theandies

I just got around to installing my replacement VBP composite spring today. The car is still on jack stands and the spring plate is snugged up with the bolts. I know you are suppose to torque a steel springs plate bolts with the cars weight on it. Should I do that with the composite spring too? Thanks
John

GUSTO14

John, even though there is far less arch in the composite spring than in the original, I would recommend you put the weight on it anyway. I did this on my '73 when I installed the VB&P composite spring. Probably because I stripped the housing bolt on my '63 when I did it without putting the weight on it first back in 1970. It can't hurt and there is little chance of stripping it this way.

Good luck... GUSTO

theandies

Thanks Gusto. I did my first composite that way too. Search for my cracked spring post a few months ago for details. I PM Dan at Van Steel for verification but did it Friday afternoon so he hasn't replyed yet. I wanted to get this done this weekend so I asked all the experts here.

ratflinger

I'll be surprised if you can get the plate to torque w/o bending. I couldn't, I'm going to fab a plate out of 1/4". It's the only thing I don't like about the VB&P mono, the bottom plate is a POS.

theandies

This is a Van Steel plate and seems thicker than the original. It didn't bend the first time I installed it.