GTB/ZR-1

I'm having an issue w/ my car being too low & getting into he bumpstops--specifically the rears. I've raised it a bit, but am still having an issue and I'd rather not raise my car up in the rear any more. I run OEM '04 Sachs shocks and they do an excellent job, but...

Has anyone measured the difference between the Bilsteins & stock?

Thanks

Bill Dearborn

Why not trim the bump stops a little? A long time (7 or 8 years) ago that is what Ron Brown from GM Racing had recommended people do to get a little more shock travel on lowered cars.
Bill

GTB/ZR-1

I thought abt this Bill, as I have my stock shocks sitting in the garage & I took a look @ the stock foam (?) stops. Obviously, it'd cost me all of nothing to do this, but...

The only thing being is if it ever bottoms on the shorter stops (less cushion when it hits), won't that make for a spike in spring rate (even more so than now)?

ghoffman

Why not raise it a little? The geometry is better at stock ride height. If your track is billiard table smooth, OK, but otherwise you'll probably do better lap times with a little more ride height. Just a thought...

0EG@EnglandGreen

Bilstein Sports are the same length as stock - but they are both stiffer and have a longer travel. I had my car slammed with no front bolts and longer rear bolt and never bottomed out with the Bilsteins.

I have DRM coilovers now.

GTB/ZR-1

That pic is worth 1000 words...

The overall length may be the same, but the body is a good bit shorter--thx for the pic.

I'd like to keep the ride-height the car currently has (it's not quite 'slammed'), along w/ the slight rake. I may try cutting the bumpstops, but if that doesn't work the Bil. Sport looks like they'll do the trick.

Thanks guys

John Shiels

I never measured but most here have said one inch

z060ntrack

I believe it is 3/4" (shorter vavle body) or effectively more travel. My '04 shocks had the bump stops removed on the recommendation of a very fast G.M. engineer by a shop who just happens to have him as a driver

GTB/ZR-1

Have you ever bottomed w/o the stops? I'm leaning on trimming down the stops, but may try w/o them...

z060ntrack

My Z06 was lowered roughly about 1.375 front and .75 to .875 rear and the shocks never bottomed out on the street with the stops completely removed

0EG@EnglandGreen

I cut my Bilstein bump stops in half and never bottomed out. They are very good shocks - night and day difference from OEM

mountainbiker2

The rear Bilstein has a shorter shock body, but the bump stop is longer. If you run 335/35/17 rear tires you can not go much shorter. If you cut more the a 1/4" off the bump stop on your stock shocks, you will bottom the fender into the tire. The front Bilsteins have a longer shock body then stock 04 Z06 shocks. If you run 315/35/17 front tires, you can not go much shorter then stock length. Maybe 1/16" off bump stop. I'm running 06 Z06 shocks. The fronts are the same length as 04 Z06 shocks. I did not cut the bump stops. I'm only about 1/8" from hitting the fender with the tire. (315) The 06 backs are 1/4" shorter then 04 shocks. I put in about 1/16" shims to keep the fenders off the tires. (335) If your into the bump stops to much, then you will either have to raise the car or get stiffer springs.

Just look at your car in the picture. How much shorter shock can you go? Not much.

Steve

0EG@EnglandGreen

You can go a LOT lower and still have full suspension travel - but on coilovers.

mountainbiker2

[QUOTE=EnglandGreen]You can go a LOT lower and still have full suspension travel - but on coilovers.

Only if your tires sit inside the fender well. From the looks of GTB/ZR-1 car, I think the tires sit outside the fenders.

Steve

GTB/ZR-1

Correct Steve--315/11" & 335/12"