How long to wait B4 alignment?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
How long to wait B4 alignment?
I just finished lowering my C5 on the factory bolts and was wondering how many miles to drive to let the car settle? I have an appointment to get an alignment tomorrow morning. The dealership is about 15 miles away. Is this enough time to allow settling?
Do I really need an alignment? The front only dropped 1/2" and the rear only 3/4".
Do I really need an alignment? The front only dropped 1/2" and the rear only 3/4".
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 32
From: USA
Bullet,
The ideal way to lower a car is to drive it for a week or so and re-measure the height at each corner. Tweak from there. Drive another week or so and re-check the heights. Do this until you are happy with the look and ride.
Then take the car in to have the alignment checked.
Notice I said "checked".
There is no way to know if the car needs to be aligned until you have it checked.
And yes, a drop of 1/2" will change caster, camber and toe.
The amount of change is small but might take you out of specs.
Dave
The ideal way to lower a car is to drive it for a week or so and re-measure the height at each corner. Tweak from there. Drive another week or so and re-check the heights. Do this until you are happy with the look and ride.
Then take the car in to have the alignment checked.
Notice I said "checked".
There is no way to know if the car needs to be aligned until you have it checked.
And yes, a drop of 1/2" will change caster, camber and toe.
The amount of change is small but might take you out of specs.
Dave
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
I'll cancel tomorrow's appointment.
Driving it for a week won't hurt the tires if it's out of spec? Then again, I don't want to pay for mutiple alignments if it settles more over time.
Driving it for a week won't hurt the tires if it's out of spec? Then again, I don't want to pay for mutiple alignments if it settles more over time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by Bullet
I just finished lowering my C5 on the factory bolts and was wondering how many miles to drive to let the car settle? I have an appointment to get an alignment tomorrow morning. The dealership is about 15 miles away. Is this enough time to allow settling?
Do I really need an alignment? The front only dropped 1/2" and the rear only 3/4".
Do I really need an alignment? The front only dropped 1/2" and the rear only 3/4".
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
My car settled in after a few weeks... it was not as low as it is now after a few days///and I've only lowered it once and only using the stock bolts with no bushings cut.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
From: UNDER THE HOOD
Originally Posted by Bullet
Did your car change much after a week after you lowered it?
Last edited by Ls1Rat; Sep 28, 2004 at 08:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by Ls1Rat
Camber and toe changed quite a bit. I can't imagine what settling would happen. The spring is not changed and the adjustment is with the bolts. I could see some settling if the were rubber involved.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by Ls1Rat
what are we talking about ? a sixteenth of an inch ?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill Ca.
Originally Posted by corvette dave
Bullet,
The ideal way to lower a car is to drive it for a week or so and re-measure the height at each corner. Tweak from there. Drive another week or so and re-check the heights. Do this until you are happy with the look and ride.
Then take the car in to have the alignment checked.
Notice I said "checked".
There is no way to know if the car needs to be aligned until you have it checked.
And yes, a drop of 1/2" will change caster, camber and toe.
The amount of change is small but might take you out of specs.
Dave
The ideal way to lower a car is to drive it for a week or so and re-measure the height at each corner. Tweak from there. Drive another week or so and re-check the heights. Do this until you are happy with the look and ride.
Then take the car in to have the alignment checked.
Notice I said "checked".
There is no way to know if the car needs to be aligned until you have it checked.
And yes, a drop of 1/2" will change caster, camber and toe.
The amount of change is small but might take you out of specs.
Dave
Dave nailed it!
Yup! I went the max on the stock bolts two years ago exactly like above. Werked Great! I even went the route opf adding the bump Steer kit and Hotchkiss for AutoX. Will never go back. The pic is lowered to the max and uncut rubbers with 17" rims and Hoosers. Sooo it is pretty slammed on the track. The Stock rims and tires bring it up about 3/8s for the street.