Vett is VERY low
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 41
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From: Roodepoort Gauteng
Vett is VERY low
Hi there.
Can anybody please help me. My '90 C4 is very, very low, only about 4" to 5".
It is creating quite a bit of driving problems for me.
It looks like it has a fiber suspension in front (I think - my '81 had a fiber suspension....) as indicated in these photos.
Is there perhaps a spacer that may have been removed by the previous owner at the position indicated?
Thank you.
Henk
Can anybody please help me. My '90 C4 is very, very low, only about 4" to 5".
It is creating quite a bit of driving problems for me.
It looks like it has a fiber suspension in front (I think - my '81 had a fiber suspension....) as indicated in these photos.
Is there perhaps a spacer that may have been removed by the previous owner at the position indicated?
Thank you.
Henk
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
It very well could have been lowered by a previous owner. Otherwise you could have a sagging or cracked front spring. I believe stock ride height is only about 5.5" of ground clearance, for a coupe. And yes the transverse leaf springs are fiberglass.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 41
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From: Roodepoort Gauteng
Thank you.
How can I check/test for cracks?
It is a Convertible.
If the stock is only 5.5", then I'm not far off.
Would there be a "Spacer" at the blue arrow as standard?
Thank you.
Henk
How can I check/test for cracks?
It is a Convertible.
If the stock is only 5.5", then I'm not far off.
Would there be a "Spacer" at the blue arrow as standard?
Thank you.
Henk
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 8
the front leaf spring is mounted on two rubber wedges,lowering the front end require to trim this wedges or use lower than stock.looking at your shock absorbers it seams to be oil leaks meaning the shocks are gone...If your shocks are gone the entire weight of front end is supported by the monospring as results it seats lower ....
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http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=79763
Last edited by tunedport85inject; May 22, 2013 at 04:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Roodepoort Gauteng
Thank you, Excellent info!
How do I check the Shock? Maybe that is part of the problem.
Where do you actually measure the ground clearance? Sounds like a stupid question, but my car has a frond kit on, so I can measure the clearance there, but I can't really compare it to a stock car.
Thank you.
Henk
How do I check the Shock? Maybe that is part of the problem.
Where do you actually measure the ground clearance? Sounds like a stupid question, but my car has a frond kit on, so I can measure the clearance there, but I can't really compare it to a stock car.
Thank you.
Henk
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Convertibles sit about an 1" higher, so it should probably be closer to 6.5"....They have MASSIVE amounts of fender gab (the space between the tire and the fender). That's for the added clearance of the X-bracing under the car that hangs down lower than the frame.
To check the shocks, just push down quick on the front end of the car. It shouldn't bounce around. It should go up and then rest into place quickly. Now, they could still need to be replaced though.
To check for ground clearance. Just measure from the bottom of the frame, from just behind the front tire, and again just in front of the rear tire.
To check the shocks, just push down quick on the front end of the car. It shouldn't bounce around. It should go up and then rest into place quickly. Now, they could still need to be replaced though.
To check for ground clearance. Just measure from the bottom of the frame, from just behind the front tire, and again just in front of the rear tire.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 509
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From: Livonia Michigan
Check the shocks, your Delcos/Bilsteins may be bad. My front rode so low the tire rubbed the inside of the wheel well when I hit bumps. When I removed my shocks I could move them by hand. When I installed new Bilsteins the ride height went up and the wheels stopped rubbing the wheel wells.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 8
Check the shocks, your Delcos/Bilsteins may be bad. My front rode so low the tire rubbed the inside of the wheel well when I hit bumps. When I removed my shocks I could move them by hand. When I installed new Bilsteins the ride height went up and the wheels stopped rubbing the wheel wells.
the same happened to me, the fender gap was about two finger high.When i had the shocks down i was able to compress they by hand and they remained compressed as soon i left them!!completely gone...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
That's not the only thing missing. The steering rack isn't there either.
[EDIT]
Oops. Looks like he got the reply in before I did.
You have to remove the sway bar to get the steering rack out.
[/EDIT]
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Check the shocks, your Delcos/Bilsteins may be bad. My front rode so low the tire rubbed the inside of the wheel well when I hit bumps. When I removed my shocks I could move them by hand. When I installed new Bilsteins the ride height went up and the wheels stopped rubbing the wheel wells.
Shocks dampen the springs.
Anti-roll (ugh "sway") bars minimize body roll.
Each of these have a specific function and complement each as a trio.
Unless you have weak springs, shocks have nothing to do with ride height. And are not the choice to change ride height.
Unless your a rustang or rice owner then all bets are off....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,351
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From: Delta B.C. Canada
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
2015 C4 of Year Finalist
I see you are in South Africa, so some of your terminology there will be different than here in North America. (You would call the hood of the car a Bonnet, right?) Sway bars are also called anti-roll bars.
Here's a close-up of how it should look on the Vette:
Here's a close-up of how it should look on the Vette: