C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Confusing Lowering Phenomenon

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 01:03 PM
  #1  
kvozel's Avatar
kvozel
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 61
From: Centerville OH "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"
CI 3-4-5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Default Confusing Lowering Phenomenon

I lowered my 2004 one week ago, 5 1/2 turns on all four wheels. Since then I have driven about 250 miles, so it seems to have settled well. However, here's my confusion......

The situation is the same in front and back, but here's the front details. Ground to fender on both sides is equal... 27". However, the gap between the tire and the fender is different by about 1/4". Doesn't sound like alot, but certainly noticeable. The gap on the drivers side is smaller than the passengers side. Again, same phenomenon in the rear, just different measurements.

What's up?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 01:54 PM
  #2  
Wicked Weasel's Avatar
Wicked Weasel
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Default

Originally Posted by kvozel
I lowered my 2004 one week ago, 5 1/2 turns on all four wheels. Since then I have driven about 250 miles, so it seems to have settled well. However, here's my confusion......

The situation is the same in front and back, but here's the front details. Ground to fender on both sides is equal... 27". However, the gap between the tire and the fender is different by about 1/4". Doesn't sound like alot, but certainly noticeable. The gap on the drivers side is smaller than the passengers side. Again, same phenomenon in the rear, just different measurements.

What's up?
what side do you sit on??? and how big are you???
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 02:02 PM
  #3  
kvozel's Avatar
kvozel
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 61
From: Centerville OH "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"
CI 3-4-5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
what side do you sit on??? and how big are you???
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 02:34 PM
  #4  
wyndzer's Avatar
wyndzer
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Wilson NC
Default

Were you parked on completely level ground?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 02:47 PM
  #5  
kvozel's Avatar
kvozel
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 61
From: Centerville OH "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"
CI 3-4-5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by wyndzer
Were you parked on completely level ground?
Relatively level... my garage floor.

Even so, I wouldn't think that would affect it. Would it? Car would just tilt and measurements should be equal.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 03:11 PM
  #6  
waupachino's Avatar
waupachino
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 34
From: St. Louis Missouri
Default

Did you measure both sides before you lowered the car? It might have been different to begin with. I also believe they say the proper place to measure from is from the frame rails directly behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels to the ground on level surface. The the fender to the ground measurement is not accurate due to bady panel alignment variances.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 03:24 PM
  #7  
kvozel's Avatar
kvozel
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 61
From: Centerville OH "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"
CI 3-4-5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by waupachino
Did you measure both sides before you lowered the car? It might have been different to begin with. I also believe they say the proper place to measure from is from the frame rails directly behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels to the ground on level surface. The the fender to the ground measurement is not accurate due to bady panel alignment variances.
Unfortunately I did not measure beforehand, and I'll check out the measurement as you suggest.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 04:27 PM
  #8  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,799
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

Lets see the fender to ground measurement on both sides is 27 inches. Supposedly the wheel tire diameter on each side is equal and about 25.6 inches so the top of the tire will be slightly less than 25.6 inches off the ground due to flattening of the tire where it touches the ground. The difference between the fenders and the tops of the tires should be equal unless there is a difference in the tires and how much one flattens out on the ground Vs the other one. I think you need to re-measure.

Bill
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 12:51 PM
  #9  
cam99's Avatar
cam99
Pro
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 590
Likes: 1
From: Suffolk New York
Default

I agree make sure the tires are inflated to the same pressure.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Confusing Lowering Phenomenon





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:52 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE