Aftermarket Lowering Collars Void Chevy Corvette’s Axle Lift Warranty

Among the many benefits of buying a brand-new car, warranty coverage is one of the most important. At the same time, customizing one’s ride can end that coverage in the twist of a wrench. That’s exactly what one Corvette owner just found out after his axle lift system failed.

YouTuber NuHorizon is that owner and when his front axle lifter system failed he planned a trip to his local dealer. At the same time, he was aware of a service bulletin that went out in June of 2022. It specifically says that Corvettes with lowering collars on their front suspension no longer benefit from warranty coverage on that front axle lifter.

That’s because the lowering collars can cause a hydraulic leak in the axle lift system. As Corvetteblogger notes too, when that happens the system ultimately fails and requires service or replacement. In the case of NuHorizon, his right-size actuator failed completely. According to the owner, the final bill for everything is going to end up costing somewhere around $2,000.

Read: Toyota Reverses Course, Will Cover GR86 Engine That Blew Up On Track

Unlike other recent cases we’ve seen, he evidently deals with this issue like a professional. He says that he was upfront with the dealer about the lowering collars and that the visit was cordial even if he didn’t get covered. He also has some advice for C8 Corvette owners looking to lower their rides. Go with lowering springs instead as they’re not involved in that same bulletin.

Obviously, voided warranty coverage over aftermarket parts is nothing new. We’ve seen that in recent weeks as one guy with a tuned Hellcat blew up his motor and two people with modified Ford Broncos snapped axle welds. All three ended up on the hook for repairs.

On the other end of that spectrum was the story of a Toyota GR86 owner who after initially being denied warranty coverage on an unmodified blown engine ended up with a new one on the automaker’s dime. The lesson is quite clear. Don’t modify your warranty-covered ride unless you’re willing to deal with the potential consequences.