Slam a C5?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 1
From: N.CHARLESTON SC
Slam a C5?
I've lowered mine with stock bolts but want to go much lower.I've read some posts where they removed the front bolts all together.Any trouble with alignment by doing this?Rubbing? I also have longer bolts for the rear. :flag
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,808
Likes: 19
From: Little Rock, AR
Re: Slam a C5? (TIKTGTR)
Sorry can't help you. I'm sure someone will chime in so TTT. By the way I love that sig picture! It makes me want to paint my Vette and buy some zo6 chromies. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,071
Likes: 297
From: Savannah GA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Slam a C5? (RobsC5)
I would cut 2/3's of the bushings off the front bolts before I would take them out. I got mine very low in the front that way. But it is more work b/c you have to pull the spindle and sway bar apart to get to it...
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 4
From: Salt Lake City UT
Re: Slam a C5? (intel55)
Used coil overs to slam.... went a TAD to far :D :D :D and raised it back up ...opsss it really sucked until I raised it back up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
Likes: 1,839
From: Hot Springs AR
Re: Slam a C5? (TIKTGTR)
Personally, I wouldn't do it. That said, you should be able to just remove the lower shock bolts and get enough room to take the front adjusters out. In fact, you'll probably have to replace the shocks anyway with some that won't bottom out. Bilstein Sports work well on a friend of mine that lowered his lower than stock.
But, the problem that I see with removing the adjuster complete is that you'll have all of the load on the front being concentrated on the very end of the leaf spring, on it's corner. I'd think that corner would start crushing after some period of time, or it might do some wear damage to the lower control arm.
I'd cut the front rubber bushings on the adjuster bolts down first. See how you like it after a few hundred miles. You can always take the bolts out later.
Hope this helps,
Mike
[Modified by VetteDrmr, 8:36 AM 2/19/2003]
But, the problem that I see with removing the adjuster complete is that you'll have all of the load on the front being concentrated on the very end of the leaf spring, on it's corner. I'd think that corner would start crushing after some period of time, or it might do some wear damage to the lower control arm.
I'd cut the front rubber bushings on the adjuster bolts down first. See how you like it after a few hundred miles. You can always take the bolts out later.
Hope this helps,
Mike
[Modified by VetteDrmr, 8:36 AM 2/19/2003]
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
Re: Slam a C5? (TIKTGTR)
I took the front adjusters out of mine, and added longer bolts in the back. I added the Bilstien Sports also, a must if you are going to go this low! :yesnod: All the old timers will tell you not to do it, but mine has been like this for 2 years and never had one problem! :cheers:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 1
From: N.CHARLESTON SC
Re: Slam a C5? (kwik8racr)
Will the new Bilstien shocks keep it from riding like a brick truck or what? :steering: kwik8racr,any trouble aligning the front without the bolts or are those just for adjusting ride height?Any rubbing at all.Car looks great and thanks for the input guys!! :reddevil
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 1
From: Defending the US Constitution in Northern CA
Re: Slam a C5? (kwik8racr)
One thing to keep in mind, bilstein sport shocks are about 13" compressed to their bump stops in the front. That measurement equates to about 13 1/4" from the spindle centerline to the wheel well lip. It will squeeze down a bit more, but the ride really suffers at that point.
If you find a shorter shock, it might be good to know that the lower A arm hits the frame at 12" spindle center line to wheel well opening. so even if you get the car down to 13", your ride is going to really suffer.
If you are committed to go low, you should absolutely run rocker panel skid strips to keep from tearing up the bottom of your car going over speed bumps and driveways.
I used to run at about 13" in front and 13 3/4" in the rear, I was tearing the car apart on driveways so I am now up to 14 1/4" in front and 15" in the rear and am happy with the ride and ground clearance. Most people still think that the car looks low and cool, so I can live with that.
If you find a shorter shock, it might be good to know that the lower A arm hits the frame at 12" spindle center line to wheel well opening. so even if you get the car down to 13", your ride is going to really suffer.
If you are committed to go low, you should absolutely run rocker panel skid strips to keep from tearing up the bottom of your car going over speed bumps and driveways.
I used to run at about 13" in front and 13 3/4" in the rear, I was tearing the car apart on driveways so I am now up to 14 1/4" in front and 15" in the rear and am happy with the ride and ground clearance. Most people still think that the car looks low and cool, so I can live with that.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
Re: Slam a C5? (TIKTGTR)
Will the new Bilstien shocks keep it from riding like a brick truck or what? :steering: kwik8racr,any trouble aligning the front without the bolts or are those just for adjusting ride height?Any rubbing at all.Car looks great and thanks for the input guys!! :reddevil
