Steep Driveway - Bottom Scrapes
03-17-2007, 11:22 AM
#22
CF Senior Member Emeritus
Isn't the "shroud" actually called a Front Bumper Upper Valance Panel?
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...18&catalogid=2
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...18&catalogid=2
03-17-2007, 11:24 AM
#23
Instructor
The scraping won't hurt; it'll give somewhat. It's actually a good heads up to use care. My driver's side does need replaced due to running up a bit too far on very high parking block 
. At the GM Parts Warehouse the valance panels are around $10 each and the front deflector is around $30.
. At the GM Parts Warehouse the valance panels are around $10 each and the front deflector is around $30.
03-17-2007, 02:25 PM
#24
Isn't the "shroud" actually called a Front Bumper Upper Valance Panel?
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...18&catalogid=2
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...18&catalogid=2
No, I think it is PART 15 in this illustration "Front Deflector" $30.77
03-17-2007, 02:39 PM
#25
Advanced
I actually just had a 16 foot piece of 1/4 inch steel about 18 wide installed at the end of my driveway. It has been anchored down by bolts so it won't slide, slip, or make noise. Makes going up the driveway very easy and doesn't hit the air dam.
03-17-2007, 02:58 PM
#26
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My dad has a steap driveway and when he pulls in and out the "shroud" scrapes on a 06 coupe. Not sure exactly what its called so shroud might not be the best word. Not the front fascia but the black peice below that.
Any help on how to stop it this, what part and where to get it ?
Thanks in advance.
Any help on how to stop it this, what part and where to get it ?
Thanks in advance.
03-17-2007, 03:12 PM
#27
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Be advised tha the C6 has "trim height" (ride height) adjuster bolts at each wheel. You can easily and effectively raise the ride height of the car by say a half inch or more.
My car used to scrape the air dam on my driveway lip no matter how I approached it... even going very slow and going in on an angle. Though scraping the air dam is NOT a problem, the noise can become annoying after a while, plus a little embarassing too.
I adjusted my trim height bolts a bit, raised the car about a half inch, and now no more scrapes... at all... I can even fly straight into my driveway kinda fast, still no scrape. You'd be surprised at how much a difference a half inch can make. Car still looks and handles like it always did, no degradation there.
Pull each wheel, find the trim height bolt, take pressure off the spring end using a small jack, and then turn the bolt about 2 or 3 full turns clockwise... repeat for each wheel.
Note: you may need to have the car aligned after doing this - but if the car has'nt been aligned since new, it is a really good idea to have it aligned anyway.
Doing this may very well put an end to your driveway scrape issues, plus make the car more tolerant of road irregularities in general.
My car used to scrape the air dam on my driveway lip no matter how I approached it... even going very slow and going in on an angle. Though scraping the air dam is NOT a problem, the noise can become annoying after a while, plus a little embarassing too.
I adjusted my trim height bolts a bit, raised the car about a half inch, and now no more scrapes... at all... I can even fly straight into my driveway kinda fast, still no scrape. You'd be surprised at how much a difference a half inch can make. Car still looks and handles like it always did, no degradation there.
Pull each wheel, find the trim height bolt, take pressure off the spring end using a small jack, and then turn the bolt about 2 or 3 full turns clockwise... repeat for each wheel.
Note: you may need to have the car aligned after doing this - but if the car has'nt been aligned since new, it is a really good idea to have it aligned anyway.
Doing this may very well put an end to your driveway scrape issues, plus make the car more tolerant of road irregularities in general.
03-17-2007, 06:07 PM
#29
CF Senior Member Emeritus
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...14&catalogid=2
03-17-2007, 06:34 PM
#30
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2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
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Mine scrapes as well. Short of rebuilding my driveway entrance, I'm stuck with it. Slow entry/exit helps considerably.
03-17-2007, 06:59 PM
#31
Be advised tha the C6 has "trim height" (ride height) adjuster bolts at each wheel. You can easily and effectively raise the ride height of the car by say a half inch or more.
My car used to scrape the air dam on my driveway lip no matter how I approached it... even going very slow and going in on an angle. Though scraping the air dam is NOT a problem, the noise can become annoying after a while, plus a little embarassing too.
I adjusted my trim height bolts a bit, raised the car about a half inch, and now no more scrapes... at all... I can even fly straight into my driveway kinda fast, still no scrape. You'd be surprised at how much a difference a half inch can make. Car still looks and handles like it always did, no degradation there.
Pull each wheel, find the trim height bolt, take pressure off the spring end using a small jack, and then turn the bolt about 2 or 3 full turns clockwise... repeat for each wheel.
Note: you may need to have the car aligned after doing this - but if the car has'nt been aligned since new, it is a really good idea to have it aligned anyway.
Doing this may very well put an end to your driveway scrape issues, plus make the car more tolerant of road irregularities in general.
My car used to scrape the air dam on my driveway lip no matter how I approached it... even going very slow and going in on an angle. Though scraping the air dam is NOT a problem, the noise can become annoying after a while, plus a little embarassing too.
