Bottomed Out - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

omegaman · 01-13-2011, 08:14 PM

Anyone else with lowering springs and long tubes bottom out on their exhaust system?

First time this has happened to me. I bottomed out while slowly going over a speed bump lightly scraping the bottom part of the header flange where it connects with the cats.

I have Pfadt lowering springs (love them) and Kooks long tubes with high flow cats (love these, too). Wheels are 20". Gas tank was full, two passengers in the car (front passenger seat, right rear seat).

Kilo-9 · 01-14-2011, 12:52 AM

I haven't had a problem on my 5th gen, but I frequently scraped the headers on my 4th gen. It's a common issue with lowered cars. Try traversing speed bumps at an angle, this can help with scraping issues.

My 5th · 01-14-2011, 01:23 AM

I did it just today leaving a parking lot where the exit was uphill, but had a sharp break downhill to the road. I tried to take it at an angle, but dragged the bottom of the car pretty hard and long. I have Xa's, lowered about 1 1/2 inches, only me driving and 160# of salt in the trunk. Fortunately I have the stock exhaust w/GMPP axle back, so I hope I didn't scratch anything important. Good excuse now to get the headers and Magnaflow cat-back--and avoid that parking lot.

JusticePete · 01-14-2011, 01:28 AM

All the time, but my Camaro was much lower. I view tires, brake pads, cats and headers as wear items

The Camaro has been cross country and inner city with the ridiculously low ride height. The key is the approach angle. With the right approach angle the front spoiler has traversed the biggest speed bumps. It rubbed across but it made it.

You have probably done this, but if you haven't rotate the flange so the thinnest part is the lowest. Tuck up your pipes and don't worry about the occasional rub or scrape. I haven't actually worn a through any of my headers or cats

Apex Motorsports · 01-14-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilo-9

I haven't had a problem on my 5th gen, but I frequently scraped the headers on my 4th gen. It's a common issue with lowered cars. Try traversing speed bumps at an angle, this can help with scraping issues.

Don't even get me started on the 4th generation.

The Y-pipe on my 2002 SS was always scraping.

01-13-2011, 08:14 PM	#1
omegaman Drives: very poorly Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 550	Bottomed Out Anyone else with lowering springs and long tubes bottom out on their exhaust system? First time this has happened to me. I bottomed out while slowly going over a speed bump lightly scraping the bottom part of the header flange where it connects with the cats. I have Pfadt lowering springs (love them) and Kooks long tubes with high flow cats (love these, too). Wheels are 20". Gas tank was full, two passengers in the car (front passenger seat, right rear seat). __________________ 2013 Camaro ZL1, Crystal Red, Auto, Exposed Carbon Fiber, Navigation.

01-14-2011, 12:52 AM	#2
Kilo-9 Dog Is My Copilot Drives: 2011 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,394	I haven't had a problem on my 5th gen, but I frequently scraped the headers on my 4th gen. It's a common issue with lowered cars. Try traversing speed bumps at an angle, this can help with scraping issues. __________________

01-14-2011, 01:23 AM	#3
My 5th Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Black on Black Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Global Citizen Posts: 1,243	I did it just today leaving a parking lot where the exit was uphill, but had a sharp break downhill to the road. I tried to take it at an angle, but dragged the bottom of the car pretty hard and long. I have Xa's, lowered about 1 1/2 inches, only me driving and 160# of salt in the trunk. Fortunately I have the stock exhaust w/GMPP axle back, so I hope I didn't scratch anything important. Good excuse now to get the headers and Magnaflow cat-back--and avoid that parking lot. __________________ Meh

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01-14-2011, 01:28 AM	#4
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,171	All the time, but my Camaro was much lower. I view tires, brake pads, cats and headers as wear items The Camaro has been cross country and inner city with the ridiculously low ride height. The key is the approach angle. With the right approach angle the front spoiler has traversed the biggest speed bumps. It rubbed across but it made it. You have probably done this, but if you haven't rotate the flange so the thinnest part is the lowest. Tuck up your pipes and don't worry about the occasional rub or scrape. I haven't actually worn a through any of my headers or cats