Yesterday morning, I took my '88 out for the first time in about 3 weeks (the weather the last time I had it out was in the upper 70s - yesterday morning it was in the 50s).

As soon as I started driving down the road, I noticed (heard) my front end bottoming out (on very minor dips that never posed a problem before). I pulled over to make sure all was fine - nothing hanging, etc. All appeared ok - but I could see where the front black air dam was hitting the ground (scrapes & scatches).

This did NOT happen over the summer months or the last time I had the car out.

Is it time for new shocks? Car has the Z52 suspension with the yellow Bilsteins shocks & 68K miles. Not sure if they are original or not (just got the car in June).

I noticed after about 20 mins of driving, the bottoming out got less and less - where it practically went away. But later in the day, when I took it out again, it came back. Tire pressure was down only 2 psi when I check it cold last night (filled it up, but haven't tried it since). Is the colder weather playing a role?

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Chris
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1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary #1941/2050
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am #760 (1800 miles)
1983 Delorean DMC-12
1985 Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900

 

Check the front spring.

 

If the front spring is in one piece, it probably is the shocks. My 86 would bottom out on the smallest speed bump. Replaced the shocks and problem is fixed.

 

The same thing hapened to me except. The car was squeaky. It naver made noise before but today it was very squewaky on a 10 min ride.

(the weather the last time I had it out was in the 60s - yesterday morning it was in the 30s)

beats me. i was thinking shocks dont like the cold.

 

i wanna say i heard the bottoming out noise could be caused by worn sway bar bushings in the cold, mine makes the noise in the cold but it is definantly different than the air dam scraping