lowdown on lowering
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 788
Likes: 1
From: Lombard IL
lowdown on lowering
I have noticed a few of us vette heads have been lowering their c5's.
I do like the look. I would like to know what is involved to do this and for those of you have already done this, how they like it, pros/cons. My viewpoint is from every day driving, not really looking at it from a performance standpoint. Looking forward to hear from all of you out there. PS, at what point would you have to realign the wheels? Thanks
:seeya :seeya [IMG][/IMG] :seeya [IMG][/IMG] :seeya
I do like the look. I would like to know what is involved to do this and for those of you have already done this, how they like it, pros/cons. My viewpoint is from every day driving, not really looking at it from a performance standpoint. Looking forward to hear from all of you out there. PS, at what point would you have to realign the wheels? Thanks
:seeya :seeya [IMG][/IMG] :seeya [IMG][/IMG] :seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
Might want to get the Billstein shocks for $2.75 bucks. You'll need the extra travel to prevent bottoming out. The shocks will also make the ride less harsh but no matter what, the ride won't be quite as smooth. But I think it looks good and there is defintely a perf advantage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 0
From: The greatest risk is not taking one at all
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
I just lowered the front yesterday. I had to take the front wheels off. It looks much better lowered but you have more scrapage. I just ordered frame savers to keep the front from scraping so much. After I do the back I will get a 4 wheel alignment.
[Modified by Bling Bling, 9:58 PM 8/19/2002]
[Modified by Bling Bling, 9:58 PM 8/19/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,378
Likes: 85
From: Houston TX
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
I drive everday and have not bottomed out once... of course I only used the stock bolts too! So its not too low!
Drive carefully and you will have no problems. Get an alignment about 2-3 weeks after lowering!!! :cheers:
Drive carefully and you will have no problems. Get an alignment about 2-3 weeks after lowering!!! :cheers:
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,132
Likes: 3,772
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'25
Re: lowdown on lowering (Mean Green 2000)
Mines lowered 1 1/2" and I love it! Looks better, handles better...however this is not my daily driver. The ride is much more harsh, but thats just one of the trade offs. If this is your only car I would wait until you get ALOT of repsonses before you do this mod to see if anyone has yet to regret the lowering their daily driver. :yesnod:
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Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Re: lowdown on lowering (Nitro-C5)
I finished lowering mine last week. I loered the back with longer bolts and only 8 threads showing. The front I cut the bushing entirely off. I just left the bolt. I can fit 2 fingers at an angle between the tire and the body. I love it. IMO the ride isn't much worse, the rear feels a little bouncy but I havn't changed my shocks. You do have to be a little more carful and driveways and speed bumps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: Veggie is not a word
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
A few weeks ago, I lowered mine using the stock bolts. I drove it for a few weeks and thought it was ok. On Sunday, I lowered it a bit more by changing out the rear bolts and cutting the front bushings.
Today, when I got home from work, I raised it back up. I did not like the way the car handled and I didn't like bottoming out. For me, the amount I got by using the stock bolts and not cutting the bushings was the right amount.
Today, when I got home from work, I raised it back up. I did not like the way the car handled and I didn't like bottoming out. For me, the amount I got by using the stock bolts and not cutting the bushings was the right amount.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
From: KC, MO Missouri
Re: lowdown on lowering (Nitro-C5)
I lowered my new ride 2 days after I got it. Can't have that all wheel drive look to my Vette you know ;) I lowered the stock bolts almost all the way. Yielded about an inch and still has wheel well gap. I have Z51 on the new car and it rides better lowered, my 98 had F45 and it bottomed a lot due to soft springs etc. I had to drive on sport damping all the time.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: N.J.
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
RWH, when I bought my 98 is was lowered and it bottomed out on every stone on the road surface. It rode really bad. Now it is back where it belongs and rides great. I use the car for touring not racing.
87 coupe auto silver beige/medium brown
98 coupe auto nassua blue
86 El Camaino SS silver/grey
65 Olds 442 4 spd. :chevy :flag
87 coupe auto silver beige/medium brown
98 coupe auto nassua blue
86 El Camaino SS silver/grey
65 Olds 442 4 spd. :chevy :flag
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 421
From: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
Re: lowdown on lowering (NastyC5)
I lowered my 2000 FRC (with Z51) as far as the stock bolts would allow, and it only dropped about a half inch. Ride was a little choppy, and it bottomed out more often.
My Z06 sits up like the fenders on a dirt bike...you can insert your fist vertically between the fender and the tire. But I understand this is done at the factory to give proper tire clearance for serious roadrace work. The Z06 videotape shows the tire disappearing into the wheelwell when the factory drivers are humping the car around the track doing hotlaps. The tape does go on to say that you can lower a little bit for improved handling (10-15 mm...not much), and that this will increase negative camber which also helps handling. So, I want to lower some, but not sure how much to drop it, or how much the Z suspension will go. I'll have to experiment some, but I don't like bottoming out or hitting the snubbers any more than I like the "off road" look.
My Z06 sits up like the fenders on a dirt bike...you can insert your fist vertically between the fender and the tire. But I understand this is done at the factory to give proper tire clearance for serious roadrace work. The Z06 videotape shows the tire disappearing into the wheelwell when the factory drivers are humping the car around the track doing hotlaps. The tape does go on to say that you can lower a little bit for improved handling (10-15 mm...not much), and that this will increase negative camber which also helps handling. So, I want to lower some, but not sure how much to drop it, or how much the Z suspension will go. I'll have to experiment some, but I don't like bottoming out or hitting the snubbers any more than I like the "off road" look.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 936
Likes: 13
Re: lowdown on lowering (RWH)
Both coupes have Z51 suspension. Both were lowered to the max that stock adjustments allow. Alignment was done a month afterward. Ride is fine on both. On rougher roads you can tell that there isn't as much room for the wheel to adapt to the terrain. Feels tighter to the road. Considering Bilsteins but no rush. Good luck! :cheers: the
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 798
Likes: 0
From: Manchester NH
Re: lowdown on lowering (Bling Bling)
Why wait 2-3 weeks? To make sure everything settles?
If you lift the wheels off the ground, they will naturally drop down and tilt inward. Because the tires are wide for the C5's weight, when the car is put back on the ground, the suspension doesn't return to it's normal ride height due to the friction of the large tires on the ground. Moving the car only a few feet will, however, return the car to it's normal ride height (whether it be the stock height or the new lowered height).
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 4,345
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From: Shorewood ,IL Mesa,AZ
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: lowdown on lowering (pburant)
I've got longer bolts in the rear and cut the bushings off the front.I also replace the shocks with Bilsteins and upgraded sway bars to the T1's.Mine rides great,but I also like a more stiff ride then stock.I'm thinking of actually pulling the front bolt out completely and see what it looks like then.I drive mine when ever the weather permits or when I don't have the dang thing ripped apart!!!!!