Lowering car and alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Southlake TX
Lowering car and alignment
I successfully lowered my car this weekend. Also, got some Bilstein Sports in at the same time. Getting the shocks out in the rear was painful. Really, I crunched my finger.
Anyway, it is down as far as the stock bolts will go and now I'm going to remove the front bolt and take a little bushing off so I can adjust it down more if I want.
I have one more question though. I've heard you should get a 4 wheel alignment after you do this. I know everyone does not agree. My question is 2 fold.
1) Where is a good place in the DFW area to have a 4 wheel alignment on a vette done?
2) If you want to get an alignment so the car is set up like the Z06 alignment (I autoX in this car primarily), how do you do that. Do you tell the shop and they look up the z06 specs, you tell them how you want it ???
Any help appreciated.
:flag
Anyway, it is down as far as the stock bolts will go and now I'm going to remove the front bolt and take a little bushing off so I can adjust it down more if I want.
I have one more question though. I've heard you should get a 4 wheel alignment after you do this. I know everyone does not agree. My question is 2 fold.
1) Where is a good place in the DFW area to have a 4 wheel alignment on a vette done?
2) If you want to get an alignment so the car is set up like the Z06 alignment (I autoX in this car primarily), how do you do that. Do you tell the shop and they look up the z06 specs, you tell them how you want it ???
Any help appreciated.
:flag
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
bigD, someone else recently asked this question. For myriad, no, a plethora of different opinions, suggestions and spec listings, do a search on alignment and settle down for the evening for some intense and,perhaps, informative reading. :yesnod: :crazy:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 5
From: Bothell WA
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
I lowered my car last weekend by about 3/4 inch and had it aligned today. It did need it. You tell the shop the car model you want to use numbers for and they'll look it up. However, I don't think you can use the Z06 alignment specs with the Goodyear runflats, if you still have them. I used the standard Corvette alignment specs since I still have the OEM runflats. My next mod is going to be replacement of the OEM tires with non-runflats. Then I'll change the alignment to Z06 specs.
- Mark
- Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 993
Likes: 81
From: Lake Havasu, AZ.
Re: Lowering car and alignment (Mark VerMurlen)
As Mark stated, no Z06 alignment w/ the runcraps. Shoulder of runcraps is way too squared off and stiff. You can go 1 degree neg. camber with non runcraps, really helps plant the car.
And yes, do get an alignment.
And yes, do get an alignment.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 798
Likes: 0
From: Manchester NH
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
It's the stiff sidewall of runflats that makes them work poorly with a Z06 alignment. I had my mechanic align my car halfway between regular C5 and Z06 spec, and between that and the 1/2" lowering (done at the same time), I have a measureable improvement in handling. I'm getting 2-4mph more out of some very familiar turns.....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 5
From: Bothell WA
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
Thanks, I didn't realize the runcraps had issues.
I have gForce KD tires, but they are the SSS (BFGoodrich version of EMT), would those work?
I have gForce KD tires, but they are the SSS (BFGoodrich version of EMT), would those work?
- Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
You made the statement that you primarily auto-x the car. If that is true, then the majority of your tire wear is at the track, not the street and you would be able to run Z06 specs on the runflats just fine because most of your tire wear is going to be on the outside edges from cornering, not the inside edges from street driving. Just watch the tread wear closely and you'll know if you need to increase or decrease the camber from the Z06 spec of -.75 degree.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Redwood City CA
Re: Lowering car and alignment (bigDvette)
I just got mine aligned, but I also put much wider tires on at the same time. It drove perfectly fine before the alignment and I couldn't tell any difference in the ride afterwards (although I havn't pushed it very hard to test the handling yet.) The shop said it was way of from the Z06 specs I requested. So the moral of the story is, you should probably do to spare your tires.
