Hello all,

I've had my c6z for about a month now. I've noticed that it has been lowered but I'm not sure if its been done correctly to maintain proper rake angle or in such a way that would adversely effect the handling characteristics. I measured the current ride height from the bottom of the fenders through the center of the wheel to the ground. I know this isn't the most accurate way of measure but I just wanted a general idea. Here's what I got:

LF:26.5"
RF:26.5"
LR:26.9"
RR:27.125"

How does this compare to both stock ride height and the those who have cars that are also lowered? Suggestions, advice, and your $.02 are much appreciated. Thanks.

 

I dont have measurements but when i had my alignment/ corner balance my shop kept a 1" rake to keep highspeed stability

 

"Very generally speaking" (you know what I mean by that) stock:

fronts run right around 26 5/8;

rears run right around 28

Hope that helps you.

 

Thank you both, that helps alot.

 

Don't worry about it!!! Just put it at the ride height (or what the Service Manual calls the "trim" height) that you want - just adjust the ride height to what ever looks good to you and will work with the roads/driveways/speedbumps you have to deal with.

Like Rick T says, the stock ride heights can vary quite a bit from car to car when they come out of the factory.

The factory (or a dealership) will use the specs from the Service Manual to set the ride height, and they measure the distance between some of the suspension parts.

The front ride height measurement is called the "Z Height", and the rear measurement is called the "D Height".

The measurements of those distances is from the bottom of the lowest part of the ball joint to the center of the mounting bolt on the front side of the lower control arm. Below are the specs from my 2010 manual, which are actually about 2mm higher in the front, and 7mm lower in the rear than my 2006 manual - so they've reduced the rake a bit over the years.

The Z height specs are:

The D height specs are:
The tech setting the height is supposed to bounce the suspension up and down a couple times and take the measurement - do that several times and take the average to see if it's within the spec.

So....even though there are specs in the manual, the cars come off the assembly line with wide differences in ride height and alignment - and often NOT within specs!!

As I mentioned, the Service Manual has reduced the rake over the years, and the racers lower the car quite a bit to get the CG low and they're more concerned about corner weighting the car correctly than rake - they'll use aero components to get the stability they want.

Bob

 

My rake is right around 3/4 of a in.

 

I lowered my '05 C6 Z51 all the way up front & same plus 1/2 bushing cut. Still maintained the rake & hasn't hurt a thing in at least 4-5 years. One thing I did b/f I lowered it was checked dealer w/ a 1/2 dozen C6s on lot. I didn't find one that matched another, & if I recall it was hard to find one that matched side to side. Mine sits dead nuts even 26.5 front & rear 27.375 pass/27.625 drvr. Had alignment after lowering, out of stock specs (less toe in) for even wear up front. Never tell a thing from ride, cornering, or tire wear, but it looks way better lower & you no doubt have to be more careful w/ driveways, speedbumbs, etc. It comes to what you like from an appearance standpoint vs. driveability. Once you're where you want just make sure you have it aligned, also to an extent the way you, at least up front for the type of driving you do.

 

I really appreciate everyone's input. You've all helped me decide what I want out of the car and how to go about it. Much thanks to everyone.

Ryan

 

Ouch. My 2011 with F55, with about a thousand miles on it is 27.5" LF, 27.625" RF, 28.5" LR, 28.75" RR. It looks like it sits higher than many other C6's, and the drivers side is lower than the passenger side.

Do the springs settle over time?

 

Things will "settle a little" in the first 1000 miles or so but it won't be much.

As has been said several times in this thread, measuring to the bottom of the fenders isn't exact or reliable for anything except the simplest of comparisons, which is what the OP was asking for here. There are many variables in body panel fitment/mounting, etc. That's why GM has the very technical and tedious method of factually measuring and setting ride height mentioned by BEZ06.

Give your car a little more time and check again. If it's still a concern for you then come back and we can try to figure out what's going on. May be that your car is just one that got out of the factory at the very high end of the ride height range. If that's the case then you can just lower it as needed on the stock bolts.

 

Rick T, thanks. I think it's really not the ride height as much as it seems to need a little bit of rake to look "right". If anything, I'll probably just drop the front down about a half inch or so.

Appreciate the advice!

 

Keep in mind shock travel. The game changes when you go too low

 

In my experience 1/2 in. is the limit and even then there is some compromise with shock travel over deeper bumps at speed.

Mine is about 1/4 in. only. I know it looks better lower but bottoming out is a drag....

Most gaps seem to run 3 finger stock, I am at 2 finger.

Sounds like eighth grade boy's talk.