Prevent Bottoming when load is in hatchback
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Prevent Bottoming when load is in hatchback
Ok, I'll give you the reason before the problem. I own a 1998 C5 coupe . I have joined the Corvette Caravan to drive my Corvette to the Corvette museum from Fort Worth Tx this summer with my wife. That's over 1500 miles round trip.
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 245
Ok, I'll give you the reason before the problem. I own a 1998 C5 coupe . I have joined the Corvette Caravan to drive my Corvette to the Corvette museum from Fort Worth Tx this summer with my wife. That's over 1500 miles round trip.
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
I would say no, I think you need to fix why you are bottoming out.
Or for that matter, ensure that's what is happening. How do you know? Are you sure you don't have something else making a noise (muffler hitting for example) when you go over bumps?
Or for that matter, ensure that's what is happening. How do you know? Are you sure you don't have something else making a noise (muffler hitting for example) when you go over bumps?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
I know the mufferer isnt hiting or rattaling. If I replace the shocks what do you recomend? I hear Bilstien Shocks are good. I dont normally carry heavey loads in the back I am also guying a new set of tires for the trip. The Nitto G2 seems like a good tire for the price. Anything is better than the stock Run Flats on it now.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
Was your car lowered from the stock settings, most are, if yours was extremely lowered they will hit the bump stops very frequently with the added weight. Since your shocks are new, you should not be bottoming out so it sounds like your car is lowered too much and you are hitting the bump stops. Check ride height, check the springs to see if they were somehow compromised. while you are there look at the sway bar end links, like was suggested before, the plastic often has cracks when they have aged.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 276
From: Wichita Falls Texas
Ok, I'll give you the reason before the problem. I own a 1998 C5 coupe . I have joined the Corvette Caravan to drive my Corvette to the Corvette museum from Fort Worth Tx this summer with my wife. That's over 1500 miles round trip.
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
* Here is the problem. As it is Sometimes the rear of my car bottoms out with both of us riding in it when we hit bumps in the road. So, if you figure for the trip we load 2 suitcases in the back at about minimum 55 lbs each, (I know my wife we always have to keep the bag weight down when we fly) and at least 20 to 30 lbs of tools (just in case I need to fix something while on the road). That will be another 140 lbs in the back. It will definitely bottom out on every bump I go over on the highway for 1500 miles.
* Is there a product made for the C5 Corvette I can install that will let it keep the current ride characteristics and height but keep it from bottoming out. Like helper springs that only engage after a certain point of compression. I don't want the back end up in the air when I have nothing loaded in the back. I don't have a lot of money to buy an AirRide system so let's take that off the table as a solution. Can anyone help??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
IT has been years since I had that answer but as I recall it is about 6" at the front jacking point and 6.25" at the rear one. I lowered mine about 1/2" all around and had no trouble have to drive 700 miles with wife and myself with a weeks vacation of closes, some basic tools and a HF shorty floor jack. My car haulers trans took a dump in the mountains and I had to download my car and drive the rest of the way.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 289
Likes: 33
From: Virginia Beach
IT has been years since I had that answer but as I recall it is about 6" at the front jacking point and 6.25" at the rear one. I lowered mine about 1/2" all around and had no trouble have to drive 700 miles with wife and myself with a weeks vacation of closes, some basic tools and a HF shorty floor jack. My car haulers trans took a dump in the mountains and I had to download my car and drive the rest of the way.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
I have had my 2000 vert loaded up plenty of times with never an issue..
Maybe your rear spring is toast.. Or maybe the shocks are (too). I have used oem shocks, bilstiens, and monroe oem replacements..
The Monroe by far were the worst performing.. But I still had no bottoming out issues.
Maybe your rear spring is toast.. Or maybe the shocks are (too). I have used oem shocks, bilstiens, and monroe oem replacements..
The Monroe by far were the worst performing.. But I still had no bottoming out issues.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
OP: Post a picture of your car taken from the side. We may be able to tell if it has been lowered. You shouldn't be bottoming out with a stock ride height car and new gas shocks will help temporarily but will eventually settle. If the car has been lowered you could be hitting the bump stops that are inside the shocks. The shocks can be taken apart by a knowledgeable person and the bump stops cut or removed but that is a fair amount of work. Why do you want to take so many tools? Take a look at the must have tools and see if you can get by without some of the others. The must have tools will be for the repairs you can actually do while on the road. If the car is gone over before the trip you shouldn't need spark plugs, air filter, oil, coolant (if something blows in a 20 year old cooling system you should have been forward thinking and had the questionable parts replaced before the trip).
If you have run flat tires on the car you can run until you get to a place where you can get the tires replaced. If you don't have them you will need to carry tire repair tools and maybe a jack and lug wrench. Then there are some tire failures that aren't repairable (like a hole in the sidewall) but won't stop a run flat tire from getting you to some place where you can get service.
Bill
If you have run flat tires on the car you can run until you get to a place where you can get the tires replaced. If you don't have them you will need to carry tire repair tools and maybe a jack and lug wrench. Then there are some tire failures that aren't repairable (like a hole in the sidewall) but won't stop a run flat tire from getting you to some place where you can get service.
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
OK, the rear height can be adjusted with bolts. It's a very simple setup. So, to adjust it simply turn both nuts that are on the bolts at each end of the spring say 2 or 3 turns clockwise (turn them the same amount) and that will raise the rear and avoid bottoming out. Since you have the time, you can even experiment with the number of turns to get the ride height the same with the extra load as it is without the extra load.
Once the trip is over, put the nuts back where they were and the car will return to the same right height as it has now.
Once the trip is over, put the nuts back where they were and the car will return to the same right height as it has now.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Mar 9, 2019 at 12:03 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
I have thought the trip out. As far as maintainance goes, i have New water pump, new harmonic balencer, new radiator, new fans, new belts (serpintine and a/c compressor belt), new hoses, new brake pads and rotors, new wheel bearings (all 4) new swaybar links, new exhaust from manifold back, new tires (just bought today) (not run flat), Green slime kit with compressor, im going to buy a new altinator since this one is the original. Im trying to to make sure i have replaced all that can go wrong. Oh! And a new transmition shift cable. That sucked installing. Have to drop exhaust to do it and open up the torque tube. The tools i want to bring are probably overkill but i just want to be sure i have thought of everything. i have planed this trip for 2 years. Also i am going to have my trasmition checked out to be sure its ok. NO new fluid! That would surely ruin it. So to say maybe I have not thought it out would be wrong. Ill take a pic tomorow and post it and you an see if its been lowered or not.And another thing, I did was new plugs ans wires.
Last edited by bly123; Mar 9, 2019 at 12:37 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
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From: Miami FL