Huh? Hadn't thought of it but I haven't seen many (any?) lowered MR GM cars?? I can only guess you would lose the functionality of MR with a lowered suspension at which point you would lose a major performance advantage of these cars.

 

I know, crazy question, but people are crazy about cars. I guess I am wondering if there might be a way to modify the mounting brackets to get it 3/4" lower, or some other crazy modification, to lower without ripping the MR factory suspension out.

 

So I am hearing that you can modify and lower a BW while maintaining the factory MR suspension. Apparently you just swap out the springs. This would be amazing!

 

I know this is an old thread but I'm curious what happened here.

I also have an interest in slightly lowering the ride height. I think the car looks great and I know tons of engineering went into the suspension and I don't want to screw up the ride or handling but I wouldn't mind a slightly smaller wheel gap.

Beef Wellington sir, did you ever get your car? Have you modified it?

I imagine he's long gone, probably doing something awesome somewhere based on his profile picture.

 

So, to answer your question, no, I have not received my car yet. I am trying to find out, but it could be another 6 months before I get it. Who knows.

The research I am seeing comes from the Camaro ZL1 crowd. They are lowering their cars using the factory mag ride shocks along with lowering springs and a full host of BMR trailing, toe, and control arms to completely dial in the performance and handling of the car. It seems to me that it does not detract (a noticeable amount) from the factory MR.

I will look more into the BMR kit when the time comes.

 

I haven't had any trouble lowering my other MR equipped cars. Just have to get the controller re-learned at the dealership. Just replace the springs, re-learn, and enjoy the lowered look and slightly stiffer ride. In my SS I would describe the difference as Tour Mode now equals Sport Mode in terms of the ride quality. Sport and Track mode don't seem to be any noticeable difference IMO.

 

Guys, new to the forum, new to the car and just starting to research. Ordered my BW last week.

I have heard great things about the factory Blackwing suspension and do not want to alter it, however I have historically upgraded (and lowered) the suspension in all of my cars. Tastefully, for both function and form.

Is there any way to slightly lower the ride height of a Blackwing?

Curiously yours,

Beef

Don't do it. You will only hurt the performance of this vehicle and you void your warranty on the suspension. Also, the cost will be prohibitive. This will negatively affect your resale value.

 

This is nonsense advice. Cars like these are bought to please the enthusiast within the purchaser, not for the purpose of reselling them. Moreover, as it has been stated before, the Blackwing and the Camaro pretty much share the same MR suspension, and there is an entire community of reliable, lowered Camaros out there. So, obviously, it can be done. Just be patient; the car is super new: it won't be long before a reputable suspension company designs some wonderful lowering springs for the Blackwing. I for one will be slamming mine asap: I absolutely love the MR suspension, but I hate the jeep-like stance that it offers even more. So an approach I'm considering is to purchase some tried and proven coilovers so as to marry the fenders to the tires = Sexy! ... That's the Blackwing I want to see. And, as a fillip, in the very unlikely event that I decide to trade it in, I can always reinstall the factory MRs.

 

I will do absolutely not a single thing to mine other than keep it hospital grade clean as if it rolled out of the assembly process day one. The only addition will be the custom license plate holders I have ready to go and be installed. I had them painted the same red color code as the brake calipers. The bottom of the frames say "BLACKWING" and the top says "SR-71". In the mean time I am just waiting for it to arrive. Its on a train now.

 

Well that’s certainly your prerogative to do so. I mean, it’s your car… But with that said, I wonder, with great confusion, how you found yourself on this thread in the first place … And then I see you opted for the automatic transmission, which showcases to me how very boring you are. And then I wonder no more.

Take it easy there cowboy. No need to flex those judgmental muscles. I have a bad left knee so operating a manual is out for me. Anyone who is buying these cars is not by very definition "boring". Lets keep this classy and not be hostile.

