When I bought my 03 Z last May, I made contact with the original owner. He confirmed he had lowered the car during his ownership. The dealer made him return it to OEM specs prior to trade. Seems not only didn't he get it right but he didn't do any alignment. Yesterday at a local car show I used a tape measure and measured 10 Z's. Turns out my front is lowered (hence the front end scraping everything taller than an inch) by an inch and my left front tire is shot (ZERO tread on the inside of the tire going into the second block of treads.). Needless to say I'm concerned. 11K miles and my front left tire dangerously worn. The right front tire looks great with even wear and many miles left on it. The rears look like new.

Can I raise the front end to OEM height by just turning the lowering bolts w/o doing anything else? Do I need to index them to get the left and right even? Any advice is appreciated.

I'll then get a full alignment and buy two new front tires.

Thanks in advance.

 

Use the jacking puck holes in the frame as a point of reverance. Body parts like the fenders are not always even. PPL say there should be a 4-5 mm difference between the front and rear ( higher ) jacking hole. This difference will give the car the 'rake' it needs for proper aerodyanmics.

Yes the car should be even left and right. When YOU are in the drivers seat.

When I do my suppension I jack my car up and put it on 4 jack stands. Wheels on the car.
Put two concreat blocks under each wheel with a big black plastic garbage bag folder over many times on the blocks. Lower the car on the blocks. The bags allow the wheels to slide out slighlty for normal weight distrabution.

I let the car sit there for a few hours to settle.

Then disconect the sway bars, so there is no weight on the sway bars.
( i put in 200 lbs of weight in the drivers seat ( old rotors ) to repesent my weight )
Adjust the suppension height and measure to the ground. Keeping that 4 mm difference between front and rear.

After I get the ride height ajusted I re-attach the sway bars.
Jack car back up. remove blocks , set car back on ground - with extra weight still in drivers seat.
Let is sit there for a few hours to settle.

Take our extra weight then take car for a drive.
Then to the alignment shop to assure proper alignment.

Lots of work YES. but well worth the effert and keeps the tires from being warn too much.

the proper ride height, rake and alignment will make for a great ride especially a little spirited weekend adventures.


Tom

 

Tom, do you also try to have a half tank of gas?

 

Other than doing what Tom said, either raise or lower the car, check the rake, then get new front tires and alignment. Check the specs!!!!!!! Make them show you the before and after print outs. Tell them you don't want the range, you want exact numbers.

And take this to make sure they use the right specs.
Wheel Alignment Specifications
RPO
Operation
Service Preferred
Tolerance

Front Alignment Specifications

All
Front Individual Toe
+ 0.04
+/- 0.10

All
Front Sum Toe
+ 0.08
+/- 0.20

All
Steering Wheel Angle
0.0
+/- 1.0

FE1 & FE3
Front Individual Caster
+ 7.4
+/- 0.5

FE1 & FE3
Front Cross Caster
Within +/- 0.5
--

FE1 & FE3
Front Individual Camber
- 0.20
+/- 0.5

FE1 & FE3
Front Cross Camber
Within +/-0.5
--

FE4 (Z06)
Front Individual Caster
+ 6.9
+/- 0.5

FE4 (Z06)
Front Cross Caster
Within +/- 0.5
--

FE4 (Z06)
Front Individual Camber
- 0.70
+/- 0.5

FE4 (Z06)
Front Cross Camber
Within +/- 0.5
--

Rear Alignment Specifications

All
Rear Individual Toe
- 0.01
+/- 0.10

All
Rear Sum Toe
- 0.02
+/- 0.20

All
Rear Thrust Angle
0.0
+/- 0.10

FE1 & FE3
Rear Individual Camber
- 0.18
+/- 0.5

FE1 & FE3
Rear Cross Camber
Within +/- 0.5
--

FE4 (Z06)
Rear Individual Camber
- 0.68
+/- 0.5

FE4 (Z06)
Rear Cross Camber
Within +/- 0.5
--

 

Yes 1/2 tank of Gas too.

and I second what CPT says here:
EXACT NUMBERS

 

As usual my CF buddies come through. I didn't think it was going to be that complicated. I wish the previous owner had left it alone, I was never into the lowered look anyway not to mention all of the side affects if not done correctly.

Thanks

Tom