Accessing front lowering bolts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Accessing front lowering bolts
A few years ago I had a mechanic lower my car on stock bolts while it was in the shop on a lift. I believe he took it all the way down to the bushings in the front but I'm not sure so I went out this evening to check and see if I could get it any lower. I jacked under the spring to take off tension but I cannot get a wrench on the bolt because the shocks are in the way. Whats the trick to get a socket and wrench on there? I tried an open end wrench but the bolt heads are just about stripped off (possibly from a previous owner attempting to lower) so that was a no-go.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Wow, man up? For one the wheel is already off. Every post or video I have seen of someone doing this did not involve removing the shock. I was just was just asking if there was something else I missed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 276
From: Wichita Falls Texas
They are hard to get to but if you do a little more surfing the videos and posts out there you will figure it out.
My 03 vert was lowered using the stock bolts when I bought and it drug on everything so I raised it back myself.
It's been a year now and I can't remember (I'm old) how I did it.
I do remember seeing a lot of info on the internet and finally figured it out.
Be sure to get it aligned after doing it!
Good luck!
My 03 vert was lowered using the stock bolts when I bought and it drug on everything so I raised it back myself.
It's been a year now and I can't remember (I'm old) how I did it.
I do remember seeing a lot of info on the internet and finally figured it out.
Be sure to get it aligned after doing it!
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I always use YouTube.
Having way too much time on my hands, a while ago I came across a YouTube video on the process....there was several videos to chose from.
P.S.: I to am old
P.S.: I to am old
Last edited by runner140*; Jul 3, 2018 at 08:04 AM. Reason: add
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 763
Likes: 215
From: Detroit
There also always the vice grip method, if you don't mind chewing up the top of the bolts even more...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
There's not room for a socket and ratchet. An open ended wrench is the right way to do it. If yours are so stripped that a wrench slips, you might be best off taking the bolts out and replacing them, which is when unbolting the bottom of the shock becomes necessary.
There also always the vice grip method, if you don't mind chewing up the top of the bolts even more...
There also always the vice grip method, if you don't mind chewing up the top of the bolts even more...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
just un bolt the bottom of the shocks.....takes about 2 minutes for each bolt there are 2 per side......there is a bolt up top use a combination wrench to hold it and a nut on the bottom, use a long socket with a ratchet on the bottom...then push it our of the way then you have complete access to the lowering stud, and use a short 6 point socket with 3/8 breaker bar on the lowering stud.....the 3/8 breaker bar has a thinner top dimension so theres no interference.....the long one from HF works great. the round head of a ratchet gets in the way
Last edited by bobs77vet; Jul 5, 2018 at 10:54 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
Soak the bolt for about 15-20 minutes with PB Blaster or equivalent solvent. My left front was stuck and I had the same problem, tried everything and finally soaked the bold at the spring area and had to use vice grips on the top of the bolt to get it off..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
I went through this a few months ago. Taking the shock off provides lots of room. You can double nut the adjuster and try that. You can also put a pipe wrench on it if all else fails. I ended up having to remove my spring and drill them out because they were so rusted and fused into the spring. Still it wasn't a difficult procedure.