Shock height question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Shock height question
Been doing some searching but haven't really found the answer.
Regarding front shocks
When ordering is there a differance between the height of the shock..
stock vs Z51?
Regarding front shocks
When ordering is there a differance between the height of the shock..
stock vs Z51?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
I put those KYB's on and I swear it lifted the front end up. The distance between the top of the tire and fender well is almost 4 inches. I've got to measure to be sure though.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
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I have z51 bilsteins on my junk and it is an inch or less between the top of the tire and wheel well edge. I can measure it if you like. I am home for the weekend.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
With mine sitting next to the wife's car you can see a big differance between the top of wheel and fender.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
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From: Clifton Park NY
maybe from the top of the two bottom mounting bolts to the bottom of the nut that holds them into the mount?
Installed is fine...mine are.
And to answer your other question from before...yes I've been driving it around and it hasn't settled.
Installed is fine...mine are.
And to answer your other question from before...yes I've been driving it around and it hasn't settled.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The shock will have an effective range of travel for the level of stiffness. There will be no difference in the distance between the upper and lower mounting points on the car so either a base shock or a Z51-specific shock will work. The difference will be the overall stiffness of the shock.
Some years ago, I installed a set of KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my old '78 with the FE7 suspension. Those shocks did rais the car about an inch. From what I had found out later, was that the KYB shocks had higher gas pressure and that resulted in the change in heights. I had always heard that a shock by itself should not change the ride height, but these particular KYB's did. As Pete K mentioned, the car needs to be driven to allow the shocks to settle. Just drive around the block and look at the ride height again.
I have a set of Bilstein Z51-specific shocks on my '87 (Z52 suspension) and they didn't impact the ride height of the car at all.
Some years ago, I installed a set of KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my old '78 with the FE7 suspension. Those shocks did rais the car about an inch. From what I had found out later, was that the KYB shocks had higher gas pressure and that resulted in the change in heights. I had always heard that a shock by itself should not change the ride height, but these particular KYB's did. As Pete K mentioned, the car needs to be driven to allow the shocks to settle. Just drive around the block and look at the ride height again.
I have a set of Bilstein Z51-specific shocks on my '87 (Z52 suspension) and they didn't impact the ride height of the car at all.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
The shock will have an effective range of travel for the level of stiffness. There will be no difference in the distance between the upper and lower mounting points on the car so either a base shock or a Z51-specific shock will work. The difference will be the overall stiffness of the shock.
Some years ago, I installed a set of KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my old '78 with the FE7 suspension. Those shocks did rais the car about an inch. From what I had found out later, was that the KYB shocks had higher gas pressure and that resulted in the change in heights. I had always heard that a shock by itself should not change the ride height, but these particular KYB's did. As Pete K mentioned, the car needs to be driven to allow the shocks to settle. Just drive around the block and look at the ride height again.
I have a set of Bilstein Z51-specific shocks on my '87 (Z52 suspension) and they didn't impact the ride height of the car at all.
Some years ago, I installed a set of KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my old '78 with the FE7 suspension. Those shocks did rais the car about an inch. From what I had found out later, was that the KYB shocks had higher gas pressure and that resulted in the change in heights. I had always heard that a shock by itself should not change the ride height, but these particular KYB's did. As Pete K mentioned, the car needs to be driven to allow the shocks to settle. Just drive around the block and look at the ride height again.
I have a set of Bilstein Z51-specific shocks on my '87 (Z52 suspension) and they didn't impact the ride height of the car at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Shocks can have different ride heights primarily due to internal pressure. This is one of several reasons why when you change shocks you really should make sure all four the same brand and version for street applications.
Back to the original question, Bilstein Z51 and HD's should be very close to each other regarding ride height. Of course you would have to install a new set of 4 of each back to back on the same car and do measurements under indentical conditions. Which means it is unlikely any forum has actually done that.
