Uneven ride height after lowering

[grandsp69]

I know I have to let the the suspension settle but how long or how much driving do I need before it settles? There’s is about 1/2 an inch difference between the driver side and pass side with the pass side being higher.

Has anyone experienced this after lowering?

Cheers!
Frank

 

[Paul 06 vette]

I have never lowered my car, but some of my buddies say the drivers side is lower after i get in the car

 

[cdnrx1]

I know I have to let the the suspension settle but how long or how much driving do I need before it settles? There’s is about 1/2 an inch difference between the driver side and pass side with the pass side being higher.

Has anyone experienced this after lowering?

Cheers!
Frank

Hi Frank:

The suspension will settle after about 500 to 800 kl's of normal driving. That's also the ideal time to get the alignment checked/adjusted, particularly on a GS or Z06.

Here is my procedure for adjusting the ride height:

1) Make sure that the tire pressures are set to spec, 30 psi cold, full tank of fuel, rear compartment empty, no passengers, level surface.
2) Bounce each corner of the car several times. Careful, remember that the body panels are composite.
3) Measure the ride height at each corner from the ground to the centre edge of the fender well. Factory spec for the GS / Z06 is 27.5" front, +-.39" and 29" rear, +-.39". Of course you can adjust to whatever ride height you want just make sure that the fronts and rears are within .39 " of each other.
3) Raise the car so that you have clear access to the adjuster bolts in each of the lower control arms. Removing the wheels makes the job easier but it can be done with the wheels in place.
4) Place a jack under the lower control arm with some form of protection between the jack pad and the arm. I use a piece of 3/4" plywood. Now raise the jack just enough to release the tension on the adjusting bolts.
5) Using a 10mm wrench, turn the adjusters counter clockwise to lower or clockwise to raise the suspension height. Each full turn represents approximately 3/32". Raise or lower to your requirements, take the car for a short run and measure all 4 corners again. Adjust again as necessary.

Just my procedure, I'm sure that others will offer some helpful advice.

I did my GS to factory spec and was able to get all 4 corners spot on. The ride height will change, minimally, over time but, so far, mine has remained at 27.5" front and 29" rear. There are also numerous videos out there on lowering the C7 that may help to give you a visual and some additional tips.

Hope this helps.

Best regards
Ross

 

[grandsp69]

Hi Frank:

The suspension will settle after about 500 to 800 kl's of normal driving. That's also the ideal time to get the alignment checked/adjusted, particularly on a GS or Z06.

Here is my procedure for adjusting the ride height:

1) Make sure that the tire pressures are set to spec, 30 psi cold, full tank of fuel, rear compartment empty, no passengers, level surface.
2) Bounce each corner of the car several times. Careful, remember that the body panels are composite.
3) Measure the ride height at each corner from the ground to the centre edge of the fender well. Factory spec for the GS / Z06 is 27.5" front, +-.39" and 29" rear, +-.39". Of course you can adjust to whatever ride height you want just make sure that the fronts and rears are within .39 " of each other.
3) Raise the car so that you have clear access to the adjuster bolts in each of the lower control arms. Removing the wheels makes the job easier but it can be done with the wheels in place.
4) Place a jack under the lower control arm with some form of protection between the jack pad and the arm. I use a piece of 3/4" plywood. Now raise the jack just enough to release the tension on the adjusting bolts.
5) Using a 10mm wrench, turn the adjusters counter clockwise to lower or clockwise to raise the suspension height. Each full turn represents approximately 3/32". Raise or lower to your requirements, take the car for a short run and measure all 4 corners again. Adjust again as necessary.

Just my procedure, I'm sure that others will offer some helpful advice.

I did my GS to factory spec and was able to get all 4 corners spot on. The ride height will change, minimally, over time but, so far, mine has remained at 27.5" front and 29" rear. There are also numerous videos out there on lowering the C7 that may help to give you a visual and some additional tips.

Hope this helps.

Best regards
Ross

Thank you sir. The car is already lowered. I just have to drive it a bit more for it to settle. Right now the passenger is 1/2 inch higher than the driver side. I figure I’ll go over bumps to make the springs work

 

[Paul C7 to C8]

Thank you sir. The car is already lowered. I just have to drive it a bit more for it to settle. Right now the passenger is 1/2 inch higher than the driver side. I figure I’ll go over bumps to make the springs work

Hi grandsp69, the play by play offered by cdnrx1 is pretty much spot on. I would be a bit concerned with the 1/2" discrepancy that you have. Yes after some time and driving the suspension will definitely settle, but, I dont think it will settle a whole 1/2" worth. I lowered my GS last year and had only a 1/8" difference. I would suggest to balance (level) the car to at least 1/4" tolerance and then let the settling begin.... and yes do get an alignment. Best of luck!

 

[grandsp69]

So, the car actually settled a little bit sitting in the garage lol. I spoke to the guy that worked on the car and we’ve both decided we’ll wait it out and drive the car around for a bit since it’s only been a day and the car has 500kms only. He said he will raise the driver side if it doesn’t settle but he doesn’t want to touch it without giving it some time because they’re both turned all the way down and the 1/2 inch diff doesn’t make sense.

As of this morning
(Measured from a level ground to the fender lip)

Pass side Fr 26 7/8
Driver side Fr 26 1/2

Pass side rear 27 1/2
Driver side rear 27 1/2

 

[cdnrx1]

Actually, the 1/2" difference makes perfect sense.

The ride height adjusters exist, not only for lowering the body on it's suspension, but also for compensating for the excessively wide ranging build tolerances allowed by GM. It's easier and less expensive to set the individual ride heights on each corner through a manual adjuster system than to have to build to tighter tolerances. The added benefits, in the C7's case, are that owners can change the profile to their liking by lowering and those who track/race the vehicle can achieve a lower centre of gravity, minimally, thus slightly improving high speed handling. Each corner can also be adjusted to a different height thereby "tuning" the suspension to an individual track.

The ride height on my GS was off by 3/4" in the rear and 1/2" in the front. That's the way It came from the factory and I know that the dealer didn't check it during the PDI. I'm glad that the car has a manual adjustment system as I think that it would take a long time for the suspension to settle out 3/4" .

 

[grandsp69]

Actually, the 1/2" difference makes perfect sense.

The ride height adjusters exist, not only for lowering the body on it's suspension, but also for compensating for the excessively wide ranging build tolerances allowed by GM. It's easier and less expensive to set the individual ride heights on each corner through a manual adjuster system than to have to build to tighter tolerances. The added benefits, in the C7's case, are that owners can change the profile to their liking by lowering and those who track/race the vehicle can achieve a lower centre of gravity, minimally, thus slightly improving high speed handling. Each corner can also be adjusted to a different height thereby "tuning" the suspension to an individual track.

The ride height on my GS was off by 3/4" in the rear and 1/2" in the front. That's the way It came from the factory and I know that the dealer didn't check it during the PDI. I'm glad that the car has a manual adjustment system as I think that it would take a long time for the suspension to settle out 3/4" .

Yeah 3/4 I’d be wondering if the guy turned that bolt at all. My car was the same as yours with the ride height all over the place but I think my driver side front was higher. I’m going to take it out for a drive tonight and ask my friend to come along. He weighs around 250ish can’t wait to tell him he’s helping me lower my car by sitting in the pass seat