I have a weird issue I thought I would run by you guys. When I picked up my car the entire thing sat about 2" lower. I put a blower on it, dropped it off to have the intercooler piping made and dyno's. Car sat a month between my house and the dyno. I can understand the front being slightly lower due to some weight of the kit, but its way lower. I can't even get a finger in the well. Also the rear is the same way. You would think the rear would be unchanged if it was due to blower weight. My car was pretty low before, but I flogged it to make sure there was no rubbing before I had it aligned. Now the rear is hitting the fender on one side.

The Bilsteins have been on the car for about 1k miles at most. I put them on with the new wheels and sways and let them settle before the alignment. I mention them as a possible source for my issue because I had noticed a drop of fluid near them once or twice. I thought it was just water but tasted it and it was brake fluid like in flavor. No, I don't recommend this as a good method but it works for me I've never disected a Bilstein so I dunno if it could be the cause of the fluid, it was only like one drop and it was in the rear and nothing else is leaking there at all. I know my car like I know the freckles on my wife's butt.

So, is it possible my new stance is due to all my shocks bleeding down? Could they have just settled? I realize shocks don't affe t ride height too much but I have seen a half inch either way depending on brand. I'm stumped and don't know if I need to contact Bilstein for replacements. I really hate to keep aligning this thing.

 

if they shocks lost their fluid you should be able to see some signs on the shocks where the slide enters the shock body. somehow i still dont think they could be responsible for a 2" drop. i would start asking some questions to the guys that installed the blower...

 

I have a problem with my FSDs settling quite a bit when the car sets for long periods. I've never seen anyone else post about this problem before. I have to jack up the rear first to let the shocks "stretch their legs" before I can get my jack under the jacking puck in the front. I don't have this problem when I drive regularly.

BJK

 

Is it possible someone could have lowered it with the stock lowering bolts? just a thought

 

No. Shocks don't carry or support the load (in any meaningful way)...the springs do.

Also:....is wrong too. He has drawn the wrong conclusion by only considering part of the data. When he jacks his car, the rear control arms swing through an arc, as the suspension extends to full travel. This essentially "narrows the track" -the left to right wheel center lines. When he lowers the car, the tires hit the ground at their narrow track and stick (mostly), essentially binding the movement or compression of the rear suspension. If he drove the car forward a few feet to allow the tires to "scrub" back out to their proper track width, then the ride height in the rear would be back to where it was in the first place, and his jack, once again, wouldn't fit. Measure the ride height w/a measuring device immediately after parking. Re-measure a month later. The height will be the same; The shocks have nothing to do w/it.

To the OP, adjust your front spring bolts to re-aquire the desired ride height after in installation of the charger and all it's related hardware.

 

ExaCTLY how heavy was all this equipment you added? I mean, hundreds of pounds? I can't imagine settling from relatively light weight.

That said, most people who I've read (and even Koni when they first posted on the FSDs) said the car lowers on these shocks with no other changes to the car. Maybe Bilsteins are the same????

It does sound like tho that there is something else going on with the leak. You'll need to see where it's coming from, how it was caused. Bilstein by the way has a factory/reconditioning plant in Poway, California. I think they still take technical calls there about their shocks and do custom work/valving on their shocks.

 

# 1 unless you have coil over's the shock does not support the car in any way! #2 bilstiens are not an oil over gas shock, there is no oil to leak! #3 unless you put a 1000 lbs in, weight has nothing to do with it,IMHO check the center sections of the springs for cracks

 

how are the bilsteins not an oil/gas shock? what do they use to dampen the suspension?

 

With this.


But not:There is no "leak". And again, a leaking shock would have VIRTUALLY no effect on ride height. Certainly not 2" worth.

 

Thanks for a more wordy and technical explanation for what I meant by the term I placed in quotes. Having been involved in many alignments I am aware of the change in suspension geometry.

