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Pfadt shocks raised the car?

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Old May 24, 2010 | 09:09 PM
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Default Pfadt shocks raised the car?

Helped a buddy with a 2001 Z install Pfadt adjustable shocks recently and now his car sits close to an inch HIGHER than before. Any thoughts?
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Old May 24, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Turbooo2u
Helped a buddy with a 2001 Z install Pfadt adjustable shocks recently and now his car sits close to an inch HIGHER than before. Any thoughts?
you did it wrong?
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Old May 24, 2010 | 10:28 PM
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I assume you mean Pfadt coilovers because shocks will not change a vehicles drive height. In that case, you need to adjust how high the coil spring sits on the body of the shock.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 12:32 AM
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If it was only a shock swap, then thats not the issue. Shocks have nothing to do with ride height. Drive the car for a few days and it will settle in to the same ride height as before.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 01:38 AM
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Originally Posted by MTPZ06
If it was only a shock swap, then thats not the issue. Shocks have nothing to do with ride height. Drive the car for a few days and it will settle in to the same ride height as before.
Car has been driven a few days. They were not coil-overs and I did them on my 07'Z and everything was fine.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 01:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Got uid0
you did it wrong?
And are you an idiot?
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Old May 25, 2010 | 05:46 AM
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The only way it would raise your car is if your car was sitting on the shock bumper.

If that is the case the ride would be horrible
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Old May 25, 2010 | 03:50 PM
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changing shocks can adjust ride height. My ride height changed some when I went to Bilsteins and then to QA1 adjustables. I think it may have to do with different compression rates in the shocks. If the shocks are adjustable how are they set. He may have to go a little softer for the car to settle. If my QA1s are set at the stiffest setting then no amount of driving will cause the car to settle. If you have to adjust the ride height, be sure to check the amount of shock travel you have left. You do not want to bottom the shock out.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 04:05 PM
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possibly the wrong shock was sent?

Call pfadt
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Old May 25, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Turbooo2u
Car has been driven a few days. They were not coil-overs and I did them on my 07'Z and everything was fine.
Then the car must be slammed and sitting on the bump stops of the shocks? Perhaps the bumpstops on the old shocks slpit ot blew out causing the car to sit lower. New shocks should not affect the ride height on a car with proper suspension geometry and shock travel. Pull the leafs off of the car and watch it drop like a rock...shocks cannot suport the weight of the vehicle. Keep driving it and see what happens. When I lowered my car on stock bolts with 20K on the stock suspension, it took a full week to settle in...the last 1/8" was on day 6 or 7.
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Old May 26, 2010 | 02:10 PM
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I'm didn't think shocks could raise ride height either but when I put on my c5z shocks I swear the thing looked like it had a body lift on it until I drove it.
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Old May 26, 2010 | 10:43 PM
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All shocks are pressurized with Nitrogen gas to prevent foaming of the oil during operation. The gas pressure pushes up on the piston, which then has a small effect on the ride height of the car. The gas pressure depends on the design of the shock, and can range from 50psi to over 350psi. Minor changes in pressure aren't a big deal, but installing a shock with significantly different pressure will affect the ride height. It would be similar to having a small air spring in addition to the leaf spring.
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Old May 27, 2010 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Jahan
All shocks are pressurized with Nitrogen gas to prevent foaming of the oil during operation. The gas pressure pushes up on the piston, which then has a small effect on the ride height of the car. The gas pressure depends on the design of the shock, and can range from 50psi to over 350psi. Minor changes in pressure aren't a big deal, but installing a shock with significantly different pressure will affect the ride height. It would be similar to having a small air spring in addition to the leaf spring.

Agree with the above. I saw a significant ride height change going from the OEM shocks to an aftermarket, and it was due to the internal gas pressure.

To the OP, while the car is raised with the new shocks, does it look out of line compared to what a C5 Z06 should look like? What are the trim height measurements? Perhaps the old shocks were totally dead with little or no pressure?
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