View Full Version : DRM coilover height for best ride
EvanZR1
08-07-2023, 07:27 PM
Adjusting the ride height on my new to me Admiral Blue ZR-1 with DRM coilovers and FX3 shocks. Any suggestions for best height for good ride comfort? Scott had it super low, which looked great, but had some pretty significant bounce on bumps. It was not even 1 finger between the front tires & fender, and barely over 1 finger between the rear tires & fender. I've brought the front up to 2 fingers between the fender and tire, and the rear is between 2-3 (just over 2 on the left, full 3 on the right). The ride is better, but still has some noticeable bounce on bumps, I'm thinking I probably need to go a little higher in front, call it 2.5 fingers, and maybe 3.5 finger widths on the rear. Thoughts or suggestions?
Ride height when I bought it:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc8FEhkCopN6OJt2xTZqwSS-ZDk_wlzdQL_F_a9uN_BBmN-QNDXokc0zYvOrUOTbARSuE_IBG9iwAHKt_FBeB2xDwmRcrRjat 0-fTQbDpBup1Klan9JHAPcDmv5YeezI2Hul1eS7o2WK7_AOQpb0G 11Bcw=w1654-h931-s-no?authuser=0
After first adjustment:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_0ivJ-A99P0I8Tq6FqoT2YhkPALt-ShWfR30ovJY4TUL1gxPPbMYw7PVaBeKaXl9Jg-1Uk3n1z1iFU8UlhPQqKbGy4Pf_otEBXGwR7NfZHRfF4PQy2bi7 ZMv78j7KMZA-Ujszep7P0D21Lw9RcD3OAYg=w1654-h931-s-no?authuser=0
HAWAIIZR-1
08-08-2023, 07:38 AM
I am watching this post as I am planning to finally get mine done after all these years. Same setup, but not sure what spring rates you are running? Mine are 425 front and 250 rear as recommended by Randy for my use. I cannot go too low and want a decent ride. I do not have a stock front bumper and have my custom carbon fiber ARP front splitter to protect.
Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)
EvanZR1
08-08-2023, 10:54 AM
Not sure on the spring rate, they seem fairly soft and if I remember correctly 425/250 was the common spring rate for DRMs. The problem with going too low is the car becomes really "bouncy" on bumps. I went a little too low on the previous steel blue car, and just lived with it. Scott had this one all the way down, and it was noticeably worse for the bounce. Options are either go with a stiffer spring or raise it back up. Going with a stiffer spring and running low should really be matched by changing shocks to something designed for the shorter travel. This isn't going to be a track car (at least not often), so I'd rather keep the FX3 and raise it back up to a height where it's comfortable. It may take me a few weeks, but I'll keep updating here so you can see my results.
HAWAIIZR-1
08-08-2023, 03:25 PM
Thanks Evan! It sounds like a pain in the arse to dial it in a get it right where one wants it with a lot of patience. Hopefully someone else with the same setup with chime in. I really want to install my set.
Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)
XfireZ51
08-09-2023, 02:01 PM
IIRC, mine are 425/300. Also, using 18/19? wheels helps give the car a ?raked? look w/o the necessity of lowering too far.
dredgeguy
08-10-2023, 07:11 AM
IIRC, mine are 425/300. Also, using 18/19? wheels helps give the car a ?raked? look w/o the necessity of lowering too far.
Sitting perfect!
JimZRyd
08-10-2023, 07:47 PM
My 94 is on QA1's. The rears are 425, can't remember the fronts. I've got about 1.5 fingers front and back. She's stiff but not bad. A little bounce over rough spots. Very comfortable over all.
98indypacer
08-11-2023, 12:00 PM
I originally had 275lb springs on the rear per Randy's recommendation. But I have the car cranked pretty low so I was on the bump stops too often. I changed to 350lb springs and it rides much better.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Corvettes-at-Carlisle/n-2XztSJ/My-Homepage-Photos/i-R4QSHN8/0/b260f537/O/7L3A0221.jpg
Prez1967
08-17-2023, 05:29 PM
I'll get new measurements tomorrow but when I talked to different people with lowered ZR1/Callaways about ride height, I was told:
Front: 25 3/4- 26"
Rear: 26 5/16-27"
Im pretty sure Im lower in both regards but im also running Ridetech coilovers. Front geometry should be the same (Ridetech shocks are Fox units made for this kit) and rear geometry is mounted differently from what I understand.
I've got no issues with bump or rebound and could likely go lower without detriment in ride quality but wanted to be able to clear a speed bump in my neighborhood.
https://imgur.com/a/Qghe1gL
EvanZR1
08-17-2023, 07:21 PM
Adjusted the rears up some more, I'm now right at 5" to the frame rail in front and right at 5.25-5.5" at the rear. The ride is better but still has some bounce, but nothing near as bad as it was before. I may just have to do stiffer rear springs as I really don't want to go any higher. Of course, I could just pull the whole setup and replace with VanSteel's DA4 max lowering setup.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wwfg8p3pxbshe0687sg59/PXL_20230817_214020414.jpg?rlkey=d8yxfj4qlyr33pf8c 0dskth8k&raw=1
Rear coilover after adjusting:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ujw4dtt2m53queat1sdb5/PXL_20230817_205034953.jpg?rlkey=x75i49h3vqczt1z2s gc3jbzp2&raw=1
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.