The front of my 2003 Z seem to have dropped, it is now scraping when going over minor bumps where it never did before. What would cause the front to set lower? The Z has 18,000 miles on it.

Thanks for any information!
Ray

 

Have you hit any deep pot holes, possibly you have cracked a front spring, have a ft end shop look it over, or the front end may have just setteled and needs to be raised with the adjusting bolts.

 

Believe it or not tread wear and/or a change in tire pressure can cause the car to lower a fraction of an inch and that could be what you're sensing.

 

Is it just scraping the air dams or the front skids on the rad. support.

Check your center air dam and see if it has been damaged. It is not hard to do. it is held on by two bolts on the radiator support. Mine hit something and the bracket for the center air dam was bent and that caused the scraping. Gene on here sells the full set they are right around 100 bucks and take maybe 30 minutes to install.

 

Have you gained any weight over the winter?

Sorry I had to

 

Thanks for the replies!

1. The tire pressure was the first thing I checked and it was correct.
2. The tires still have over 1/2 tread life on them.
3. It is scraping the front skids and air dam.
4. I did hit a small pot hole a few days past, right front tire. I was
comming out of a driveway at a very low speed. When I placed
the Z on the lift, I could see no damage to wheel or tire. I will
re- check as soon as I get the 1961 out of the lift bay.

5. No weight gain! but I am getting older.

Could someone please measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the nose of their Z? I would like to determine if mine is close.

Thanks for the help!
Ray

 

The nose, centered at the intersection between the body and the beginning of the radiator opening that is underneath is 6 1/4 in and the bottom of the air dam also at the center is 2 1/2 in off the floor. Hope this is clear? This is off my '01 which has been lowered about 1 in all around.

 

Finally got the Z on the lift today. The front spring is cracked and splintered. I am now searching for a front spring. Would any have instructions for the removal and installation of the front ZO6 spring?

Thanks for all the help Ray

 

Any idea what might have caused the spring to break? Do you remember hitting anything?

 

I have just purchased a new GM replacement spring for my 2003 Z. Has anyone installed a new spring and if so how did you compress the spring for install? The GM instructions state: Spring Compressor J 33432-A

Thanks for any help!
Ray

 

I did hit a small pot hole exiting a parking lot about a week ago, but was only going 2 to 3 MPH. It didn't seem to be a big deal at the time. I purchased the 03-Z last August, so I am not sure if the past owner had any problems. I drove the Z from Western NY to Florida in early April, what a great drive! I serviced and inspected the Z prior to the trip and found no damages or problems under the car, including the spring.

 

That's sure strange! I wonder what could have caused the spring to break? Good luck with the replacment and let us know how difficult when you get it figured out. Maybe you can take some pictures. Be sure to have the alignment rechecked when you get finished.

 

Found out some interesting information about what may have caused the spring failure. I contacted a Dave McLellan, chief engineer for the Corvette from 1975 until his retirement in 1992, and exchanged emails. I think many of you may find this an interesting read.

Ray,

The LiteFlex guys who made your spring commented on it below.

Dave

Begin forwarded message:


From: Bob Bauerle >
Date: May 4, 2009 11:08:30 AM EDT
To: 'Dave McLellan'
Subject: RE: Cracked Spring


Dave,

Part number 22171750 is the molded leaf spring part number that is used to make assembly number 22146645. Those numbers are correct for a C5 Z06 so it is probably the original spring. The spring rate is 88.0 N/mm.

Part number 22178729 is an FE3 suspension spring with a rate of 92.2 N/mm.

I have seen this failure mode a few times before and it has always been traced to the use of Hydrofluoric acid to clean the springs. This acid is/was an ingredient in Mag Wheel cleaner that some Corvette owners have used to clean their wheels as well as other components such as springs. Hydrofluoric acid is the chemical used to etch glass and is about the only material we have seen that can cause springs to crack. It is possible that the previous owner used this to clean the vehicle to enhance appearance prior to sale. There is a note in the owner’s manual not to use this material on the springs.

You may forward this information to Ray if you like.

Regards,

Bob Bauerle


From: Dave McLellan
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 8:34 AM
To: Bob Bauerle
Subject: Fwd: Cracked Spring

Bob, Here are pictures the owner took of his spring. Dave

Begin forwarded message:

Special thanks to: Dave McLellan and Bob Bauerle for there help with my spring problem!

There were about four to five cracks in the spring.