ground clearance
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The ride height (officially, "trim height") is measured with the car up on a level alignment rack, using a special ~$250 GM tool. I have the tool, it's a PITA to use and I don't think it's all that accurate.
To make it worse, the official specs have change over the years, I think there are at least 3 sets of numbers depending on year.
The best method for most people is to fill the gas tank but remove all baggage. Drive the car around the block and park on a flat/level garage floor. Use a yardstick with a level (to be sure it's vertical) and measure from the concrete to the top of the wheel arch in the fender. Do the measurements twice, more if you get any variation on each point.
Drive it around the block and repeat. And again.
Stock measurements on our 2009 are about, with almost-new tires:
Front: 26 14/16"
Rear: 28 3/16"
Rake is important, you want the rear numbers to be 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" higher than the front.
There are many threads about adjusting the ride height, each turn of the bolts will raise/lower your car about 1/4" at the fender at first, that will settle to about 1/8" after a few hundred miles.
To make it worse, the official specs have change over the years, I think there are at least 3 sets of numbers depending on year.
The best method for most people is to fill the gas tank but remove all baggage. Drive the car around the block and park on a flat/level garage floor. Use a yardstick with a level (to be sure it's vertical) and measure from the concrete to the top of the wheel arch in the fender. Do the measurements twice, more if you get any variation on each point.
Drive it around the block and repeat. And again.
Stock measurements on our 2009 are about, with almost-new tires:
Front: 26 14/16"
Rear: 28 3/16"
Rake is important, you want the rear numbers to be 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" higher than the front.
There are many threads about adjusting the ride height, each turn of the bolts will raise/lower your car about 1/4" at the fender at first, that will settle to about 1/8" after a few hundred miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
Define 'ground clearance'. To me is how easy the car scrapes, meaning from the gound to the closest component. I'd exclude that flexible spoiler in front of the front tires, which as most of us know, scrapes everywhere. And that leaves us with the wide-body cars having less ground clearance, due to the chin spoiler under the front bumper. Furthermore, cars with F55 suspension seem to ride lower to the ground than regular suspension. I visually saw that with my car, but I believe it's not official. By the way, my F55 GS is 5" in front, and only 2-1/2 from the spoiler in front of front tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Define 'ground clearance'. To me is how easy the car scrapes, meaning from the gound to the closest component. I'd exclude that flexible spoiler in front of the front tires, which as most of us know, scrapes everywhere. And that leaves us with the wide-body cars having less ground clearance, due to the chin spoiler under the front bumper. Furthermore, cars with F55 suspension seem to ride lower to the ground than regular suspension. I visually saw that with my car, but I believe it's not official. By the way, my F55 GS is 5" in front, and only 2-1/2 from the spoiler in front of front tires.
My Z06 measures 26.25" at the front wheel arches and 27.62" at the rear wheel arches. I have 4.66" distance from the center of the chin spoiler(splitter) to the ground. Suspension height never touched since the car left the factory.
Last edited by JoesC5; May 14, 2013 at 09:11 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 1
the Lowrider goes a little slower...
Define 'ground clearance'. To me is how easy the car scrapes, meaning from the gound to the closest component. I'd exclude that flexible spoiler in front of the front tires, which as most of us know, scrapes everywhere. And that leaves us with the wide-body cars having less ground clearance, due to the chin spoiler under the front bumper. Furthermore, cars with F55 suspension seem to ride lower to the ground than regular suspension. I visually saw that with my car, but I believe it's not official. By the way, my F55 GS is 5" in front, and only 2-1/2 from the spoiler in front of front tires.
my front spoiler scrapes ALOT...thank GAWD the roads here in FLA are flat!
007 2LT F55 MN6
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
