Lowered ride quality

[Igor]

Hey guys,

I just recently did entire suspension bushing upgrade and installed new kyb shocks.

I drove the car with rear not lowered. Then i proceeded to lower it. With lower ride height it seems to ride way more bouncy in the rear. Is this normal? I like how it looks, but def. NOT how it rides. I lowered it about 1"+.

In the front I only took out the 1/2" spacers so you can see it, but not too bad. Front ride seems ok.
Just wondering what you guys are observing with your lowered C4s.

Thanks.

 

[Hib Halverson]

If you lowered the rear 1+ inches and now the ride is "bouncy", I'm going to bet you're on the bump stops in the rear more than you were before.

 

[Igor]

Any idea if trimming the bump stops is a solution or not? I like the look but not at the expense of ride at all.

 

[JAKE]

In my experience, when lowering just the rear, the car looked really cool. Yet, lowering the rear took some pressure off the rear spring and made the back end of the car - how can I describe it - more wiggly/less controlled.

I ended up re-raising the rear in small increments, test driving the car after each adjustment, until I found the sweet spot. Low enough to look good but not so low as to hurt handling and ride.

Jake

West Point ROCKS!

 

[Igor]

Ya I am going to do the same thing as the ride def. changed drastically IMO.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Trimming the bump stops might be a solution but do not remove them or cut them more than about 50%.

After you cut the stops, the ride will be even more jarring, if the suspension compresses to the point of contacting the modified stops. By cutting them down, you reduce their compliance.

 

[ddahlgren]

Over the years i have found most things done to make a car look cool usually make it handle worse. The race car look everyone likes also has revised suspension pickup points uprights etc. they are very differnt animals wearing the same body panels. I work on sporty type race cars every day nothing is the same as the passenger car other than a few body panels. The only way i know to get the look and good handling would be to find a corvette challenge car and work at making it street legal.. but YMMV...

 

[Topless]

Had mine lowered for years. You have to keep it off the bump stops. As long as you do that (and do not let the back end be lower than the front-measure), you are good. I regularly beat Z06's autocrossing, so you are not killing the performace.

Also, do not forget to get it re-aligned. Changing the ride height will alter your settings. That could be the source of a loose rear end.

 

[gmjunkie]

Also, do not forget to get it re-aligned. Changing the ride height will alter your settings. That could be the source of a loose rear end.

At factory ride height,the rear tie rods are almost level across.When you lower it, it will change the Toe In to Tow Out and the camber more negative.
Un-less you have it re-aligned you will have a excessive wonder and Bump Steer out the Ying Yang!!!

 

[parkercoman]

I had my last convert Vette lowered and loved the way it handled.
I lowered the front as I could get which I think was 2.5 inches I may be wrong and the back lowered an inceh and a half

Man it looked great ran great

 

[nelson84]

I have way to many speed bumps where I live to do this.