Raising a C5

[warren s]

Well, after looking at dozens of C5s I finally found one I liked enough to buy.
Its a Torch Red 1999 coupe with 20K miles on it.

Only problem is it seems like it was lowered. There is about 2.5 inches of clearence between the front air dam and the ground. I checked some other C5s and the clearence was 4 inches.

The front scrapes on almost everything!

How do I raise it back up and how much travel is there?

Thanks!

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

If I remember from reading other posts here 1.5 inches seems about the max you can lower a C5 without having to buy aftermarket stuff. You should be able to adjust 4 bolts I think that will have your car back to its normal ride height.

 

[C5Richard]

Well, after looking at dozens of C5s I finally found one I liked enough to buy.
Its a Torch Red 1999 coupe with 20K miles on it.

Only problem is it seems like it was lowered. There is about 2.5 inches of clearence between the front air dam and the ground. I checked some other C5s and the clearence was 4 inches.

The front scrapes on almost everything!

How do I raise it back up and how much travel is there?

Thanks!

Great thing about a vette is that you can raise and lower them via the four tension bolts easily seen around the lower control arms. It's a common adjustment people use to also make the vette sit a the desired angle.

Richard.

 

[2003Torch]

The procedure to lower your vette is posted at several common places on the web, just look around a little. Of course you will reverse the procedure. The problem is you don't know how it was lowered. If the lowering was done equally all four corners no problem just count the amount of turns and adjust equally at all four corners. But if whoever did the lowering did so unevenly, your rake will be changed. There is detailed specifications in the service manual and I recommend getting a hold of one to restore your car to specs if that is what you want. Living in your area can be like driving in a mine field.

 

[warren s]

The procedure to lower your vette is posted at several common places on the web, just look around a little. Of course you will reverse the procedure. The problem is you don't know how it was lowered. If the lowering was done equally all four corners no problem just count the amount of turns and adjust equally at all four corners. But if whoever did the lowering did so unevenly, your rake will be changed. There is detailed specifications in the service manual and I recommend getting a hold of one to restore your car to specs if that is what you want. Living in your area can be like driving in a mine field.

Yup I am going to measure the current distance and ground clearances so i can end up with a uniform result.
The roads around here are one of the reasons I went from a C4 to a C5, the smoother ride.

 

[powderski13]

Be sure to have the alignment checked after raising it. Most folks will realign after lowering to prevent premature tire wear.

 

[bossvette]

Well, after looking at dozens of C5s I finally found one I liked enough to buy.
Its a Torch Red 1999 coupe with 20K miles on it.

Only problem is it seems like it was lowered. There is about 2.5 inches of clearence between the front air dam and the ground. I checked some other C5s and the clearence was 4 inches.

The front scrapes on almost everything!

How do I raise it back up and how much travel is there?

Thanks!

Warren
I have the same problem with my 97, did you find instructions to raise yours?

 

[warren s]

Yes, done. And it was a simple job., not even a job.

 

[bossvette]

Yes, done. And it was a simple job., not even a job.

How did you do it?

 

[warren s]

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=876000


Good post, scroll down, large high res pictures.

 

[bossvette]

Thanks Warren , I hope mine doesn't have one of those "lowering Kits" that swap out the bolts and I can reverse it. I like the looks lowered, but I drive mine every day and it hits too much for me.

 

[warren s]

Good luck, I knew the feeling.

 

[Pac-man]

Even if you raise it back up it's still going to scrape the pavement frequently. That is why the air dam is on a hinge. I lowered mine and scrape the heck out of it every day. It scraped before I lowered it and it scrapes now. Handles and looks so much better lowered I can never go back.

 

[nlreb54]

Warren, much to my dismay when I brought my 98 home for the first time it scraped bad also in the drive. I drive in at an angle and have reduced the scraping to a minimum.

 

[bossvette]

Yea you really have to change your driving habits, my 76 sits a little higher then most and I don't scrape at all; now I slow down and angle in, some places I can't even go the speed bumps are higher then the car

 

[warren s]

After I raised the car to stock height, I also trimmed 3/4 inch off the center air dam. That seems to make a big differance. I know its just a plastic part but I was still very annoyed by the constant scraping.