Check your front shock towers for water

[meyerweb]

With credit to Mikeki7 and Phi1098 elsewhere on the internet:

There have been multiple reports of water collecting in the tops of the front shock towers, under the plastic covers behind the frunk. Photo thanks to Mikeki7.


Phil1098 has identified weep holes below the passenger side of the windshield as a possible source of water on that side. Per him:

So it has been thought that the battery cover area where the interior air intake is was where water was coming from that fills the upper strut tower after washing, it's not. I took mine off and looked last night and the screen opening isn't above the strut tower, ***? So then I look at where the strut tower is and notice the drain holes at the lowest part of the windshield cowl panel. I took my light and held it over them and it illuminated the upper strut tower as shown in the pics. If they would have had the holes towards the driver about one inch or put a little funnel and drain line under the holes it wouldn't happen. I'm going to see about coming up with a small funnel and line to resolve this. If you have washed your car, you too have a bunch of water in the strut tower.

^^^^^
Light laying in windshield cowl illuminating the strut tower.


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Light on top of strut tower shining up.

[MNVETTE]

I just got my C8 last week. I was looking at the battery location yesterday and also noticed the water in the shock tower. The recesses were almost full. I removed the water with a sponge and ten dried the rest with my compressed air hose. I have not washed my car yet to see if the shock towers fill up while washing, or even driving in the rain.

Has anyone found a DIY solution to this issue?

[MidLife]

Just throwing this out there... would it be ok to drill small drain holes? Don't know what is underneath there, but just an idea.

[meyerweb]

Just throwing this out there... would it be ok to drill small drain holes? Don't know what is underneath there, but just an idea.

I, personally, would be hesitant to drill holes in a structural component.

[meyerweb]

I just got my C8 last week. I was looking at the battery location yesterday and also noticed the water in the shock tower. The recesses were almost full. I removed the water with a sponge and ten dried the rest with my compressed air hose. I have not washed my car yet to see if the shock towers fill up while washing, or even driving in the rain.

Has anyone found a DIY solution to this issue?

I saw one suggestion to build a small trough that could be glued under those holes and route the water away from the shock tower. Not having my C8 yet, I can't look to see how feasible this might be.

[Sparro]

Yup, when my vert went in for lowering last week, my guy found water collecting in the top of the shock towers. Mine hasn't been in the rain once, just washed a total of 3 times since delivery.

[C808]

Check out my link here on the same issue I had in March 2020

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-turkey-baster

[[email protected]]

Just throwing this out there... would it be ok to drill small drain holes? Don't know what is underneath there, but just an idea.

I agree with Bob (meyerweb), definitely would not drill the shock tower. Since there are multiple drain holes in the windshield panel, what about blocking just those above each tower, and allow the water to drain through the other holes?

[MNVETTE]

Too much time on my hands last weekend, so decided to try to find a solution to the front shock tower water issue. I had this problem (see post #2). I could not find any drain water holes to glue shut and did not want to do anything to modify the shock towers (drilling) or any other OEM part. I looked for existing plastic covers (Tupperware, food container, etc.) that would just cover the shock tower but nothing seemed to fit.

I did have a few scraps of1/8" thick polycarbonate (Lexan) so I made a paper template, cut the plastic will a saber saw, then sanded and polished the edges (see photo).

To attach the covers I started with a 2" length of 3/8" fuel line, two spring clamps, a 1 1/2" long 3/8-16 stud, and the nuts (see photo).

To assemble, just pull the rubber cover of the shock stud in the middle of the shock tower. Then push the fuel line over the shock stud, adjust the length of the 3?8" stud so enough of the stud goes through the cover to put the nuts on (see photo).

I have not washed the car or been in the rain to see how well it works yet, but with about two hours of work and some scrap supplies I thought it was worth a try.

[16falcon]

Nice engineering work! The “fuel line over the stud” is brilliant.

[Buddy]

Did Good Opie

[Murray20c8]

Too much time on my hands last weekend, so decided to try to find a solution to the front shock tower water issue

Is there any grease in there? And if not do you think a ton of grease would be effective?

[pksjc]

Very creative solution! Let us know if it works well. Looks like it should without any issues and the clear Lexan even lets you see if there's any water in there without taking it off.

[meyerweb]

Nice work! I wonder if there should be a vent hole or two in a location that water can't run into, to ensure there's no corrosion if water does get in there. Or maybe it doesn't seal tightly enough to matter?

[Bucketoy]

Too much time on my hands last weekend, so decided to try to find a solution to the front shock tower water issue.

What if you just shot some "Great Stuff" expanding insulation foam into the shock tower holes?