 

Chill out folks - to each his own. In most cases "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but this time it appears it's in the eye of the owner. Given my past experience with the Lord/DELPHI Magnetic Ride Control systems in the earlier FWD Sevilles and some DTS I would opine that removing MRC, lowering the vehicle, changing springs, and using coilovers (?????) will accomplish nothing but destroy the vehicle's ride and handling characteristics. Again - to each his own.

........ and, given the ages of these new models, fooling with the suspension will very likely void any warranties on the vehicle.

Please lower the temperature in this thread. Any more stone-throwing and vacations from the site begin. Nuf ced.

 

Ok. My apologies. I see how that was a bit much. …I was really just clowning around. Warmest regards.

No sweat. No reason to be mean here. Water under the bridge as they say. Or is that rubber left on the road? Either way stay cool.

 

I’m a military guy. It’s our nature to throw a jab here and there in a friendly discussion…. Nevertheless, I did apologize.

 

A couple of my buddies are retired Seals. Nothing but respect dude. Thank you for your service! I always wanted to enlist but based on my long standing knee issue, and another medical issue that was not an option. I have a thick skin. Just keep things professional and good natured.

 

Don’t know why anyone would lower a 5BW.

1. Will depreciate car.

2.Will void excellent 4 yr warranty

3. Likely ride like xx & mess up front end factory engineering

4.will bottom out lots CF cars already do

5. And cost a pile of scratch you may not be happy with.

6. Could potentially mess up the cars different traction/handling modes etc

but have at er & best of luck

 

Don’t know why anyone would lower a 5BW.

1. Will depreciate car.

2.Will void excellent 4 yr warranty

3. Likely ride like shit & mess up front end factory engineering

4.will bottom out lots CF cars already do

5. And cost a pile of scratch you may not be happy with.

6. Could potentially mess up the cars different traction/handling modes etc

but have at er & best of luck

I agree with you 100%. There are some dealerships that will not buy a modified car and many will reduce the amount they will pay for the car. The Vs have been highly engineered to be as close to the perfect car as they can be. My ATS-V stock suspension is great. In comfort mode, my wife doesn't complain about the stiffness and in track mode the car is firmer, but not bouncy. The Audi RS5 and BMW M3 ARE bouncy in sports mode and are uncomfortable and harsh. A suspension does not have to be harsh to handle well.

 

LG Motorsports in Texas is a solid shop built my 95’T/A & 14’ Camaro 2SS RS ……..they seem to be on the leasing edge of tech on GM vehicles

 

FWIW.
Here is the wording right from the GM Warranty.

Damage Due to Accident, Misuse, or Alteration

"The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover damage caused as the result of any of the following:

Collision, fire, theft, freezing, vandalism, riot, explosion, or objects striking the vehicle

Misuse of the vehicle such as driving over curbs, overloading, racing, or other competition. Proper vehicle use is discussed in the owner manual.

Alteration, modification, or tampering to the vehicle, including, but not limited to the body, chassis, powertrain, driveline, software, or other components after final assembly by GM.

Coverages do not apply if the odometer has been disconnected, its reading has been altered, or mileage cannot be determined.

Installation of non-GM (General Motors) parts

Water or fluid contamination

Damage resulting from hail, floods, windstorms, lightning, and other environmental conditions

Alteration of glass parts by application of tinting films"

You can assume you have warranty coverage on the engine if you modify the suspension but according to this you would be wrong.
All it takes is one modification "after final assembly" to void the entire warranty.
They could even void the warranty if you have window tint.

A dealer or a service rep might let something slid but if push comes to shove you would be S.O.O.L.

 

FWIW.

They could even void the warranty if you have window tint.

A dealer or a service rep might let something slid but if push comes to shove you would be S.O.O.L.

As a former service writer, I have never encountered any such trivial voids of warranty. But I’m sure all hypothetical outcomes can win popularity here, no matter how outlandish they may be…The reality for me is, I’ll likely be at, or near, the end of my vehicle’s warranty by the time a well engineered spring is developed and released. So warranty issues will be of no consequence to me.

