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Front passenger side sitting low

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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 09:49 AM
  #1  
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From: Erving Ma
Default Front passenger side sitting low

My front pass side sitting 1/2" lower that the drivers side and am wondering what is going on or is this typical on a 2009 Z06? My rear measurements are exact so I see no issue with the rear of mine.

I bought it used in Jan, 15,000 miles, been sitting and I drove it yesterday to make sure it's not from no movement for 90 days, still low, I measure from the ground to the fender and the height is lower and the gap between the top of the tire and fender is reduced as well.

Like I said its about 1/2"-5/8" max, I noticed it cleaning the wheels /polishing the car, seems odd, drives straight with no pull.

Thoughts would be appreciated guys.
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 11:30 AM
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To me, that doesn't seem like a very large difference. I think many people would find that if they measured. It's a small enough difference that I think it is easily within the range of adjustment...easy to do on a Vette. There was another one on here recently where the difference looked like an inch and a half...that indicates something that is broken. Try measuring with the driver's weight in the car and see if it gets much closer.

Let's remember also that the distance from the fender to the ground is not the official GM way of measuring the height of each corner of the car.
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by cclive
To me, that doesn't seem like a very large difference. I think many people would find that if they measured. It's a small enough difference that I think it is easily within the range of adjustment...easy to do on a Vette. There was another one on here recently where the difference looked like an inch and a half...that indicates something that is broken. Try measuring with the driver's weight in the car and see if it gets much closer.

Let's remember also that the distance from the fender to the ground is not the official GM way of measuring the height of each corner of the car.
You may be correct on drivers weight evening out the height, it doesn't take much down force on the fender to lower the car or reduce the height. I'll be home this afternoon and will measure it as suggested and report back.
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 04:13 PM
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From: Erving Ma
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Had my girlfriend sit in the drivers seat and measured again, doing so reduced the gap to 1/4" total, I measured the pass side and saw an 1/8" drop after she was in the car... So I'm assuming having a 200 Lb driver in the car would make it much closer... Maybe this is run of the mill and typical, guess if I see another Z06 I'll break out my tape measure and check it out.
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by cclive
To me, that doesn't seem like a very large difference. I think many people would find that if they measured. It's a small enough difference that I think it is easily within the range of adjustment...easy to do on a Vette. There was another one on here recently where the difference looked like an inch and a half...that indicates something that is broken. Try measuring with the driver's weight in the car and see if it gets much closer.

Let's remember also that the distance from the fender to the ground is not the official GM way of measuring the height of each corner of the car.
I'm going to (respectfully) disagree. Our 2009 was/is even on both sides, as close as multiple measurements with a bubble-yardstick on smooth concrete can be. With full tank but no occupants or luggage. It seems like most people who report their own measurments are within 1/4" or less, though there are no guarantees. I also used the GM suspension measuring tool and it was almost but not quite, even from side to side.

For 2010 (and probably later), GM DOES give specs for ground-to-wheelarch measurements, and +/- tolerances. Someone here sent me a copy of the info, it was defintiely GM but not sure if it came out of the 2010 Service Manual or from the GM service website. Unfortunately, I'm out of town today and don't have the info with me.

I would suggest that OP not panic, but do as much checking as necessary to find out what's going on. It could be a simple mis-adjustment, uneven tire wear/pressure, spring going bad, adjustment bolt bend/distorted, or accident damage where the fender was not installed quite right. Or "just one of those things", but he'll be more confident in the car after checking it out.

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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 08:14 PM
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Another question that arises is whether we want the car level with no one in it, or with just the driver, or with a heavy driver and a lighter (or heavier...LOL) wife or girlfriend in the passenger seat. This because it can't be perfectly level under all conditions...
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 08:33 PM
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That is a good question indeed. IIRC, the Service Manual calls for having a full tank of gas but no luggage or occupants, when doing an alignment or measuring the Trim Height (ride height) with the GM suspension tool.

Either GM knows a reason to do it that way, that we don't understand; or they are clueless about how cars are operated. That's a coin toss.
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