Alignment after lowering????
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Alignment after lowering????
Hi there everyone, over the weekend I lowered my 1998 vette with the stock equipment, just adjusting the stock bolts. It lowered about .75" all the way around on my z51 suspension. I wanted to know if it were necessary to get an alignment on my car? Also, would anyone know of a plce where I could take my car in the Sacramento area or close by? Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks;
-Miguel-
Thanks;
-Miguel-
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ/PA
Originally Posted by mig1980
Hi there everyone, over the weekend I lowered my 1998 vette with the stock equipment, just adjusting the stock bolts. It lowered about .75" all the way around on my z51 suspension. I wanted to know if it were necessary to get an alignment on my car? Also, would anyone know of a plce where I could take my car in the Sacramento area or close by? Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks;
-Miguel-
Thanks;
-Miguel-
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,096
Likes: 3,752
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'25
Originally Posted by cyclerage23
If you dont realigned, the inside of you tires will wear quicker due to the camber being off.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
I wondered this as well and have asked the question a few different times with no responses but I will ask again in this thread. I would think that by lowering the car you would induce some neg camber into the setup(as said above the inside will wear faster). The stock Z06 has more neg camber then the stock C5 and I have often heard that for tracking/autox even more neg camber is a good thing on a Z06. SOOO, would lowering a C5 on the stock bolts actually provide a better setup even without alignment?(I have a hard time thinking that lowering <=.75 would throw the camber off more than 1deg) Measuring and having it aligned is the only way to tell but I don't trust any shops in my area. I AM going to have it done soon so I guess I will offer up the results and wether or not my suspicion was correct.
Last edited by VT; Jul 19, 2004 at 04:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,329
Likes: 30
From: USA
VT,
I have answered this question many times on this forum.
There is absolutely no way of knowing if a car needs to be aligned after lowering. You would have to know the alignment specs before lowering to have any clue of where the alignment would end up after lowering.
Yes, the camber will change (negative and a good thing) but the caster and toe will also change (bad thing).
So the answer is to always have the alignment CHECKED after lowering a car, even 1/2". If necessary have it aligned. The car will drive better and your tires will live longer.
Dave
I have answered this question many times on this forum.
There is absolutely no way of knowing if a car needs to be aligned after lowering. You would have to know the alignment specs before lowering to have any clue of where the alignment would end up after lowering.
Yes, the camber will change (negative and a good thing) but the caster and toe will also change (bad thing).
So the answer is to always have the alignment CHECKED after lowering a car, even 1/2". If necessary have it aligned. The car will drive better and your tires will live longer.
Dave
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: COWFORD FL
Originally Posted by corvette dave
VT,
I have answered this question many times on this forum.
There is absolutely no way of knowing if a car needs to be aligned after lowering. You would have to know the alignment specs before lowering to have any clue of where the alignment would end up after lowering.
Yes, the camber will change (negative and a good thing) but the caster and toe will also change (bad thing).
So the answer is to always have the alignment CHECKED after lowering a car, even 1/2". If necessary have it aligned. The car will drive better and your tires will live longer.
Dave
I have answered this question many times on this forum.
There is absolutely no way of knowing if a car needs to be aligned after lowering. You would have to know the alignment specs before lowering to have any clue of where the alignment would end up after lowering.
Yes, the camber will change (negative and a good thing) but the caster and toe will also change (bad thing).
So the answer is to always have the alignment CHECKED after lowering a car, even 1/2". If necessary have it aligned. The car will drive better and your tires will live longer.
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 919
Likes: 1
From: Portland area OR
Let the suspension settle for a few hundred miles then go see Mark at MSI in Roseville http://www.motorsportimage.com/ They host a Saturday morning donut and bull session. A lot of C5's ussually show up :flag
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
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From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
I lowered mine and the alignment was still within specs.
But I would recommend that after lowering you do get your car checked.
But I would recommend that after lowering you do get your car checked.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
From: GOCC - Rebels Without A Clue Santa Barbara, CA
Originally Posted by powderski13
Let the suspension settle for a few hundred miles then go see Mark at MSI in Roseville http://www.motorsportimage.com/ They host a Saturday morning donut and bull session. A lot of C5's ussually show up :flag
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Originally Posted by powderski13
Let the suspension settle for a few hundred miles then go see Mark at MSI in Roseville http://www.motorsportimage.com/ They host a Saturday morning donut and bull session. A lot of C5's ussually show up :flag
Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I will give Mark a call and take it in. Takes again everyone.
