I have a 2001 Z28 with Lowering springs. The problem is the rear sits so low that when I get on it the wheel well hits the tire and cuts the tire. I have Blisten racking shocks on the rear now. The question is what should I do to correct this problem?

1.) I could get a pair of air shocks on the rear and get it to clear the wheel well a little more?

2.) Go back to stock springs on the rears?

I am looking for a non expensive fix. Any ideas would be appreciated.

The fronts have plenty of clearence.

Thanks,

Bill

 

What springs are you using?? BMR?? do you have a pic of how your stance with your suspension setup?
What size tires in the rear?

 

Simple fix...... airlift bags that fit inside the coil spring. You can pump them up a bit for some increase in ride height. They are most effective for controling the rear on launch and they give you the ability to carry passengers without the rear end going to low and causing interferance. I think they run about $70 for the pair though a place like summit or Jegs.

http://www.airliftcompany.com/

Part No: 60797
http://airlift.r-catalog.com/ImgVD/AIL/AL1000K.jpg

 

Eibach, Sportlines I believe.

I am running 175/40/17's Nitto Drag Radials.

I will look for a pic.

Thanks,

Bill

 

This has been posted several times, a few by me in fact. While it is still not understood why some cars have the back sag, one quick solution is to go down to the auto parts store and pick up a set of coil spring spacers. They're cheap, like $4 for a set and there are two kinds, metal and rubber. I bought both kinds since raise up the car differantly. I used two metal spacers on the passenger side and one on the drivers side. I haven't really noticed a change in handling, but it probaly has. I'm just waiting to get a new set of springs, but I got sick of seeing the slumpbug look on a sports car.

 

I'm tellin ya....... the airlift bags are the best solution.

 

Until I can get a set of air bags............ Can you tell me what type of auto parts stores carry these?

Thanks,

Bill

 

IMO, those are a bad idea and can cause localized stress on the spring. Use them at your own risk.

 

Rob is correct. The spacers that are inserted between the coils stress the springs. This destroys the overall spring rate.

Now one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that once you lower the car, you'll need lower control arm relocation brackets. This corrects the angle of the lower arm by dropping the rear attaching point. Thie end result is that the rear of the chassis doesn't squat on acceleration. As torque is applied, the differential is forced downward to plant the tires and the rear of the car rises instead of squats. I use BMR bolt on control arm relocation brackets. http://www.bmrfabrication.com/F-bodyDrivetrain.htm http://www.bmrfabrication.com/cabrackets/cab2-full.jpg they are the only bolt on that I would trust, the others must be welded. Combine the relocation brackets, airbags and larger rear sway bar and you'll launch like a beast with no rear end squat or rubbing. You can carry passengers too.

 

You're most likely right. I'm planning on changing my springs soon so I didn't trip on it. The original poster inquired as to where I bought it though, and said that they just want it until they get airbags, so I just wanted to say that you can find them at Kragen or Autozone. Most carry them. Just tell them you want the spring spacer or spring sag repair spacer or something like that.

 

Sportlines are too low anyway, and they're known for settling in the rear letting the car hit bumpstops. Very much not optimum for drags.

The air bag is a good idea, because you can preload for launches. Wolfe racecraft sells an adjustable rear upper spring mount for $100. Its machined and threaded and operates like a coil over kit would minus mounting to the shock. It allows the use of coil over springs which are pretty cheap Personally, I say put your stockers on and do the !spring isolator/heater hose mod..

You also have another problem. If your fender lips are cutting into your tires, your backspacing is off, or your tires are too wide for the wheels, or your phb is too long pushing one out to the side. Either way, you have a suspension geometry prob. Figure that out and it may go away.

Whatever you do, stay away from air shocks unless you like wheel hop.

 

have you tried rolling the fenders? i have sportlines and run 295/35/18 on mine and it would dig into my tire also, but got my fenders rolled and it dont even hit anymore much less dig into my tire. if you got your fenders rolled and it didnt clear atleast it wouldnt cut them any more, it would hit a smooth surface (the rolled edge) and not the sharp inner lip.

 

Are the fenders cutting both tires or just one? When you lower a car the PHB can shift the body so the wheels are no longer centered (left to right). An adjustable PHB will correct this.