Lowering and adjusting ride height with driver weight
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Lowering and adjusting ride height with driver weight
Point of interest when lowering our cars and measuring side to side heights. Make sure you measure with a drivers weight in the car.
My rear bolts are all the way to the lowest lowered point (both nuts even and 2 threads showing under the clip) but the LR sits 1/2 lower than the RR with no driver in car. With me in the car the LR sits 1" lower than the RR.
I knew I was off side to side some but wasn't sure how much until I had my son sit in the car tonight and take some measurements (I was surprised the LR went 1/2" lower with 215 lbs in the seat and RR maybe 1/8" lower making side to side difference 1").
I cant lower the LR anymore as that will throw the rake of the car off too much where rear is lower than the front at the jacking points so ill bump up the LR height some and lower the RR some to try and level it out. Its too bad I cant get the front any lower and then id just drop the rear more to compensate and keep rake at 3/8" (C6 bolts used up front and as low as it will go)
Fronts are within about 3/8" with driver in car so I might bump up passenger side a little to even that out as well.
My rear bolts are all the way to the lowest lowered point (both nuts even and 2 threads showing under the clip) but the LR sits 1/2 lower than the RR with no driver in car. With me in the car the LR sits 1" lower than the RR.
I knew I was off side to side some but wasn't sure how much until I had my son sit in the car tonight and take some measurements (I was surprised the LR went 1/2" lower with 215 lbs in the seat and RR maybe 1/8" lower making side to side difference 1").
I cant lower the LR anymore as that will throw the rake of the car off too much where rear is lower than the front at the jacking points so ill bump up the LR height some and lower the RR some to try and level it out. Its too bad I cant get the front any lower and then id just drop the rear more to compensate and keep rake at 3/8" (C6 bolts used up front and as low as it will go)
Fronts are within about 3/8" with driver in car so I might bump up passenger side a little to even that out as well.
Last edited by briann510; Jun 18, 2008 at 03:30 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Brian,
What happens if you have a passanger or are you setting it up for track use by yourself?
It would be sweet if there was a way to adjust height from the driver's seat. Living off of a dirt road I really can't lower my vette, but it would be nice if I could once on a REAL road.
Eric D
What happens if you have a passanger or are you setting it up for track use by yourself?
It would be sweet if there was a way to adjust height from the driver's seat. Living off of a dirt road I really can't lower my vette, but it would be nice if I could once on a REAL road.
Eric D
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
After trying to level out the LF/RR which then throws the LF/RF measurements off its impossible to get everything even side to side on this car. If I get the rears even then I have to adjust the fronts cause they are off which then again throws the rear heights off....its a never ending battle. I guess I'm just gonna have to leave it somewhat "close" and just align it with me in it and call it a day.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
After trying to level out the LF/RR which then throws the LF/RF measurements off its impossible to get everything even side to side on this car. If I get the rears even then I have to adjust the fronts cause they are off which then again throws the rear heights off....its a never ending battle. I guess I'm just gonna have to leave it somewhat "close" and just align it with me in it and call it a day.
You want the cross wts, LF & RR total to be close to the RF and LR total
Rear should be ~ 1/4" to 3/8" higher then the front
Not the ride height guys. No offense but something is going to be very upset suspension wise.
Might be time to look for a speed shop that can do corner weighting, ride height adjustment and an alignment.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Right now the rear is higher by a little over 1/4" measured at the frame puck holes with no driver weight in car on each side (same exact measurements side to side front and rear).
Measuring for "visual" wheel opening space is obviously not the way to correctly set the car up suspension wise (I knew that but was hoping for a even visual look side to side). My rake on both sides is even now with my minor adjustments to rear bolts and now the rear frame at puck holes is sitting higher at 5/16" with no driver. Thats as close as its gonna get and visually the left side looks good and right side looks good in wheel well opening space they just aren't even between the 2 sides which no one is gonna notice anyway.
What I find a little odd is the bolts used to raise and lower the rear are so far off adjustment wise but car rake is perfect front to rear/side to side measured at frame holes. Got about 1/2" of threads showing on left bolt and no threads on right one.
Measuring for "visual" wheel opening space is obviously not the way to correctly set the car up suspension wise (I knew that but was hoping for a even visual look side to side). My rake on both sides is even now with my minor adjustments to rear bolts and now the rear frame at puck holes is sitting higher at 5/16" with no driver. Thats as close as its gonna get and visually the left side looks good and right side looks good in wheel well opening space they just aren't even between the 2 sides which no one is gonna notice anyway.
What I find a little odd is the bolts used to raise and lower the rear are so far off adjustment wise but car rake is perfect front to rear/side to side measured at frame holes. Got about 1/2" of threads showing on left bolt and no threads on right one.
Last edited by briann510; Jun 18, 2008 at 12:19 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Can you tell I have a lot of spare time on my hands...LOL
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: NC
I have a lift and made sure it was level before starting then measured up to the frame rails, control arms, transmission case, measured the wheel openings, measured the frame at the jacking points to the lift--
AAAAAAHHHH!!!! this will drive you nuts! Ended up lowering the front 1/2" and the rear 3/4" removed one section on the rear adjustment pad!
AAAAAAHHHH!!!! this will drive you nuts! Ended up lowering the front 1/2" and the rear 3/4" removed one section on the rear adjustment pad!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Ive also got a lift and finally got the Vette up on it to check all the measurements out. Its obvious every car is different but its interesting to see what the actual differences are measurement wise when both front and rear adjustment bolts are all at the same amount of turns. I have 4 corner Lonacre digital scales on loan to someone and will get them back to do some corner weight checks.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Never really heard of ride height adjustment considering drivers weight, but I think it's a good idea.
I do know (from race experience) that when you have them aligned, that the driver should be in the seat for a "right on" alignment.
I do know (from race experience) that when you have them aligned, that the driver should be in the seat for a "right on" alignment.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
You guys NEED this article http://www.sae.org/servlets/productD...D=2002-01-3333
$11 and the best mod your car will ever get.
$11 and the best mod your car will ever get.
