Lowering
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,532
From:
Lowering
Has anybody here lowered their C5. I was thinking about doing a 1" drop. I was talking to a guy with a 2" drop on his Z06 and he was telling me that he never scrapes his body just the from spoiler. Just wanted to hear from some other people with lowered C5's to see if you guys have a problem with scraping.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 761
RE: Lowering
hmmmm..if you dont have any replies, check out http://www.speed-eng.com/store/
Sean, who runs it, is happy to answer questions, and seeing as how they sell suspension items, he very well may have dealt with this issue before. if no one replies here, try info@speed-eng.com , and tell them that you got the info from patrick at CorvetteForums.com.
Sean, who runs it, is happy to answer questions, and seeing as how they sell suspension items, he very well may have dealt with this issue before. if no one replies here, try info@speed-eng.com , and tell them that you got the info from patrick at CorvetteForums.com.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 903
From:
RE: Lowering
I lowered mine by the bolts only (about 1-inch drop) and scrap the rubber spoiler only when exiting driveways and parking lots. I have NEVER scraped the body, although I should mention that I have the Z-51 suspension option, which definitely helps matters. If you have the Z51 option, I'd say DO IT. The car looks MUCH better, IMO.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,532
From:
RE: Lowering
ORIGINAL: Dave01
I lowered mine by the bolts only (about 1-inch drop) and scrap the rubber spoiler only when exiting driveways and parking lots. I have NEVER scraped the body, although I should mention that I have the Z-51 suspension option, which definitely helps matters. If you have the Z51 option, I'd say DO IT. The car looks MUCH better, IMO.
I lowered mine by the bolts only (about 1-inch drop) and scrap the rubber spoiler only when exiting driveways and parking lots. I have NEVER scraped the body, although I should mention that I have the Z-51 suspension option, which definitely helps matters. If you have the Z51 option, I'd say DO IT. The car looks MUCH better, IMO.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10
From:
RE: Lowering
Pay2Play,
Lowered mine as much as possible using the stock bolts and without cutting the bushings. Here's some great instructions from a brother on another site.
later,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
Lowering the C5- Instructions by “G Man”
Tools required
- Floor Jack
- Jack Stands (2)
- Wheel Blocks
- Hog ring Pliers or Needle nose Pliers
- Hacksaw or Serrated Knife
- 10mm Ratcheting Wrench or 10mm Socket Wrench w/swivel extension
- 18mm Combination Wrench or 18mm Socket Wrench
- 13/16” Combination Wrench or 13/16” Deep Socket Wrench
REAR
1. Make certain the car is located on a level surface.
2. Place blocks or boards under the front wheels to prevent the car from rolling.
3. Using the floor jack, raise the rear of the car, insuring that the jack is positioned in the center of the rear cross member (silver/gray in color).
4. Place two jack stands under the rear cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them. Make sure you have raised the car high enough to allow plenty of workspace.
5. Locate the rear leaf spring. There is a bolt on each end (18mm bottom, 13/16” nut on top), with a rubber bushing top and bottom. At the top of the bolt, above the nut, you will see a small c-clip. This clip must be removed in order to get the nut off the top. Use hog ring pliers or needle nose pliers to remove the clip.
6. With the c-clip removed, loosen the top nut from the bolt.
7. Pull out the bolt and bushings from the leaf spring(the leaf spring is NOT under pressure).
8. Cut both bushings so that the section with the extension is the only one left. Use a hacksaw or serrated knife. ** NOTE: If the car is too low for your personal preference, you can add back the piece or pieces you cut off **.
9. Once the bushings are cut, reassemble the bolt, bushings, and nut through the leaf spring and A-Arm. Leave TWO threads showing on top when you re-tighten. It will seem loose, but when the car is lowered onto the ground, the weight will load the spring. Don’t forget to put the c-clip back on.
10. Lower the car, the rear is done !!
FRONT
1. Make sure the car is in gear to prevent it from rolling.
2. Raise the car with the jack positioned in the center of the front cross member.
3. Place the two jack stands under the cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them.
4. Remove the front wheels. It may be necessary to slightly loosen the lug nuts before the wheels are completely off the ground.
5. Find the front leaf spring, and with a 10mm wrench or socket, turn the bolt as if you were loosening it (It is reverse threaded so you are actually tightening it).
6. Turn the bolt until there is no longer a gap between the bushing and the bolt. Measure the exposed threads to insure the other side is done the same. NOTE: On a Z51 car, the car will not drop as much as one that has the standard suspension. You can completely remove the front lowering bolt if you would like to go even lower. A jack or spreading tool is required to allow removal of the adjusting bolt.
7. Put the wheels back on and lower the car. NOTE- It may be necessary to place a board under the tires so you will be able to remove the floor jack once the car is lowered.
Lowered mine as much as possible using the stock bolts and without cutting the bushings. Here's some great instructions from a brother on another site.
later,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
Lowering the C5- Instructions by “G Man”
Tools required
- Floor Jack
- Jack Stands (2)
- Wheel Blocks
- Hog ring Pliers or Needle nose Pliers
- Hacksaw or Serrated Knife
- 10mm Ratcheting Wrench or 10mm Socket Wrench w/swivel extension
- 18mm Combination Wrench or 18mm Socket Wrench
- 13/16” Combination Wrench or 13/16” Deep Socket Wrench
REAR
1. Make certain the car is located on a level surface.
2. Place blocks or boards under the front wheels to prevent the car from rolling.
3. Using the floor jack, raise the rear of the car, insuring that the jack is positioned in the center of the rear cross member (silver/gray in color).
4. Place two jack stands under the rear cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them. Make sure you have raised the car high enough to allow plenty of workspace.
5. Locate the rear leaf spring. There is a bolt on each end (18mm bottom, 13/16” nut on top), with a rubber bushing top and bottom. At the top of the bolt, above the nut, you will see a small c-clip. This clip must be removed in order to get the nut off the top. Use hog ring pliers or needle nose pliers to remove the clip.
6. With the c-clip removed, loosen the top nut from the bolt.
7. Pull out the bolt and bushings from the leaf spring(the leaf spring is NOT under pressure).
8. Cut both bushings so that the section with the extension is the only one left. Use a hacksaw or serrated knife. ** NOTE: If the car is too low for your personal preference, you can add back the piece or pieces you cut off **.
9. Once the bushings are cut, reassemble the bolt, bushings, and nut through the leaf spring and A-Arm. Leave TWO threads showing on top when you re-tighten. It will seem loose, but when the car is lowered onto the ground, the weight will load the spring. Don’t forget to put the c-clip back on.
10. Lower the car, the rear is done !!
FRONT
1. Make sure the car is in gear to prevent it from rolling.
2. Raise the car with the jack positioned in the center of the front cross member.
3. Place the two jack stands under the cross member, and SLOWLY lower the car onto them.
4. Remove the front wheels. It may be necessary to slightly loosen the lug nuts before the wheels are completely off the ground.
5. Find the front leaf spring, and with a 10mm wrench or socket, turn the bolt as if you were loosening it (It is reverse threaded so you are actually tightening it).
6. Turn the bolt until there is no longer a gap between the bushing and the bolt. Measure the exposed threads to insure the other side is done the same. NOTE: On a Z51 car, the car will not drop as much as one that has the standard suspension. You can completely remove the front lowering bolt if you would like to go even lower. A jack or spreading tool is required to allow removal of the adjusting bolt.
7. Put the wheels back on and lower the car. NOTE- It may be necessary to place a board under the tires so you will be able to remove the floor jack once the car is lowered.
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