How to Install Corvette Coilovers (C5 or C6 Corvette)

Follow these steps to install Corvette coilovers from companies like Aldan American on a C5 or C6 Corvette.

C5 and C6 Corvettes are an insane performance bargain, but that doesn’t mean things like suspension components can’t be improved over factory. (Especially as C5 and C6 Corvettes age.) Enter the mighty coilover, a suspension component that combines a coil spring and a shock into one combo part. If you’re looking to learn how to install Corvette coilovers, our friends over at Aldan American have some great advice, inspired by a video recently posted on the Aldan American YouTube channel.

Aldan American has been designing shocks and suspension parts for over 30 years. Their coilovers are made right here in the U.S.A. And they include a lifetime warranty. They sell kits for every Corvette generation, but today’s post is for C5 and C6 Corvettes courtesy of these instructions over on the Aldan American website. (You can also watch their install video, embedded below.)

NOTE: This how-to-install Corvette coilovers guide may also help with the installation of parts from other brands, but always read the specific instructions for any aftermarket parts prior to installation. And always, always put safety first when wrenching. Cars are heavy; springs are holding a lot of force.

To complete the job, you will only need a couple of basic tools –

• Floor Jack or Lift
• Jack Stands
• Torque Wrench
• Basic Hand Tools

Removing the Front Shocks & Leaf Spring

Safely lift and support your Corvette, letting the front wheels hang freely at full extension. Remove both of the front wheels. Now it is time to go to work.

1. Remove the upper shock nuts from either under the hood or through the wheel well (the latter offers a little more approach angle).
2. Unbolt the brake calipers and secure them with a bungee.
3. Support the lower control arm with a floor jack.
4. Unbolt the leaf spring’s 4 front sub-frame bolts.
5. Remove the 2 lower shock mount bolts.
6. Remove the sway bar lower nuts. (The end of the stud has an internal 8mm Allen to keep it from turning while loosening the nut with a wrench.)
7. Remove the 4 bolts connecting the upper control arm to the frame. (Save all shims & note the order!)
8. Lower the jack under the lower control arm and remove the leaf spring.

Installing the Aldan American Front Coilover Kit

Now that your front leaf spring is gone, it’s time to install your front coilovers. Here’s how Aldan American advises their customers to do it:

1. Install the Aldan coilover into the upper mount (don’t tighten the nuts).
2. Bolt the upper control arm back into place using the shims you saved (above).
3. Install the lower shock bolts in the control arm.
4. Torque the upper control arm and lower shock bolts to factory specs.
5. Reattach the brake caliper.
6. With a jack under the lower control arm, compressing the suspension, tighten the upper and lower shock nuts.
7. Check everything for proper torque spec.
8. Check for any brake hose or sensor interference.
9. Put your wheels & tires back on the car and lower it to the ground.
10. Check the sway-bar-to-coil clearance. (Use a grinder to add clearance as needed.)

Aldan American recommends starting off with the #1 compression setting, and adjusting toward #6 as needed for additional firmness. Use the included spanner wrench on the lower spring seat to adjust ride height.

Removing the Rear Shocks & Leaf Spring

Remember that you’re doing every step below on BOTH sides. Again, safely lift and support your Corvette and remove the wheels before you begin.

1. Support the lower control arm with a jack.
2. Remove the two upper shock retainer plate bolts as well as the bolts connecting the upper control arm to the frame.
3. Remove the large bolt connecting the lower shock mount.
4. Remove the rear shocks.
5. Unbolt the leaf spring’s 4 rear-subframe bolts
6. Lower the jack under the lower control arm and remove the leaf spring from one side.

Installing Rear Coilover Kit

Before you begin installation, please note that the upper brackets are labeled Left Rear and Right Rear & the upper shock mount should be positioned as far back in the shock tower as possible. Here are the steps that follow, from Aldan American:

1. Install the new brackets using the original factory hardware.
2. Use supplied Aldan American hardware to mount the coil-over into each upper bracket.
3. Install the lower coil-over clevis mount using the original hardware, but do not tighten. (NOTE: The lower shock has an offset; put the larger radius on the OUTside).
4. Set the spring preload to ½-inch (you can adjust this later with the car on the ground).
5. Reinstall the upper control arm using the original hardware.
6. With a jack under the control arm, compressing the suspension, torque the upper and lower control arm bolts to factory specs.
7. Reinstall the sway bar end link and torque to factory specs.
8. Inspect all hardware and components and reinstall wheels.

With the vehicle now safely on the ground, you can use the included spanner wrench to adjust ride height. Don’t forget to have a professional alignment shop do a four-wheel alignment.

Coilover Kit Advantage

Generally speaking, there are a couple of key advantages to going with aftermarket coilovers. One is the ability to quickly and substantially adjust your ride height. The other is better performance in terms of outright handling or a more comfortable ride.

However, the Aldan American kits have several advantages even on top of that. The ease of installation, lifetime warranty, and the fact that they are made in America are certainly a few of those key advantages.

There were nearly half a million C5 and C6 Corvettes sold. So, there are a lot of people out there with these cars that could benefit from this simple upgrade. Other Corvette generation owners could also take advantage of the benefits and that includes folks that might be building a restomod. A set of Aldan American coilovers could be the perfect suspension solution for your build.

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