Sagging left rear on '90 ZR-1

[herc_jason]

I figured you guys might have seen this before?;help

Brought my new/old red on red ZR-1 home after it's purchase, and noticed the right rear of then car is sitting a good inch to inch and a half higher than the driver side.

I'm guessing springs? Or could a messed-up ride selection (hydraulics?) actually be able to affect the car like this?

Please help me as I'm brand-new to the Vette, and I don't want to keep a hunchback in my stables!

Jason
90 ZR-1
04 BMW M3

 

[90 Corvette ZR-1]

I've heard of this before, it's usually the DS that does it but do yourself a favor http://www.hendersonperformance.com/index.html make Cory Henderson your best friend. He's not all that far from you and he's a great guy and a real ZR-1 nut. Where in San An are you from?

 

[herc_jason]

NorthEast side...Schertz, by Randolph AFB.

Thanks!

 

[90 Corvette ZR-1]

My Fiancee is from Bourne and with any luck we'll be down in August. Good luck with the car, cory is amazing at what he does. Also some of the local ZR-1ers are great. Join the zr1netregistry.com if you haven't done so already

 

[SurfnSun]

Thats a very common C4 problem. Its the spring sagging on the side all the weight is on From what Ive read a new spring will take care of it.

 

[herc_jason]

Corey seems to believe that might be the case, also...
Any idea what the availability and cost of that fiberglass spring is?

One other thought he had was the castle nuts on the spring to diff conection might be unevenly adjusted.

I can only hope it is a matter of tightening a nut, but with 80K miles on this beast, I'm betting it's the prior.

Thanks again for the help, guys...

Jason​

 

[Brat4by4]

....

 

[Blue92]

My 92 is sagging in the rear. The spring is the first choise and if it is not broken or delaminated you can adjust it. A new stock spring is a couple of hundred plus the cost of install. The are some after market high performance springs out there for a bout a hundred more. You can tune the spring for your driving style or performance needs.

 

[herc_jason]

Ouch...
Called Parts and they said they want $638.77 for the spring!
If you have a favorite aftermarket producer, let me know...I'd definitely prefer a bit cheaper and more solid if it's out there!

 

[SurfnSun]

You might try this...

www.contemporarycorvette.com

I got one low mileage used one from them for $100 a handful of years ago.

 

[herc_jason]

So the castle nuts are uneven...

Finally got under the car, and the diff carrier bolts on the left side are cranked down quite a bit more than the right. I'm hoping adjusting these will help.
The spring doesn't look damaged.

Is there any reason someone might have these set at such a vast difference from one side to the other?

Maybe to cover-up another problem????

Hoping it's a five minute job tomorrow to fix the Hunchback.....

I'll let you guys know tomorrow how the adjustment works...​

 

[herc_jason]

Only makes it WORSE!

Well, as I looked closer, I realized the spring is attached to the wheel spindle, and not the body...as I tighten the high side, the body will lift even more!

The prior owner obviously offset the suspension as much as possible to mask the problem. The spring doesn't look cracked or frayed, but I'm going to put the car on a lift to get a better picture. Doesn't appear to have any damage under the car.

I guess it could just be lots of sag from aging as stated above???:confused

 

[90 Corvette ZR-1]

honestly, go see cory. He'll do you right

 

[herc_jason]

Did talk to Cory...VERY helpful on multiple fronts! Will visit up there very soon.

Have a shop called Performance Restorations (Gary's Corvette) just down the street (in North San Antonio) ...any opinion of these guys?

Thanks.

 

[90 Corvette ZR-1]

never heard of them but they aren't corys level. Not saying they aren't good but anyone that Bob Hall and Dewy trust with their ZR-1s is the only guy I'd trust to even look at my ZR-1. Trust me Cory is your man. I've looked at my fiancee and told her if we ever moved back to SanAn we'd be broke, I'd have no drivers license, and I'd be in jail. Believe me, cory is where it's at.

 

[bldavis11]

Why are you going to anyone other than Henderson? People have their cars shipped from all over the world to a shop that you can drive to and back in a morning!

 

[Tommy L]

My 90 is 1/2" higher on the right (passengers side) and I do believe its from weight being mostly on the drivers side along with age. I will simply adjust the spring bolt to even it up. This is a very common problem given the age of these cars.

 

[herc_jason]

Thanks!
I am planning on new bushings in the rear to help with some of the sag, and am having it done at Henderson's...as I've failed to hear anything good about my closer Corvette Specialist.

Corey has told me the diagnosis I got from the "other" shop was likely just a shotgun fix (for the BCM and a lighting issue) , and I'd likely be throwing my money away.

Sounds like Corey is infinitely more familiar with the ZR-1 and vette than anyone else, here....decision made...and small commute planned.

Thanks guys!

 

[90 Corvette ZR-1]

corey is the man. He won't steer you wrong