 AM
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
Lowering is easy. Easy to mess up too.

Lowering properly, with alignment so the car handles properly, should run you about a grand.

Lowering is just NOT cranking 4 bolts
Do you or any of your buddies need your cars lowered and an alignment?
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 06:41 AM
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Originally Posted by machone03
Do you or any of your buddies need your cars lowered and an alignment?
I do my own alignments. and my car is NOT lowered. It is all they way UP with T1 suspension, which is about 1" lower then the stock ride height.

Lowering with out the proper rake and alignment will mess up your car. Be careful guys.

Improper lowering without good alignment, most techs on hunter machines can not do a good job of alignment, huts your cars handling vs help it.

Lowered or slammed vettes look cool, but.
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Dennis Wilson
I did mine myself. it takes about 20 min. to do the rear, & I cut the fronts without taking anything apart. ea. side took about 1/2 hour.
How do you cut the front bushings w/o taking anything apart. I have lowered as far as possible on stock bolts and bought the longer rear bolts, but have been putting the job off because of having to pull the front apart to cut the bushings. That would be great to cut w/o dissassembly.
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by C5FORFUN2
How do you cut the front bushings w/o taking anything apart. I have lowered as far as possible on stock bolts and bought the longer rear bolts, but have been putting the job off because of having to pull the front apart to cut the bushings. That would be great to cut w/o dissassembly.
I've done the longer bolts and front bushings on all my 4 C5's and about 4 friends cars, never tried it without lowering the lower A down...
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by DOCZ
I looking to drop my car another half inch after installing the 19/20 wheels. Its already cranked down to the max on the factory bolts. It now sits up about .4 of an inch higher than before( was running 315 30 18s) so im not concerned at all about clearance issues. I am just trying to get rid of the 4x4 look. I called a few shops and they were asking about 250 to 300 dollars. This seems kind of high just to instal the longer bolts and cut some of the front bushings down or to install longer bolts in the front. What do guys who have done it think is reasonable? Thanks
Drive on over to Orlando and I will do it for a pizza and six pack... Would be fun to do one again...
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by DOCZ
I will definitely take you up on that offer!! I live in Tampa so Orlando is only an hour away. Just tell me what I need. Bolts?
Let me check my bolt supply when I get to my dealership tomorrow and I will start my mental checklist of tools.

I know I have about 6 grade 8 bolts but have to check for the nuts to compliment (I was going to start advertising to do this way back in 2002 so stocked up)...

I have the jack stands and two floor jacks and of course my custom ramps so we can get the floor jacks under the car...

Actually I was on the fence whether or not to lower my FRC even more (just stock bolts in rear and bushing turned in the front)...

You have inspired me to go ahead and kick her down another notch, we will do a two for one!

PM me your number and I will report back late afternoon tomorrow...

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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 05:22 PM
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Figured since I am going to do yours may as well post up some more of my "rolling resume"

This was my '03 Z that I lowered, still kinda miss her...

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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by C5FORFUN2
How do you cut the front bushings w/o taking anything apart. I have lowered as far as possible on stock bolts and bought the longer rear bolts, but have been putting the job off because of having to pull the front apart to cut the bushings. That would be great to cut w/o dissassembly.
Dennis Wilson, any advice? Thanks
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