Scraping question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Pace/ Pensacola FL
Scraping question
My 03 always, without fail, scrapes when I pull out of my driveway. No matter how slow I take it or at what angle. Driving up the driveway never scrapes. Ever. It's only a small scrape when I pull out I just can't figure out why it only does it one way. I want to lower it on the bolts but the scrape has me scared. Any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
First off if I were you I would order and install a set of Fat Mamma's from CCA. They are a listed as one of our venders here on the forum. That will take care of the scraping of any bottom parts. As far as the problem backing out of your driveway, you might try and go out at an extrme angle and real real slow. Good luck.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 22,135
Likes: 2
From: Ft Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
My 03 always, without fail, scrapes when I pull out of my driveway. No matter how slow I take it or at what angle. Driving up the driveway never scrapes. Ever. It's only a small scrape when I pull out I just can't figure out why it only does it one way. I want to lower it on the bolts but the scrape has me scared. Any ideas?
www.corvettemods.com
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My 03 always, without fail, scrapes when I pull out of my driveway. No matter how slow I take it or at what angle. Driving up the driveway never scrapes. Ever. It's only a small scrape when I pull out I just can't figure out why it only does it one way. I want to lower it on the bolts but the scrape has me scared. Any ideas?
The frame savers (small wheels) that the guys are talking about are a great mod and are designed to strike the ground first. It should take the load off the air dam. I've also got a set of rocker rails fitted to protect the rockers. I'd say thats also a good idea if you plan to lower the car.
Whether you want to lower it is your call. How about reversing into the garage to see if it improves the problem? That way the air dam will be operating as designed and will quite happily take the scrape on the way out. JMHO
Last edited by DeeGee; Dec 15, 2008 at 02:59 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
Mine is lowered all the way on the stock bolts. I scrape all the time. The front scrapes aren't a worry to me too much anymore. Mine has the frame saver wheels on the front as mentioned above. Various vendors here on the forums carry them. I have scraped in the middle a few times and that's scary. I really try to avoid that and never go over known locations to do that again. But with the front frame saver wheels I feel protected just fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
You didn't say WHERE it scrapes. Nose, middle, underneath? Depending on where you scrape, spoilers, chin, belly, that's the area you want to addess.
No matter, you need to get those frame wheels. Also a VERY good item to have, especially for a lowered vette, is the frame rail savers. Those are invaluable for protecting your rocker panels from "highsticking" like when you get that scrape going over speed bumps and things.
No matter, you need to get those frame wheels. Also a VERY good item to have, especially for a lowered vette, is the frame rail savers. Those are invaluable for protecting your rocker panels from "highsticking" like when you get that scrape going over speed bumps and things.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I have those "S" curve curbs in my development (you know, the ones where they can put driveways anywhere) and my car used to scrap. I had concrete put at bottom to make a ramp, no more scraping.
I also saw a removeable rubber ramp that you can buy and place there, it weighed 160 lbs. Here is a link:
http://www.bridjit.com/pages.php?pID=18
I also saw a removeable rubber ramp that you can buy and place there, it weighed 160 lbs. Here is a link:
http://www.bridjit.com/pages.php?pID=18
Last edited by Oldvetter; Dec 15, 2008 at 08:47 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I had a nose killin' driveway...
I just rented a concrete grinder and lowered the sidewalk.
I just rented a concrete grinder and lowered the sidewalk.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 110
From: Chandler AZ
My 2000 Coupe does the same thing backing off my driveway onto the street. It is not lowered either. I usually place two 2 X 4's where the driveway meets the street & I know the wheels will roll over them, even when I turn the front wheels. I take it slow & the air dam rarely scraps. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,683
Likes: 3
From: La La land cali
St. Jude Donor '09
It is just annoying. It has never hurt anything. Those spoilers are tough. I thought sure I had broken mine many times-- I've even folded the whole thing over a few times (during a tow)
I go over everything...
sideways.
I go over everything...
sideways.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,332
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
First off if I were you I would order and install a set of Fat Mamma's from CCA. They are a listed as one of our venders here on the forum. That will take care of the scraping of any bottom parts. As far as the problem backing out of your driveway, you might try and go out at an extrme angle and real real slow. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
I'm lowered all the way with the front bolts removed, and going out of the back garage in the alley, is no easy task my friend. The little front scraping won't damage your car. Unless it is a metal to cement grinding; then I would be worried.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,044
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
I have had frame savers(little wheels) and rocker rails on mine for 4+ years and the middle air dam still scrapes a bit(even at an angle and driving slow) but even though it has scraped hundreds of times it does not do anything but put some scrape marks on the bottom of the plastic dam which I can't even see unless I crawl under and look. The center air dam can be replaced really easily and its cheap if I felt the need...Thats why they put the middle air dam on spring hinges, so it will fold a bit when going over obsticles or inclines/declines ...the scraping sounds 100 times worse than it really is.
The little wheels will protect the frame rails(in front) and other parts from being crunched or scraped but don't do much for the front center dam scrape problem...the center air dam is in front of where the little wheels are. Rocker rails save the rocker panels under the door and the car can be jacked under these rails w/o damaging the panels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 0
From: Jax Florida
Before everyone tries to sell a part that may have nothing to do with the scraping... find out what's scraping first. I am assuming it's just the plastic air dam, which is no big deal. Most people either trim it down or remove it completely. I live in hot, humid Florida and have had mine removed for years. I am lowered 1.5" and never scrape a single thing.
If you are scraping the metal rails under the bumper, then that's a different issue, but I highly doubt that's your problem.
If you are scraping the metal rails under the bumper, then that's a different issue, but I highly doubt that's your problem.