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I just picked up a low mileage 2002 C5 Corvette and am in the process of making it "MINE"
I upgraded the brakes, picked up a set of c6 Wheels, Upgraded the dash with new Apple Car play receiver and am in the process of lowering the car.
I successfully lowered the rear with the stock bolts (Left 5 Threads showing) Now the ISSUE is the Front! ... Everyone makes it look so easy, but I am afraid of if I lower the car by turning the bolt it will hit and damage my magnetic shock sensor (which is what I think this is) has anyone been able to work around this or am I not doing this right?
any and all ALL HELP is appreciated greatly.
this is where the bolt is almost touching the shock in the stock location. By lowering the car and turning the bolt counterclockwise I think it will hit the magnetic shock sensor. HELP ... what should I do
Here is the car in it current state: Still waiting on tires for the new wheels to come in: 4/15/2020
I've lowered a couple c5's to the lowest setting, but none with the magnetic ride control. I suggest putting some play dough or putty of some sort on top of the bolt, then take it for a ride. Then take a look and see if the putty hit the sensor (hopefully the putty is still there). You could also try to compress the suspension in your garage with a jack, but that won't tell you the whole story.
Side note - run that washer back down until it's pressed back against the spring.
Of course, it has been done many times (myself included). Lots of folks turn in the front bolts to lower the car, only to find that it hasn't lowered the car enough for their taste.
What I would recommend is removing the bolts, and placing a small square cutout of heavy duty rubber under the spring end so that it isn't directly contacting the control arm. I've been running that setup on my car for thousands of miles with no problems.
Of course, it has been done many times (myself included). Lots of folks turn in the front bolts to lower the car, only to find that it hasn't lowered the car enough for their taste.
What I would recommend is removing the bolts, and placing a small square cutout of heavy duty rubber under the spring end so that it isn't directly contacting the control arm. I've been running that setup on my car for thousands of miles with no problems.
Good luck!
what are you doing in the rear? Also, how did you remove the bolt?
Last edited by EastBayCorvette; Apr 24, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
I have longer bolts in the rear, double nutted to prevent rotation/movement.
In the front, you need to pick up the front end of the car either on a lift or jackstands. Secure the car so it doesn't move. Using a jack and a piece of wood, apply upwards force against the spring just inside of the control arm to remove the pressure that the spring puts on the control arm. Finally, unbolt the lower control arm at the ball joint to let it hang down and provide access to the spring. Then, just unscrew the bolt. There are a lot of threads on this out there.
Can you turn the shock 180*? Unbolt it from the a-arm and rotate it and bolt it back on?
I don't know how low you expect to get it, but no bolts in the front and longer bolts in the rear will remove almost all of your suspension travel. My car was dropped all the way on the stock bolts and I both I raised my car back up a bit and cut the bump stops down to get more travel so it wasn't bottoming out so much.
I dropped my '01, also with the F45 suspension, back when it was new, and so far, have not suffered any ill effects. However, as it has been discussed numerous times, on this forum, the bolts, over time, will "freeze" to the threaded insert that's in the spring. At that point, trying to "muscle" the bolt only causes it, and the insert, to break loose in the spring, rendering the spring useless, unless you want to go "REALLY low", and pull the bolt/spring out completely, and just go with a piece of rubber (or teflon) between the spring and lower a-arm, as previously mentioned.
I dropped my '01, also with the F45 suspension, back when it was new, and so far, have not suffered any ill effects. However, as it has been discussed numerous times, on this forum, the bolts, over time, will "freeze" to the threaded insert that's in the spring. At that point, trying to "muscle" the bolt only causes it, and the insert, to break loose in the spring, rendering the spring useless, unless you want to go "REALLY low", and pull the bolt/spring out completely, and just go with a piece of rubber (or teflon) between the spring and lower a-arm, as previously mentioned.
2002 C5 Lowering Front End
