Lowered C5's

[Remo]

Folks,

We have several good threads in the CAC historical files on lowering the C5 vette. But my interest is more in terms of a post audit. It would be great to hear form any of you that have lowered your C5's. Did the ride suffer? Did the car need to be realigned? Were there any tire rubbing problems. Any other issues?

Remo
:cool

 

[truckindj]

i lowered mine about an 1inch and it looks sweet

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

hey Remo, i lowered mine 3'in front and 3.5' in the rear.my front end scraps just about everywhere,i took the front side air dams off,they dont do anything.i will soon be putting those rollers up front,they go on the radiator support/skid bars.i need to repaint the nose(rock chips)you can not take chances and go over large speed bumps,because if you scrap the side rocker sills,you can ruin them,they have to be cut off and new ones molded to the car.i have hit my side panels a couple of times,no damage yet.i lowered it a year ago,just recently the shocks pretty much crapped out from being smashed down all the time.i will be getting adjustable blisteins next,$300 a set.the ride was still really good until the shocks started to go.it is still smooth on flat roads,its just while going over bumpy roads its rough now.but it handles like a go-cart my tires dont rub and i never had the car realigned.no abnormal tire wear,strange but true.tires do not rub,i will be going to 285 or 295 on 19" at the end of the year then i will do alignment.heres a crappy picture,it was almost dark outside.later,Todd.

 

[Glennm27]

I lowered mine as far as the stock bolts would allow with no alterations (no cutting of any front bushings and leaving 2 threrads showing rear) The ride did not suffer any as far as smoothness and comfortability is concerned. The car looks great, I have no problems taking it to most noraml places but I am very careful with my car.
As for aligning after lowering. It should be done. If you lower the car even the little as I did, you change the camber and caster and should have a 4 wheel alignment! No 2 ways about that!

 

[Ctfoodguy2000]

Glenn - thanks for the info. How long did you wait to have the alignment checked? I heard you should wait and let the car "settle"?

 

[Glennm27]

Glenn - thanks for the info. How long did you wait to have the alignment checked? I heard you should wait and let the car "settle"?

I waited 2 months actually. I wasn't sure how long but I figured it would definately need to settle. Now you should know that my 2 months (being just an occasionally driven car) only covered about 1000 miles! I would suggest 500 miles minimum to let a lowered car "settle in" before aligning!

 

[PIPO]

Hi
I never read before to check camber and caster after the lowering of a corvette but I think regarding the tires price it is a low investement to have a check.

I have planned to lower mine 2001 convertible. Does any one know where I could find the figures of camber and caster...
Thanks
PIPO

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

i purposely did not get my alignment checked.i want my run flats to wear out as soon as possible so i can get rims and tires.so i figured let it go and see how the tire wear is.if i use a carpenters level(digital),and put it up against the tire and turn it any direction,the tire is almost perfectly straight,if i take my hands off the steering wheel while driving,the car goes straight as an arrow.i also have seen a lowered c5 come out of the shop after lowering and alignment,it only needed the slightest adjustments.as far as setteling it only takes my car a trip to 7-eleven and back (2 miles)it really shouldnt take any more than that,your suspension should not be strong enough to hold your cars weight that high off the ground for any lenght of time,or every time you went over a deep dip,your car would deflect down,then up,and you would be driving around waiting for your car to settle to normal ride height.if you jack up your car,let it down and go for a ride,as soon as the suspension is exersised a couple of times it should settle just fine.one more example.say your flying around a corner on the highway and your car is leaning hard to one side,you come out of the corner and head down the straight away,is your car still leaning,no,are you now waiting for the car to settle again before you go into another corner? no.just my 2 cents,later,Todd.

 

[Glennm27]

I waited 2 months actually. I wasn't sure how long but I figured it would definately need to settle. Now you should know that my 2 months (being just an occasionally driven car) only covered about 1000 miles! I would suggest 500 miles minimum to let a lowered car "settle in" before aligning!

E-mail me and I'll send you the Alignment specs for FE1, FE3 & FE4 suspensions! I have them in an Excel spreadsheet.

Glennm27@comcast.net