Lowering A Vette
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Tx
Lowering A Vette
Hey Fellas
I just bought a set of RK Sport lowering bolts and bushings and I wanted to get some feedback before I put them on. What is the best way to install? What ride height would you recommend? What are the Cons of lowering the car? Also I dont have any manuals, I am assumeing that the kit will come with instructions, If not where is the best place to look for install info. I would really appreciate any and all opinions.
Semper Fi
John :flag
I just bought a set of RK Sport lowering bolts and bushings and I wanted to get some feedback before I put them on. What is the best way to install? What ride height would you recommend? What are the Cons of lowering the car? Also I dont have any manuals, I am assumeing that the kit will come with instructions, If not where is the best place to look for install info. I would really appreciate any and all opinions.
Semper Fi
John :flag
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
From: Palm Beach Shores, FL
Re: Lowering A Vette (CobraPilot169)
I used coil overs to lower as I heard some of the members complaining of loss of ride comfort when lowering using the bolts. But I guess that depends on how low you go. I'm sure some of the members that used lowering bolts will chime in.
There are only a few drawbacks I have found in lowering. One, it's hard to put a jack under the car, and I have a very low profile jack. In fact, I cannot put a jack under the front of the car unless I jack it up in the rear first. Two, I have found down on the lower parts of the car, it is getting scratched up from road debris, you know, gravel and the such from normal road driving. Three, speed bumps are a b*tch!!
All in all, if I were to do it over, I don't think I would do it diffferently.
Eric
There are only a few drawbacks I have found in lowering. One, it's hard to put a jack under the car, and I have a very low profile jack. In fact, I cannot put a jack under the front of the car unless I jack it up in the rear first. Two, I have found down on the lower parts of the car, it is getting scratched up from road debris, you know, gravel and the such from normal road driving. Three, speed bumps are a b*tch!!
All in all, if I were to do it over, I don't think I would do it diffferently.
Eric
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Lowering A Vette (CobraPilot169)
Welcome to the Forum! You will get many opinions here, but I would suggest that you lower the car (up to an inch) using the stock bolts first. See how you like it and if you can still get over any speed bumps in your area, etc. If you then want it lower still, install the bolts you purchased. Because of my driveway angle, I could not go lower than about an inch. Looks good to me! :smash: Take your time; do a search here if you need directions, and take a look in the "tips" section for C5s.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 79
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: Lowering A Vette (carpe dm)
First thing you can do is (if you want) send those back, you can buy all the parts you need at any bolt store for less than $10 dollars. Here are a couple of links for you to check out. Don't worry about the title saying it's for a Z06, it works for all Vettes.
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/techtips...D=90&TopicID=1
http://www.2phast.com/Corvette/lower.htm
Many, many, many people including myself have used longer bolts, with no problems. Lots of people say they can't go lower because they already scrape. The air dam is made to scrape, you are doing no harm whatsoever to it. Also, by buying frame savers, and triming the air dam, it is better than stock. Speed bumps are a different story, but, rocker panel protectors solve that problem. If you are not sure if you want to go low, just turn the rear bolts until two threads are showing and turn the bolt on the front instead of cutting two -thirds of the bushing. I have a nice power presentation another forum member made that I can send you if you e-mail me and ask for it. Hotmail accounts will not allow the transfer of it though. E-mail me superchargedvette@shaw.ca
:cheers:
[Modified by racer44, 9:52 AM 12/19/2002]
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/techtips...D=90&TopicID=1
http://www.2phast.com/Corvette/lower.htm
Many, many, many people including myself have used longer bolts, with no problems. Lots of people say they can't go lower because they already scrape. The air dam is made to scrape, you are doing no harm whatsoever to it. Also, by buying frame savers, and triming the air dam, it is better than stock. Speed bumps are a different story, but, rocker panel protectors solve that problem. If you are not sure if you want to go low, just turn the rear bolts until two threads are showing and turn the bolt on the front instead of cutting two -thirds of the bushing. I have a nice power presentation another forum member made that I can send you if you e-mail me and ask for it. Hotmail accounts will not allow the transfer of it though. E-mail me superchargedvette@shaw.ca
:cheers:
[Modified by racer44, 9:52 AM 12/19/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Lowering A Vette (racer44)
I thought about lowering my car untill I got it home and it bottomed out pulling into my driveway. It just barely clears the speedbumps at work too.
Just stuff to consider.
Just stuff to consider.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 0
From: Nokomis FL
Re: Lowering A Vette (CobraPilot169)
Hey Cobra, I dropped mine to 27" on stock bolts, no bushing cuts and Z51 suspension. Looks great, rides great do have to watch speed bumps and inclines. That's a small price for the new look. :D
P.S. Is that Cobra a Blue Oval type or an AH-1?
P.S. Is that Cobra a Blue Oval type or an AH-1?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Tx
Re: Lowering A Vette (CobraPilot169)
Thanks for all the advice, I am really interested in how Old rotor head lowered his without cutting any bushings and with stock bolts. You guys have to forgive me I've had alot of cars but this is my first computer so I really dont know exactly where to look for the really technical stuff. And again thanks for all the help you all have some good points. Keep it comming..
Semper Fi
John
(For the record it is an AH-1W, not a Ford)
Semper Fi
John
(For the record it is an AH-1W, not a Ford)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 0
From: Nokomis FL
Re: Lowering A Vette (CobraPilot169)
Ahh, fond memories. I've got about 1k hours in the AH-1G, Nam era.
At the top of your screen you'll see a menue bar. Put your pointer on TOOLS and a drop down menue appears. Clink on TECH TIPS. Select C5 Related Topics. At the top right of the screen a search box will appear...type in lower and enter. Select Lowering a C5 and your about a hour away from a new :cool: look.
Let us know how it turns out.
At the top of your screen you'll see a menue bar. Put your pointer on TOOLS and a drop down menue appears. Clink on TECH TIPS. Select C5 Related Topics. At the top right of the screen a search box will appear...type in lower and enter. Select Lowering a C5 and your about a hour away from a new :cool: look.
Let us know how it turns out.
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