[mjw930]

I know many have posted their before and after ride heights when lowering on the stock bolts but they are spread all around the forums. How about everyone who has lowered their car post their measurements in this thread so we can all compare notes.

Before: Like an impatient child I didn't measure mine before I lowered it. I'm embarrassed but if this is the worst thing I do then I'm well ahead of the game.

After: (rounded to the nearest 1/32nd of an inch, measured at the center of the wheel to the wheel well)

Front Left: 27"
Front Right: 27"
Rear Left: 28.5"
Rear Right: 28.5"

(Pic to come)

 

[glen e]

How are you measuring?

 

[mjw930]

How are you measuring?

Yardstick across the center of the wheel vertical to the lower lip of the fender. I know, the fender isn't always accurate, you are supposed to measure to a frame hard point but I doubt most do that.

 

[STUNG]

Hi Mark:
I am assuming your measurement is from dead ctr. of wheel to the ctr. of lower edge of the fender lip. Correct? Is there a safe maximum to lower on stock equiptment? I am interested in doing mine but not if it is going to jepardise the safety and ride of the car. What if any adjustments had to be made to the alignment? Sorry for the questions but I think they are important. Thanks in advance of your reply.

I see by the post you just made. Thanks.........

 

[mjw930]

As long as you use the factory adjustment bolts there's no issue with warranty. Alignment has been reported to be basically unaffected (stays within the green zone on the +- tolerances) but I was planning on having a precision alignment done anyway.

Here's how I measured

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[glen e]

4000 miles - lowered to max on bolts - tire inspected by my wheel shop, no aberrant wear whatsoever. GM would not allow adjustment of anything that would kill warranty.

and as you can see from marks picture this is HARDLY "lowering" as thought of by most forums...a la coils and springs...the most you come down is about an inch, you still have plenty left to traverse any road conditions.

mine are 28" rear and 26" front - base car but z51 sized wheels and tires

 

[STUNG]

Thanks Mark.

 

[mjw930]

Here's a picture lowered (and detailed, she sure is purdy)

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[glen e]

Mark - please put your detail procedure and products on your build thread ....looks great and less than 4 hours?

 

[Mobius]

Mark - please put your detail procedure and products on your build thread ....looks great and less than 4 hours?

You two should get together and compare detailing "notes" - maybe at a half-way point like Vero Beach?

FYI - I lived in Daytona for four years, and got my undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering (back when they offered that major - it's Aerospace Engineering now) at Embry-Riddle. I love Florida, especially the Daytona Beach area.

 

[mjw930]

Mark - please put your detail procedure and products on your build thread ....looks great and less than 4 hours?

Done

You two should get together and compare detailing "notes" - maybe at a half-way point like Vero Beach?

FYI - I lived in Daytona for four years, and got my undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering (back when they offered that major - it's Aerospace Engineering now) at Embry-Riddle. I love Florida, especially the Daytona Beach area.

We already have. I use a very similar process Glen does, have for years, but he turned me onto the Blackfire total polish and seal vs. the separates I was using and I'm very happy with the results.

But we are off topic so let's try and keep this thread to ride height

 

[Chip]

A consideration to make before lowering: Allow some time and mileage to allow for the suspension to settle. I would be interested to see how much your car's stance (lowering measurements) have changed from where you set it when lowering it after driving it for 10K miles. I bet the drivers side will be lower than the passengers side at the 10K mark if you don't ride with a passenger often. I also wonder how much lower it will be, as well as, the changes in the drive height of the whole car in general? Anyone care to check?

 

[Texas2Gun]

I will check mine at 10 thousand and see if there is a change and report back. Of course it may be next year before I hit 10 thousand miles!

 

[mjw930]

I don't expect a lot of settling past the initial set the cars take in the first few hundred miles. With the way we drove ours and some of the roads we hit (literally) on the way home I'm confident the suspension is as settled as it will get in the first half of its life. Composites aren't like steel springs, they aren't malleable.

But, it may need a lift in a few years, who knows......


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[glen e]

I don't expect a lot of settling past the initial set the cars take in the first few hundred miles. With the way we drove ours and some of the roads we hit (literally) on the way home I'm confident the suspension is as settled as it will get in the first half of its life. Composites aren't like steel springs, they aren't malleable.

But, it may need a lift in a few years, who knows......


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Mine never "settled" , don't knows about changes after extended miles

 

[mjw930]

Mine never "settled" , don't knows about changes after extended miles

Ours didn't appear to settle either but I didn't measure it until I got home. The only vehicles I've ever had "settle" are cars where I have replaced springs, never factory cars.


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[Torch-Red-Z06]

Yardstick across the center of the wheel vertical to the lower lip of the fender. I know, the fender isn't always accurate, you are supposed to measure to a frame hard point but I doubt most do that.

On this note, anyone have factory specs on ride height and which hard points to use? I had the data for my C5 and C6 but I had the manuals at the time.




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[mjw930]

Based on the amount of adjustment and the look of all the brochure vehicles I suspect the ride height from the factory is a direct function of the car carriers and not the optimal height. It would be great to know what the engineers consider the "proper" ride height to be and where it's measured.


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[PoconoG]

26 3/4 front, 28 rear. I have about 1200 miles.

 

[mjw930]

It might help too if people post whether theirs is a base to Z51. Thanks.


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