Modify lower control arms?

[vette427sbc]

I took a closer look at my suspension today and realized that after it settled from lowering, it is close to riding on the bump stops. The shocks are also very close to bottoming out. Has anyone ever modified their lower control arms to lower the shock mount? This would give me more shock travel, then I could shave my bumpstops and get more suspension travel.
I would like to keep my current bilsteins, and not buy custom shorter body shocks. Also, I have the mono spring front suspension, so I dont have to worry about the spring pocket.
Any other tips for increasing shock travel? I was thinking of shaving the upper shock bushings (gain about .25" of travel)
Raising the car is not an option

 

[Belgian1979vette]

I would take completly new i guess. The relation between the ball joints and bushings has to stay the same though, if not you change suspension geometry.

Anyway bottoming out on the rubber or the shock is not good imo

 

[vette427sbc]

I was thinking more along the lines of enlarging the hole that the shock drops out through (for clearance), and welding on some kind of spacer do drop it another inch or so. So I wouldnt be changing any control arm geometry.

 

[BBShark]

I was thinking more along the lines of enlarging the hole that the shock drops out through (for clearance), and welding on some kind of spacer do drop it another inch or so. So I wouldnt be changing any control arm geometry.

I've seen that done with VBP loser arms. There are probably some lower bump stops available also.

 

[Stroker-427]

What about a shorter shock? :idea:

 

[vette427sbc]

What about a shorter shock? :idea:

Well that was the first idea that came to mind, but custom shocks are $$$, and Im having trouble finding an aftermarket performance shock that has a shorter collapsed length.

 

[BBShark]

Do you have the VBP lower arms? Adding a spacer to the bottoms shock mount is pretty common.

Do you know the collapsed length of the Bilsein's?

 

[vette427sbc]

Do you have the VBP lower arms? Adding a spacer to the bottoms shock mount is pretty common.

Do you know the collapsed length of the Bilsein's?

Yeah I have the VBP monoleaf arms. I want to add at least an inch to my current travel, so I think that may be pushing it with spacers.
I think the collapsed length is around 11"... going out to the garage now to disassemble and take measurements (caliper bracket measurements too :amused

 

[vette427sbc]

I think the collapsed length is around 11"...

OK, so I was 2" off...
I measured 9" from the mounting ears to the top of the shock body (where the bushing would bottom out)

Now to try and fit 3" brake ducting in there too... thats going to be interesting :twitch:

 

[BBShark]

I have the VBP lower arms also and I just found something interesting. If you push the lower arm against the bump stop and measure from the bottom of the arm shock mount on the arm to the upper mount on the frame, I get 9.75 inches. If I measure a fully compressed shock I get 9.50 (lower mount to bushing stack center). So, essentialy (with .25 clearance), the shock is serving as the bump stop :shocking:

Adding a spacer might be a very good idea.

 

[vette427sbc]

I had about equal distance from the bumpstop to the frame, and shock body to bushing stack. When I pulled my shocks out, I didnt see any unusual wear on the shock body or the bottom washer like they had been bottoming out. I did see a good amount of wear on the bumpstop though... Better than the shocks bottoming, but still not good.
The balljoints are frozen in my spindles, so I havent been able to pull the arms off yet. Can I use a torch to heat up the spindle? Im worried about melting the rubber boots on the BJ's.

 

[redvetracr]

anyone wanting to check shock travel should tie a ty-rap tight to the shock shafts both front & rear, push them to the shock body and go out and play, the position of the ty-rap will tell you if you are bottoming out your shocks...