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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
When we first saw pictures of the "manufacturing validation build" cars, there was wide variation in ride heights. Most assumed that this was because they were pre-production cars, but even with current customer cars there is a wide variation in ride heights. [Most "visually measure" ride height as the distance between the top of the tires and the bottom of the outer fender lip immediately above that, though officially the ride height is measured as the distance between the fender's lowest, outer "lip" above the tire centerline, and the flat/level pavement on which the car is parked.]

Look at the ride height differences in these two customers cars:




As in the following thread, there is a relatively easy, no cost way to lower your car's ride height:
http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum/stingray-build-section/892-lowering-your-stingray.html

But, "how come" cars are coming with such ride height differences now? I know many (including me) earlier conjectured that it was "when the cars was build;" and/or, "how many miles and how time they had elapsed after manufacture to "settle down" etc. That does not seem correct based on recent comparisons of cars showing significant ride height differences between cars with roughly the same mileage, with roughly the same amount of time since they were built. Other theories include the observation that, in general, Z-51's tend to have higher ride heights. This may be accurate, but even if true, why is this the case, for to get better aero for better high speed handling, you want less distance between the bottom of a car and the pavement (and most racing series specify a minimum ride height). Thankfully GM allows ride adjustments within a wide-enough range to allow owners to make height adjustments (and if car is lowered using the factory adjusting bolts, as opposed to aftermarket drop links, keep the car's warranty in tact).

Any ideas as to what is going on, what is causing these significant car-to-car differences?
 

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Based on your post, I measured my ride clearance and coming up with 2.5" for front wheels and 3" for rear wheels for my Z51. Others?
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 · (Edited)
Measuring from the flat/level pavement, here is what GM's specs are:

Model RPO P-Height R-Height
1YY07/1YY67 FE1, FE2 692 mm± 10 mm (27.2 in± 0.39 in) 738 mm± 10 mm (29.1 in± 0.39 in)

1YX07/1YX67 FE3, FE4 693 mm± 10 mm (27.3 in± 0.39 in) 737 mm± 10 mm (29.0 in± 0.39 in)

Each car will settle some after several hundred miles and some time. One person found his car settled approximately 3/16" in the front and 1/8" in the rear during the "settling period."
 

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I have been thinking about this post and I have to believe that it makes sense to wait a while before you lower your car. Seems like to me that you need to wait a bit to let the car settle then lower it. Otherwise it will end up lower than you wanted it, though probably not enough to make much difference. Having said this, a "bit" might make the difference in whether it drags or not on speed bumps, or in my case the incline into my garage.
 

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Just found this picture of a Z-51 lowered by dealership via factory adjusting bolts.

looks like he blacked-out the marker lights as well. Looks good. I'm going to be lowering mine as well as it fills in the wheel well a bit.
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
I have been thinking about this post and I have to believe that it makes sense to wait a while before you lower your car. Seems like to me that you need to wait a bit to let the car settle then lower it. Otherwise it will end up lower than you wanted it, though probably not enough to make much difference. Having said this, a "bit" might make the difference in whether it drags or not on speed bumps, or in my case the incline into my garage.
Totally agree with you Chip! If I were lucky enough to get a 2014 StingRay, I wouldn't be lowering until I drove it around the places I usually frequent, especially the places you mentioned, then seeing how that goes, still would wait at least a month and hundreds of miles allowing it to settle, before I seriously considered lowering it.
 
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