Back to the original question, Bilstein Z51 and HD's should be very close to each other regarding ride height. Of course you would have to install a new set of 4 of each back to back on the same car and do measurements under indentical conditions. Which means it is unlikely any forum has actually done that.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
You didn't loosen the control arm bushing bolts did you. If for some reason you did, the suspension needs to be in a loaded position before tightening. If you are concerned about the shock, remove them, it should only take a few minutes and see what the ride height is without shocks. Compare the travel of the shock off the car compared to the one's you took off. It should be easy to isolate the cause of the problem.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Ok, so the reason I started looking into this is because I had noticed the distance between the top of the wheel and the inner fender
I removed the shocks and this is the measurement between the concrete floor and the inner fender well weatherstrip. 25 1/4 inches
Turned around to my wifes 84 and measured the same area on her car.
24.5 inches
there's more than an inch differance.
My latest project was
New Rack and pinion,tie rod ends. I had lifted the car, placed in on jack stands. Removed the tires,sway bar. Rack and shocks. Once everything was installed I got the tires as straight as I could by adjusting the tie rod ends. I have no touched the camber adjustment at all.
since I put it back on the ground I noticed that it rides on the outside of each front tire. I do have to get it in for an alignment.
Could it potential rise up because the camber adjustment is off?
I removed the shocks and this is the measurement between the concrete floor and the inner fender well weatherstrip. 25 1/4 inches
Turned around to my wifes 84 and measured the same area on her car.
24.5 inches
there's more than an inch differance.
My latest project was
New Rack and pinion,tie rod ends. I had lifted the car, placed in on jack stands. Removed the tires,sway bar. Rack and shocks. Once everything was installed I got the tires as straight as I could by adjusting the tie rod ends. I have no touched the camber adjustment at all.
since I put it back on the ground I noticed that it rides on the outside of each front tire. I do have to get it in for an alignment.
Could it potential rise up because the camber adjustment is off?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If the car is sitting higher than normal, it will increase the negative camber, thus the inner tire contact. Back to my original question, did you have to remove the control arm do the work?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
KYB's are known to raise the ride height due to their gas charge. Its crazy since not all cause this to happen.
After time the ride height will drop. Don't ask how much time. No clue.
The difference in regular and z51's...none.
Just for a test put the old shocks back in. You may end up answering your own question.
After time the ride height will drop. Don't ask how much time. No clue.
The difference in regular and z51's...none.
Just for a test put the old shocks back in. You may end up answering your own question.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,481
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
My car was lowered by the PO and I purposely run KYB's to get an extra 1/2" of lift to keep the air dam from scraping on driveway aprons ... they have more gas pressure than Bilsteins ...
Pro
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 677
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From: Metairie LA
Alright - just to see what the difference is.
Vette currently has/had KYB gas adjust shocks. I put in the lowering wedges and removed the spring end pads trying to get it lowered and there is still a large gap between the tire and wheel well.
The KYB's have several hundred miles on them. Picked up slightly used Bilstein Sport shocks from a member on the forum. measured before and after.
Pic of shocks together:
Measurements from bottom mount:
Ride hight before (weatherstip lifted):
Ride after:
Strange - the shock hights are a bit different (5/8" to 1/2")but overall - very little change in ride hight. Maybe the Bilsteins will settle a little more over time (did drive it around to settle it).
Damn - the quest to lower my vette continues. Maybe the front spring is too stiff to let her come down (can't afford coilovers and I have to mod the shock mounts - ts an 86).
Vette currently has/had KYB gas adjust shocks. I put in the lowering wedges and removed the spring end pads trying to get it lowered and there is still a large gap between the tire and wheel well.
The KYB's have several hundred miles on them. Picked up slightly used Bilstein Sport shocks from a member on the forum. measured before and after.
Pic of shocks together:
Measurements from bottom mount:
Ride hight before (weatherstip lifted):
Ride after:
Strange - the shock hights are a bit different (5/8" to 1/2")but overall - very little change in ride hight. Maybe the Bilsteins will settle a little more over time (did drive it around to settle it).
Damn - the quest to lower my vette continues. Maybe the front spring is too stiff to let her come down (can't afford coilovers and I have to mod the shock mounts - ts an 86).