Here is the thing in this discussion.
The engineers who designed the suspension looked at all of those factors and came up with a system that was their best fit taking into account everything. You purchased it and, looking at one single parameter, the wheel to body clearance..
And LOL!
You know that to improve a car's breaking would be a bad thing, right?
Now if you wanted to improve it's braking, that would be a different story...

Lord have mercy… Spring rates and heights are not solely designed for the best performance; they are also produced to please a targeted consumer. Could GM have made the car with stiffer and lower springs? If so, would the targeted consumer be happy with that? …It’s ridiculous to think that there are no compromises in a vehicle’s production. Or that improvements can’t be made.

Thus, I say again, a well engineered, shorter spring will capitalize on mass production compromises, taking into account all factors of the stock suspension and crafted with spring-rates appropriate to the overall vehicle’s specifications.

So yes, engineering the lowering of a vehicle’s center of gravity will always improve the way that car handles. It’s basic physics, buddy. Therefore, no: it’s not one aspect that I look to change.

And thanks for catching my typo. ☺

 

Its clear to me that you’re clueless about all things concerning the engineering that goes into properly lowering a car. Virtually all your examples and reasons why not to lower the Blackwing are derivatives of methods like cut springs and adjustable sleeves, trashy coilovers, eBay mods, etc…

Well engineered springs and coilovers don’t do any of the things you just listed. But they do improve the car’s handling, looks and breaking.

Here is the thing in this discussion.
You just said that lowering the car "Improves" things.
If you said "changes" things I can agree with that.
A vehicle's suspension has many jobs and needs to account for a huge number of factors. The engineers who designed the suspension looked at all of those factors and came up with a system that was their best fit taking into account everything. You purchased it and, looking at one single parameter, the wheel to body clearance, are changing the suspension to improve that one single metric.
It is unrealistic to think that the entire suspension is now "Better" than the production system was with this single minded change.
The suspension is different and is better in your single point of adjustment yes.
Is it better or improved? Overall? No. Proof in point. You have reduced suspension travel. That is definitely worse for suspension compliance and will negatively impact day to day public road operation as well as performance/race handling in regards to rough and uneven track conditions.
I say you do you and have fun but at least understand that there are downsides to the modification you want to make and those who argue against them do have valid points.
And LOL!
You know that to improve a car's breaking would be a bad thing, right?
Now if you wanted to improve it's braking, that would be a different story...

 

I 100% agree only an idiot would mess with the stock suspension, lower springs, less travel, shit ride. Sure it may handle a little better & look all gangsta if your lacking self confidence but a total waste of time & money. Shops will say they have kits that are “bolt on” & doesn’t change anything but you’ll be sacrificing something somewhere without a doubt. I’ve had suspension work done on two highly modified cars a 95’ Firebird T/A & a 2014 Camaro 2SS RS 1LE both done by LG Motorsports…….. Lou Gigliotti’s shop……..pretty well renowned corvette , Camaro etc mod shop & he races what he runs. They were good kits but rode like shit. Just saying it’s your money & vehicle do as you wish.

 

only an idiot would mess with the stock suspension, lower springs, less travel, shit ride… They were good kits but rode like shit. Just saying it’s your money & vehicle do as you wish.

Only an idiot would draw from his ignorant decisions of the past to form a conclusion about the present. You selected “good kits” for your rides, but they “rode like shit”. What an oxymoron. This is obviously news to you, but less suspension travel does not equate to a bad thing, provided the spring rates and dampening are appropriate for the vehicle at that given height. Clearly, I’m far more educated in quality engineering than you. So you can rest assured that my research and execution will be sound.

 

I’m not touching the MRC 4.0 on my 5BW. It is stellar. But, to each his own. That’s why we have options! [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Ok good on yeah it’s you wasting the time & money not me. Good luck with your “sound research”. All you are going to do is butcher an already extraordinarily engineered vehicle & depreciate its value. Obviously more money then brains 🧠. Party on Wayne.

 

Since civility wet on vacation....thread closed, y'all were very close to a vacation yourselves