I adjusted my trim height bolts a bit, raised the car about a half inch, and now no more scrapes... at all... I can even fly straight into my driveway kinda fast, still no scrape. You'd be surprised at how much a difference a half inch can make. Car still looks and handles like it always did, no degradation there.
Pull each wheel, find the trim height bolt, take pressure off the spring end using a small jack, and then turn the bolt about 2 or 3 full turns clockwise... repeat for each wheel.
Note: you may need to have the car aligned after doing this - but if the car has'nt been aligned since new, it is a really good idea to have it aligned anyway.
Doing this may very well put an end to your driveway scrape issues, plus make the car more tolerant of road irregularities in general.
After breaking two sets of radiator supports, I raised mine a full inch front and rear. Now the car doesn't scrape when going in and out of driveways, over speed bumps, or at crowned road intersections, even when driven in a "spirited" manner. If it had been just the air dam scraping, I'd either have ignored it, or removed it, but the problem was the lower valance and the radiator supports hitting. That's serious, and needed to be fixed. As they come from the factory, these cars sit too low for the real world. With respect to aerodynamics, as long as you don't change the rake angle of the car (ie raise it equally at both ends) there is no issue, at least up to speeds of 145 MPH (I haven't driven it faster than that). You can feel the car settle as the wind against the body rake pushes it down at increasing speeds. Now an 8 inch lift kit would probably not work so well. Then you'd start getting enough air under the car to upset it at speed (not to mention raising the CG enough to hurt it in turns), but an inch works just fine in the real world on real world roads.
03-17-2007, 07:32 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
...As they come from the factory, these cars sit too low for the real world. With respect to aerodynamics, as long as you don't change the rake angle of the car (ie raise it equally at both ends) there is no issue, at least up to speeds of 145 MPH... but an inch works just fine in the real world on real world roads.
03-18-2007, 12:56 PM
#33
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After breaking two sets of radiator supports, I raised mine a full inch front and rear. Now the car doesn't scrape when going in and out of driveways, over speed bumps, or at crowned road intersections, even when driven in a "spirited" manner. If it had been just the air dam scraping, I'd either have ignored it, or removed it, but the problem was the lower valance and the radiator supports hitting. That's serious, and needed to be fixed. As they come from the factory, these cars sit too low for the real world. With respect to aerodynamics, as long as you don't change the rake angle of the car (ie raise it equally at both ends) there is no issue, at least up to speeds of 145 MPH (I haven't driven it faster than that). You can feel the car settle as the wind against the body rake pushes it down at increasing speeds. Now an 8 inch lift kit would probably not work so well. Then you'd start getting enough air under the car to upset it at speed (not to mention raising the CG enough to hurt it in turns), but an inch works just fine in the real world on real world roads.
as long as you stay in the real world, not the race world!
03-18-2007, 04:50 PM
#36
Yep. If you have a purpose built race car, and a sponsor with deep pockets to repair the damage, getting the car as low as possible makes sense. But for those of us who drive on regular streets, and have to pay for repairs out of our own pockets, a more sensible ride height makes more sense.
03-19-2007, 08:03 AM
#37
Melting Slicks
Yep. If you have a purpose built race car, and a sponsor with deep pockets to repair the damage, getting the car as low as possible makes sense. But for those of us who drive on regular streets, and have to pay for repairs out of our own pockets, a more sensible ride height makes more sense.
How very true.
04-12-2007, 12:45 AM
#38
Le Mans Master
After breaking two sets of radiator supports, I raised mine a full inch front and rear. Now the car doesn't scrape when going in and out of driveways, over speed bumps, or at crowned road intersections, even when driven in a "spirited" manner. If it had been just the air dam scraping, I'd either have ignored it, or removed it, but the problem was the lower valance and the radiator supports hitting. That's serious, and needed to be fixed. As they come from the factory, these cars sit too low for the real world. With respect to aerodynamics, as long as you don't change the rake angle of the car (ie raise it equally at both ends) there is no issue, at least up to speeds of 145 MPH (I haven't driven it faster than that). You can feel the car settle as the wind against the body rake pushes it down at increasing speeds. Now an 8 inch lift kit would probably not work so well. Then you'd start getting enough air under the car to upset it at speed (not to mention raising the CG enough to hurt it in turns), but an inch works just fine in the real world on real world roads.
04-12-2007, 07:44 AM
#39
Melting Slicks
I suppose I'd be more concerned about precision suspension geometry if the car was used on the track ONLY... but we're talking about high performance STREET use here. There is absolutely no problem whatsoever with raising the suspension say 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch. It only helps keep you that much farther away from tearing up the underside of the car.
04-12-2007, 11:09 AM
#40
Le Mans Master
I have the same problem and mine isn't that steep. I just have a slightly higher lip on my apron.
It sounds terrible but isn't really doing any serious damage.
It sounds terrible but isn't really doing any serious damage.