When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Last year I put on C6 Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars. This past weekend my girlfriend and I took a trip in it and every time I hit a large bump I could hear the rear passenger side tire bottom out. Well, took the wheels off to clean and wax them and sure enough, the tires were indeed contacting the rear wheel liners when I was hitting those large bumps.
Has anyone that installed the C6 Z06 shocks run into this problem? Are the shocks shorter than C5 stock shocks?
I did the exact same mod well over a year ago, and I've never had any issues at all. However, I am running stock rims at the stock ride height. Best of luck. I hope you can fix the issue to your satisfaction.
Last edited by MWWarlord; Nov 9, 2020 at 11:48 AM.
Reason: corrected typos
Car has been lowered since 2003 and I never had a problem till I put on the C6 Z06 shocks. I plan on raising the rear up a little tonight as she is already up in the air since I'm cleaning and waxing the rims.
It's been a long time since I've messed with lowering a C5, thank God for YouTube videos.
From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
Last year I put on C6 Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars. This past weekend my girlfriend and I took a trip in it and every time I hit a large bump I could hear the rear passenger side tire bottom out. Well, took the wheels off to clean and wax them and sure enough, the tires were indeed contacting the rear wheel liners when I was hitting those large bumps.
Has anyone that installed the C6 Z06 shocks run into this problem? Are the shocks shorter than C5 stock shocks?
I've had Z06 shocks on for about 5 years, my car is lowered as well, and I can't blame the shocks for road dips and bumps, that will cause the tires to make contact with the inner wheel liners. On a lowered car, you already negate the inches you had before, so it's logical to assume, you lose that cushion of safe space. Obviously, you know with driving a lowered car, even negotiating things at low speeds, can present a challenge. There's always a compromise when you tinker with the suspension geometry, and this is either something you live with, change the routes of travel you use, avoid the bumps as best as possible, or change it back to standard ride height.
Does your car have the soft springs or something stiffer such as the C5 Z06 springs?
Stock
It's still weird to me that it never rubbed in 16 years I had it lowered, but now that I have the C6 Z06 shocks on it does rub.
I'll raise it up a 1/2 inch but I won't know the results till Spring.
Good luck. The new shocks are actually a bit stiffer than the stock shocks. If anything, I would think it would be LESS likely to rub. Are you certain there isn't something else that may have caused this?
Ours is standard height with the C6 Z06 shocks and no bottoming at all.
The fact that it appears to only happen on one side of the rear (passenger side), leads me to believe there is a separate issue there. Jack's thought about an issue with the shock would be my first starting point.
If you still have your old shocks you might try swapping them in as a test. You could also try swapping sides with your C6 Z06 shocks and see if the issue moves to the driver's side. (Unfortunately, it looks like it will be a while before you can make any determination of the cause).
Please let us know what you find.
Best wishes with this.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
C6 Z06 shocks cause rubbing?
