Lowering C5 on stock bolts
06-19-2005, 04:56 PM
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Melting Slicks
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Lowering C5 on stock bolts
If anyone has lowered there c5 using stock bolts could they please post pictures and could they please provide me details on how to do it...i know its been posted before but i can't seem to find it....without cutting the bushings etc...just on stock bolts....if anyone can provide details on how it could be done or give me a link to a discription it'd be greatly appreciated... 
06-19-2005, 06:03 PM
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Drifting
06-19-2005, 06:06 PM
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '05
Here you go: I have a few pics of lowering on stock bolts.
The rear end is easy. No need to jack the rear end or take the rear wheels off, but it may be easier for you to get under the car if the back is brought into the air. Here is a pic of the passenger rear. The bolt is in the middle of the picture. The nut is on top of the leaf spring and the hex head is below the leaf spring. I think the bolt is 18mm, but I dont really remember. Take a socket wrench to the hex head below the leaf spring. At the same time use an adjustable wrench to hold the nut atop the leaf spring in place so it doesnt move when you turn the bolt. Loosen the bolt counterclockwise until there are about two thread showing above the nut. Do the same for the other side.
Here is a pic of the driver side rear bolt.
Ok, now for the fronts. Jack up the front end and place it on jack stands. Take the front wheels off. In order to lower the fronts, all weight must be taken off of the front spring. You can use your floor jack and a small piece of wood as shown in the picture below. As the picture shows, it is important to get as close to the end of the leaf spring as possible to take all of the weight off. Leave the jack in place.
Next, now that the front is on jack stands and the weight of the car has been taken off of the spring, get yourself a 10mm socket (again I forget the exact size) and an adjustable wrench. The bolt is a little hard to see in the next pic, but i circled it in white. However, the front bolts are reverse threaded, so you want to turn them counterclockwise. This means, that when you are done, there will be more threads showing above the nut.
The lowering was done at forum members' "connecticut" and "nomadman2001"'s garage. thanks guys
The rear end is easy. No need to jack the rear end or take the rear wheels off, but it may be easier for you to get under the car if the back is brought into the air. Here is a pic of the passenger rear. The bolt is in the middle of the picture. The nut is on top of the leaf spring and the hex head is below the leaf spring. I think the bolt is 18mm, but I dont really remember. Take a socket wrench to the hex head below the leaf spring. At the same time use an adjustable wrench to hold the nut atop the leaf spring in place so it doesnt move when you turn the bolt. Loosen the bolt counterclockwise until there are about two thread showing above the nut. Do the same for the other side.
Here is a pic of the driver side rear bolt.
Ok, now for the fronts. Jack up the front end and place it on jack stands. Take the front wheels off. In order to lower the fronts, all weight must be taken off of the front spring. You can use your floor jack and a small piece of wood as shown in the picture below. As the picture shows, it is important to get as close to the end of the leaf spring as possible to take all of the weight off. Leave the jack in place.
Next, now that the front is on jack stands and the weight of the car has been taken off of the spring, get yourself a 10mm socket (again I forget the exact size) and an adjustable wrench. The bolt is a little hard to see in the next pic, but i circled it in white. However, the front bolts are reverse threaded, so you want to turn them counterclockwise. This means, that when you are done, there will be more threads showing above the nut.
The lowering was done at forum members' "connecticut" and "nomadman2001"'s garage. thanks guys
Last edited by Icemanskis; 06-19-2005 at 06:08 PM.
06-20-2005, 12:09 AM
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Melting Slicks
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any pictures of the car after its lowered...i want to see how low it sits...after i got it up on the the lift at work...i got kinda scaried and never bothered doing the work...first off it was really confusing without the pictures...now it seems really clear and secondly ive done quite a bit of damage without even knowing...ive bottomed out A LOT
the roads around my house aren't exactly the flatest i guess i have to go on more of a angle....on the passenger side bottom panel OUCH!!! 
scaried me off never ended up doing it...but i would still like to see how low it sits after lowered...how many inches do you drop approx...front and rear?? still thinking about it not sure if i should take the risk and drop it 
thanks again 
the roads around my house aren't exactly the flatest i guess i have to go on more of a angle....on the passenger side bottom panel OUCH!!! scaried me off never ended up doing it...but i would still like to see how low it sits after lowered...how many inches do you drop approx...front and rear?? still thinking about it not sure if i should take the risk and drop it thanks again
06-20-2005, 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by BickyDhadwal
If anyone has lowered there c5 using stock bolts could they please post pictures and could they please provide me details on how to do it...i know its been posted before but i can't seem to find it....without cutting the bushings etc...just on stock bolts....if anyone can provide details on how it could be done or give me a link to a discription it'd be greatly appreciated...
06-20-2005, 12:18 AM
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06-20-2005, 12:18 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
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Icemanskis - thanks for the great detailed explanations and pictures...i might end up lowering it tomorrow 
especially after seeing RAIN's pictures very nice
especially after seeing RAIN's pictures
very nice
Last edited by BickyDhadwal; 06-20-2005 at 12:20 AM.
06-20-2005, 01:47 PM
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St. Jude Donor '05
Here are the before and after shots: The car was lowered about 3/4'' all the way around. But, I have the Z51 suspension, which I have been told will not lower as much as the standard suspension. You should be able to drop an inch or a little more on stock bolts with the standard suspension. I was not satisfied with lowering only on stock bolts. Hence, today the front bushings will be cut and longer rear bolts installed. I will post the pics tonight.
Before lowering pic:
After lowering pic:
Before lowering pic:
After lowering pic:
06-20-2005, 04:12 PM
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Melting Slicks
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i have the upgraded suspension as well :o ..its is a big improvement considering i don't want to be too low becuase i bottom out a lot already...thanks for sharing great pictures
If you cut the bushings does that not make the ride a lot stiffer and not as smooth??
If you cut the bushings does that not make the ride a lot stiffer and not as smooth??
06-20-2005, 10:33 PM
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by dads01dream
So with lowering only 1/2" all the way around, you *must* get the alignment re-done? If yes, do you simply have the shop set it back to stock settings?
TIA
TIA
06-21-2005, 01:11 PM
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Melting Slicks
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O YEA ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION...for anyone thats lowered it on stock bolts...did they also have to re-align??? (i got my alignment done just a month ago )
)
06-21-2005, 08:08 PM
#19
Race Director
Originally Posted by BickyDhadwal
O YEA ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION...for anyone thats lowered it on stock bolts...did they also have to re-align??? (i got my alignment done just a month ago )
)
