Lowering/alignment question....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola FL
Lowering/alignment question....
I lowered my Z on stock bolts. I did not cut any bushings, nor did I lower it all the way on the stock bolts- maybe 80%. I drove it a week & had it aligned. After lowering but before the alignment, it was very erratic over bumps & pavement transitions. After, it was better, but still not like it was before I lowered it. It feels like its mostly the rear- it's all over the place on cetain road conditions. Anyone know if further alignment tweaks can fix this? It's really annoying. Thanks, Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
hmmm sounds like an alignment issue. I have cut bushings and longer bolts in the rear and im not having any issues like that. Now, as for scraping on every imperfection on the road, thats another story.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: renton washington
Originally Posted by DPG
hmmm sounds like an alignment issue. I have cut bushings and longer bolts in the rear and im not having any issues like that. Now, as for scraping on every imperfection on the road, thats another story.
my problem too! i love it 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola FL
Maybe someone will know what to change on the alignment. Also, it doesn't scrape anything. The rear end just feels squirelly and loose- almost like it's got worn bushings/parts. The car moves abrubtly and you have to correct with steering. Similar to when you drive on a road with ruts/grooves and the car is all over the place. Hopes this helps better describe my problem. It started as soon as I lowered it. Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 181
From: NE OH
Originally Posted by 99 The Hard Way
uh, I just had an alignment.'Till now, I was just thinking it was due to the wide tires (295's) on the rear....
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola FL
I have a color printout of the the before & after numbers, so I know the numbers are right. I was just hoping someone knew how to tweak those specs a little to eliminate the problem. The front was almost unchanged before & after lowering, but the rear was way out. Since it improved after aligning, im figuring it's the rear that needs to be tweaked more. Also, it feels like it's in the rear. I am no expert, so i could be wrong. Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Originally Posted by DPG
sounds like a toe in problem. Bring it in to a different place and see if they go the specs right.
The other possibility is your shocks are old/worn. How old are they? Before you immediately rule this out - on my 2004 I lowered it after about 7k miles, bottomed out a few times because it was too low, and when I went to replace the shocks with bilsteins, noticed one of the rear shocks was completely bad. Bilsteins made a world of difference. It is possible.
The other thing I'd recommend is after any alignment, take a heavy marker, or some nail polish, and mark the settings of the eccentrics used to set the alignment. They can shift if the tech doesn't tighten enough.
It is very difficult using any description over the web to really know how the handling is. Assuming it is very noticable, it is a little difficult to believe a 'tweak' in alignment will affect what you are encountering. Again, it is very difficult to tell.
If it's possible, share your current #s from your printout, and maybe something will stand out.
Hope this helps a little,
Jon
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: PA
Bilstein sport valved shocks [shorter body than OEM Z06] cured the imprecise handling symptoms on my '02 Z. I lowered as far as stock adjusters would allow -did not cut bushings- and believe that the stock shocks were then at the far range of their compression travel, adversely affecting the handling especially when a rear tire is loaded during cornering/acceleration. Now with the Bilsteins and 19" x 11" CCWs with Michelin Pilot Sport 295/35ZR19s it handles very nicely.