Patman

I know quite a few people on here have lowered their C7s by adjusting the stock bolts but how many of you have gone one step further and cut a portion off the bushing in order to drop it even further? It's very popular on the C6 (I have a portion my rear bushings cut off) but hasn't seemed to catch on quite yet with the C7 crowd.

I have a set of lowering bolts that I already bought for my C7 and was planning on going that route when the car arrived, but after spending a bit of time talking to C6 owners who have lowering bolts, pretty much every single one of them recommends not going that route, they are not durable enough for every day use. So my new plan is to go as low as I can while utilizing the stock bolts and having one of the ribs of the stock bushing cut off.

So I was hoping to see some pictures of C7s that have been lowered with the stock bolts and cut bushings so I know approximately how mine is going to look.

For reference, this is my C6 with the front bolts at their lowest setting (but bushing untouched) and the rear is at the lowest setting and has one rib of the bushing removed. I'm not sure the front of the C7 will sit that low just with the bolt at it's lowest setting, I may need to cut that bushing to get this low:

FKING1

Looks good.
Would leave it.

Patman

I think you might be missing the point of my thread though. What I'd like to see is a C7 that has cut bushings, so I can get an idea of what my C7 with cut bushings will look like. The car in the picture above will be traded in on the C7 when it arrives.

spiritof67

I think FKING1 understood your point perfectly. What he was saying, to quote Quentin Tarantino, was "DON'T".

Patman

That's not an option. I'm not happy with the ride height of the C7 stock.

Foosh

You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. Most of us think it's a really bad idea, so it doesn't surprise me that you're not getting much of a response.

yeller z06

Hey, if you want more responses, then I'm in!

Don't do it.

If you don't like the C7, then keep your C6. I wish I'd kept mine... (not because I don't like the C7, but just from the financial perspective).

6Speeder

Go for it! My C7 Z06 with Z07, and stage 3 aero scraped the front splitter when lowered all the way on stock bolts. And, it had a substantial rake with the front way lower than the rear. I raised the front just a little and cut one level off the rear bushing. Now it doesn't scrape as much and sits "right".

Patman

I'm really not surprised at the lack of responses, but I had hoped to find at least one or two adventurous people who might have cut the bushings. I guess I get to be the guinea pig

Hang on a minute! Who said I didn't like the C7?? I'm the hugest C7 fan, and the complaint about the ride height is the same I've had with every Corvette made since the C4, they all have way too much gap from tire to fender.

joemessman

How much do you gain by with cut bushings? I am assuming a half inch?

Patman

That sounds about right, as that's what I noticed on my C6 a couple of months ago when I had that done. So I figure with one rib cut out of the bushing and the bolts set to the lowest position, I could potentially see a total drop of about 1.5 inches. I had originally hoped for a 2 inch drop with the lowering bolts but 1.5 will do it if means I get many years of trouble free driving.

c54u

I would wait until your car actually comes in so you can see the factory ride height and drive it for a while before you make a decision on what hardware or modifications you are going to use to lower your car. The base suspension on the C7 without mag ride is soft. I have the mag ride suspension and it is soft and bouncy for me in tour mode. Those dips and bumps that are not an issue for your C6 right now may be for the your C7.

Here is my C7 when I picked it up from the dealer with height set at factory.
Tire pressure is at 30 psi and 3/4 tank of gas is in it.

The height from the ground to the bottom of the car just behind the front wheel is 4 7/8 inches.
The height from the ground to the bottom of the car just in front of the rear wheel is 5 7/8 inches, so a one inch rake.

The distance from the ground up the middle of the wheel to the bottom of the front fender wheel well is 27 1/8 inches.
The distance from the ground up the middle of the wheel to the bottom of the rear fender wheel well is 28 inches.
There is a two finger gap parallel from top of tire to fender at each wheel.

Since you are not a fan of the raked look, when you lower your car at the back the wheel gaps in the wheel wells will not be the same front to back. May look odd.

The rubber flap below the front bumper is 3 inches high and the distance from the ground to the rubber strip is also 3 inches.

My car is low enough for me. Maybe you can compare the measurements that I have against your C6 measurements and can be a guide for how much more you want to lower your C7.

Good luck

fasthwks

I lowered mine and cut the bushings. I have had no issues and have done the same on my last 3 C7 Z's. I can't post a pic right now but for reference the lower front air dam is 1.5 inches off the ground. Stock it was just a little over 3. I do not track the car for what it's worth. I have driven lowered cars for years and am fortunate that I live in a area where it's not a problem. I know not everyone has the same experience or opinion but has worked for me just fine. You can always raise it back up if you like.

Patman

Thanks for your input! I am glad to hear that you were able to lower it a little bit more than 1.5 inches, hopefully mine will be about the same. I too have driven lowered cars for years (I have lowered 7 of the 18 cars I've had) I am also fortunate that my area is not bad for lowered cars and it's going to help me out tremendously that I am going to make sure the dealer does not install the front air dam when the car arrives so that will give me that extra bit of clearance when going into driveways.

97C5driver

Just lowered my Z on stock bolts 2 days ago, the front sits perfectly now but the rear still a bit high. Was contemplating cutting the bushings as well but not sure if it will have any negative effects.

97C5driver

Get out of here with that bs. Most of us? Are you the rep for the C7 owners? Have you taken a poll? How do you not feel like an asswipe just typing that sentence?

PolishDude

I too want to cut the bushing on my C7 Z, haven't done it yet though. I had bushings cut on my C6, did it within a few hundred miles of buying the car new, sold the car with 40k+ miles on it without a single problem or squeak from the suspension. I dislike the "don't do it" people, same people that, no offense, post pics of their completely stock C7 to show off, I can go see 30 of those lined up at a Chevrolet dealership, I like people actually modifying these cars to their liking, makes them a little more unique from the thousands of Corvettes out there