My car had to be raised 1/2" after my FSDs were installed. Others, including torch2000vert, who was the first forum member to post about these then new shocks, noted the change in ride height and and the fact that it continued over a period of time.

Having said all this, I think that the next time I come back from a long drive I will do some before and after ( 1 to 4 weeks) pictures when I park the car and I will make sure that I do not get in and out of the car or any other work that might influence the ride height.

BJK

 

This, from the OP.

I'm not saying it's a leaking shock, altho there is hydraulic fluid in the shock, per Bilstein Tech. (see here: http://www.bilstein.com/tech.php)

OP said there was a leak.

 

"Specifically calibrated for high performance Corvette applications:

Bilstein high-pressure gas shock absorbers offer all the advantages of a gas shock, plus construction and performance features that are incomparable. Guaranteed not to fade, the Bilstein shocks are 20 % stiffer than original equipment shocks for true high performance and racing applications. Bilstein shocks feature a seamless, mono-tube construction for fast heat dissipation and finely machined components to yield the most sensitive valving available today. Bilstein shocks may increase the ride height of the car approximately one-half inch if the car has settled due to worn suspension components."


Many shocks today contain pressure above atmospheric and act as "springs" (and therefor affect ride height). However, it is difficult to believe all four shocks lost pressure at the same time.

BTW, the stock Sachs Corvette shocks are higher pressure and that is why your car may drop 0.25 to 0.50-inches after your install Bilstein shocks.

 

To clarify, the car did lower some after installing the Bilsteins. Then after 1000 or so miles and it having sat it dropped another 2" which baffles the hell outta me. I'm well versed in the mechanics of everything which only adds to my problem. Nothing in this situation makes nay sense. I'm going downstairs to raise the car now. It was already lowered on the stock bolts, by me when I first got the car.

The new equipment maybe weighs 80 pounds, all in the front.

 

O.K. But you SAID this:
Which implies that the shocks "Sack out" when sitting, which is not true. Why would they? Where would the pressure go? And if it did leak out, what "charges them back up" as you drive?? You can see how the way you post read, contributes to the OP's misunderstanding of HIS problem (2 full inches of drop). Having been involved in many alignments I am surprised that you credit height change after jacking and lowering of a car, to shocks/FSD's and not to geometry/scrub...where credit belongs.

I don't know how the OP lost 2" of ride height. He didn't lose it to ~80# of added parts....and he certainly didn't lose it to shocks either. It is bizarre.

 

Bilstein Sports on my '07 Z51 coupe, 4000+ mi. no issues to date.
Interesting problem, doubt that shocks are the cause.
Keep us posted, RJ Have the mice been messing with the bolts?

 

Actually I did not attribute the height change to the shocks. I simply meant that by jacking it up it allowed the suspension including(I should have included these two words to avoid the nit pickers) the shocks to travel the full down ward arc as in "stretch their legs". I suspect that no matter how I termed it you would still look for the one up remark. The OP didn't express any confusion as he is seeing a very similar situation to mine, i.e. let the car sit for sometime and the ride height drops. You should give him more credit for his thinking skills.

BJK

 

All four shocks are in fact leaked out. How this is possible I have no idea. There are distinct lines of fluid coming from the seal down the shock body and staining the whole control arm. It is the cause of the drop in suspension which is closer to an inch then two after further inspection.

The shock have 1000 miles on them. I'm not happy and need to find the number for Bilstein.

I also realize that the springs should contribute to the ride height mostly but it is what it is.

 

OH well....here's the thread...guess that dripping stuff WAS the shocks! sad.


http://www.bilstein.com/contact.php

 

All shocks leaking at the same time is strange. Fortunately, Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty.


BTW, it was obvious that you know a lot about your suspension. My comment on shocks being springs was only made because some people posting did not understand that most modern shocks DO affect ride height. Good luck

 

sounds to me like somebody has been abusing your suspension. back to what i said in the first place, i would start asking some questions around the shop that installed your supercharger...