Sparo2

Just finished taking the spring out. It looks like the cutouts might have been the problem. I've had cutouts with the stock exhaust before with no problem. I'm thinking the extra heat from the LT headers and hi-flow cats created a lot more heat. To much for the spring to handle especially while racing up the mountains like today. I'll be welding on some flanges this week and capping the cutouts until i can get the E-cutouts and turndowns like the ones shown above.

Well i just removed the spring and looks like once the spring broke it also caused the bolts to break as well. Notice how the studs are still on the spring but the bottom is broken off.

Sparo2

Yes the car was lowered on the stock bolts.

Callsign_Jester

Looks like tons of exhaust gas build up on the spring. My first guess is that the cutouts were the issue here. Poor fiberglass just couldn't handle the heat!

Good luck with getting everything resolved! Glad nothing too serious happened as a result, you and the car are safe so I'd say that's pretty good overall.

WHT

My wife worked at Shell Research when they were testing epoxy resins and composite springs for GM. Heat is not your friend.

Sparo2

Thanks for all your imput guys. I'm going to have those cutouts capped as soon as I get my car running again. My poor baby will be on jack stands until i get it resolved.

The worse part about it, is that she's my daily driver.

VET4LES

oldmansan

Sorry, I don't have my spring available now. I didn't know you needed one yesterday. Wish I could help.

San

keyplyr

CPG1962

And that nice gap where the leaf spring was is a great place for a external cooler.

Uncle Meat

I swear I read where someone else here on the forums had a very similar problem. Heat from the cutouts weakened the spring which then eventually failed.

Instead of capping them why not use turn-downs like Joe G suggested?

U.M.

KarlK

oh, you also need new shoes and fix that crack in your driveway....

m_LeDez

Just for your info.....

Those "adjustable stops" are not offered separatly by GM. They are only available with the purchase of a new spring. While upgrading my base springs to Z06 springs, I discovered one of my front stops had worn down to the metal. I went to my local Chevy dealership parts counter, they looked it up and gave me the bad news.

I confirmed it with Gene Culley (GM Parts House), the stops are not sold separate. I had to purchase a set of lowering bolts local from Corvettes of Houston as a quick replacement, costs ~$50.

drivinfast

If you have access to a good welding guy just back the bolts out and reweld it back together.

SpinMonster

Thats exactly what did it. I saw this once before and the cuttouts were in the same position. You have to do a down turn with the cuttouts. Its best to spend the extra money for the Z06 exaust.

3 Z06ZR1

First thing I thought too. Seeing the hot cut out blowing right on the spring!

MARSC6

I know of crack in a leaf spring discovered during the annual safety inspection at the dealer my GF used to work at.

Sparo2

LMAO!!!!!!
Yeah I keep these around for comfort. I use them to do light duty jobs on the car but when I have a big project, I switch to my uncomfortable boots.

I'll see if i can fill the crack with some paper glue.

KarlK

Good luck with your repairs!

BearZ06

I remember that too. He went to turn downs, also installed a heat shield under the spring and posted pictures which I can't now find.

pTr73

The exhaust gases are pretty hot, and the leaf isnt exatly metal to begin with, I'll buy the theory that the cutouts caused the failure. Just the thought of them being heated by the cutouts and stressed from driving while heated (heat makes them more pliable), then cooled off when the car is off, yeah interesting theory for sure.