Newbie suspension ?'s
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Long Island City NY
Newbie suspension ?'s
I was looking under the Vette I recently purchased and I noticed that there is no "springs" underneath. All I see are some beefy suspension linkages and one shock. I apologize for my cluelessness, but if I don't ask, I won't know. I've also picked up that you can adjust the height by turning some screws. What's the deal with that and what screw do you turn? How much lowering can you get? Will the shocks adjust to the lower height or will I have to replace them as I would with a conventional setup? I've done several suspension swaps on other cars. Does this setup make swapping out shocks easier or more difficult? Is it possible to put a coilover kit on the car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
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From: Cockeysville Maryland
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Daytona Jam 1 Veteran
Re: Newbie suspension ?'s (SJTrance)
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your Vette.
The answers to all of your questions can be found either in "tech tips" or by using the search function.
The C5 is equiped with two fiberglass springs(black in color) that run from wheel to wheel.
You can lower your car by turning the bolts at the ends of the fiberglass springs on both the front and back of the car.
You can get about 1/2-5/8 inch drop up front and a little more 3/4 - 1 inch in rear. It is relative to the specific car. You can get more by cutting the bushings up front and installing longer bolts in the rear.
You will not need new shocks as a result of lowering the car unless you really slam it and cut the bushings that are involved in the stock suspension setup.
Many folks do opt to replace the stock shocks.
There are those that have installed a coil-over setup on their C5 and a search should uncover information on that and I believe LAPD(a forum vendor) has a product on their website.
You may wish to get a four wheel alignment after the lowering.
Best wishes to you!
:cheers:
The answers to all of your questions can be found either in "tech tips" or by using the search function.
The C5 is equiped with two fiberglass springs(black in color) that run from wheel to wheel.
You can lower your car by turning the bolts at the ends of the fiberglass springs on both the front and back of the car.
You can get about 1/2-5/8 inch drop up front and a little more 3/4 - 1 inch in rear. It is relative to the specific car. You can get more by cutting the bushings up front and installing longer bolts in the rear.
You will not need new shocks as a result of lowering the car unless you really slam it and cut the bushings that are involved in the stock suspension setup.
Many folks do opt to replace the stock shocks.
There are those that have installed a coil-over setup on their C5 and a search should uncover information on that and I believe LAPD(a forum vendor) has a product on their website.
You may wish to get a four wheel alignment after the lowering.
Best wishes to you!
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 716
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From: Long Island City NY
Re: Newbie suspension ?'s
That's exactly the information I needed. Thanks a bunch. You know...it's that inherent nature of man wanting know how poopie works...hehe.
Fiberglass springs, huh? I'll have to get under there and see it for myself. I'm having a tough time picturing it. Is it like leaf springs?
Fiberglass springs, huh? I'll have to get under there and see it for myself. I'm having a tough time picturing it. Is it like leaf springs?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Long Island City NY
Re: Newbie suspension ?'s (SJTrance)
Yeah, that's just what I was thinking...leaf springs on one of the baddest sports cars in the US. Interesting. I guess there's one way to look at things...one less thing to sag/break/replace/etc.
