To lower or not to lower?

[vettegirl]

My husband wants to lower my car a little bit. How has this worked out for those who have done it - any problems? Also, what is the best way to go about lowering the car?

Thanks!

 

[johnl]

It's a piece of cake to do. I lowered my 97 down to the stops in the front (About 1"), and 2 sections if the grommet in the rear (about 1/2 "). It looks a lot better in my onion. There are front-end clearance issues on steep inclines and declines though. I go through those little outer rubber air dams a lot, but at $11.00 apiece, I can live with that.


As for drivability, the only real difference I've noted is at speed in either high winds and/or passing traffic (trucks). There is less buffeting and back and forth forces. I believe it is because there is less room around the wheels in the well to be affected. This area is just dead air and drag inducing wasted space.

 

[johnl]

I just snapped a picture for reference.

 

[vettegirl]

Nice car!

I couln't picture how it would make much of a difference, but it really does look sleeker and more agressive!

Thanks for the info - I guess I'll give hubby the go-ahead!

Lauren

 

[johnl]

<--- Made a nice avatar too.

 

[Tuna]

Watch out for speed bumps!!!

 

[johnl]

Actually speed bumps are rarely a problem. I run into trouble going into or out of lots with a fairly steep incline.
It clears the speed bumps fine becaue by the time they are at the wheel the air dam has already cleared them. Inclines keep going up until the wheel gets to them. (If that makes any sense)

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

aloha Lauren,
this pictures sucks,it was taken at dusk so you cant see the seperation between the ground and rocker panels,not much,but i lowered mine 2.5 inches.i cut the bushings off the front bolts and changed the rear to longer bolts.the car handles like a go-cart and the ride is still very good.the shocks have recently gone to crap,but they lasted about a year.i will get adjustable QA-1s or re-valved 'bilsteins' for lowered cars.only the really high speed bumps come close.like johnl said,the problem is more like ramps that go up at say a 30% angle,then at the top it immediatly squares off(or flattens out.that will hit the rocker panel right in the middle of the car.its happened a couple times,once causeing minor damage.so i dont go to that mall any more.
remind the hubby that the front bolts are reverse thread.when i eventually put 19" front and 20" in the rear.i will take the front bolts completly out and lower the back a hair more.too.looks and handles great.good luck.

 

[atmmac]

My car scrapes enough. It scrapes leaving my friveway on the front spoiler if it was lower i could only imagine!

 

[JBsC5]

I love the way the lowered cars look..still suspension design is beyond my personal understanding so I would suggest staying within the designers intentions of lowering no more than 15 mm's..as stated by the GM owners tape.

6 turns for all four corners keeps the car from needing corner weighting and drops the car 15 mm's or about 5/8ths of an inch.

There are tons of forum how to's for your hubby to at the very least look at.

15 mm's is what I lowered my car and it takes the edge off the 4wheel drive look and keeps day to day usage identical to stock.



JMO

 

[vettegirl]

Help!!!!

My husband just lowered the back of the car using long bolts purchased from Eckler. Can anyone tell me, quickly, how to lower the front end? Or direct me to a how-to thread, when I search for "lower" I just pull up this thread. Please help, car up on jacks!

Thank you!

:eek :eek :eek

 

[johnl]

Here's one, Not too bad http://www.thisonedoesnotwork.com/techtips/v...ID=27&TopicID=1

This is the one I followed: Pics included:
http://www.neitherdoesthisone.com/techtips/v...ID=90&TopicID=1

Edit: oops they appear not to be working. I'll look around,I know I saved the write up somewhere on one of of these computers.

 

[johnl]

http://corvetteforum.com/techtips/viewsubtopic.php?SubTopicID=27&TopicID=1

This one has no pictures. I'm still looking for the other one.

 

[johnl]

http://corvetteforum.com/techtips/viewsubtopic.php?SubTopicID=90&TopicID=1
Here's the one with pictures.

 

[vettegirl]

Thanks johnl..

he got it done, and it looks really nice. I know I'm being a girl, but do you find the ride is rougher after you lowered it?

 

[Gorgon]

Make sure you get the car aligned after lowering the car. Now sure if you had already planned on doing this or not.

Leon

 

[Piet]

Because you do not have the FULL range of motion... the car will ride a little rougher... (EG: Tighter). Less body sway when cornering.... but also less wheel travel on potholes.

 

[johnl]

Re: Thanks johnl..

he got it done, and it looks really nice. I know I'm being a girl, but do you find the ride is rougher after you lowered it?

No ....no difference in the ride from lowering. Now the Bilsteins....thats a whole nother story.

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

Re: Re: Thanks johnl..

woops

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

Because you do not have the FULL range of motion... the car will ride a little rougher... (EG: Tighter). Less body sway when cornering.... but also less wheel travel on potholes.

i had a forum member ride with me before and after 'slamming' the car.the ride was the same to him.on pot-holes the wheel travels down/then back up,theres no restriction in the travel my c4 was rough as heck after i lowered it.the c5 is a different animal.and with the good shocks listed above,the handling is way better than stock,and the ride is better too.the Z06 is a little different.just my experience.aloha.
Todd.