Spring advice

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Apr 9, 2011 | 07:39 PM

avizandum

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Pro

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From: Farmington MI

Spring advice

So I was lowering the car (Z51 C6) back to summer weekend warrior height and both front bolts are seized and I need to replace the leaf spring.

Should I go with the Z06 spring or will it throw things off?

Data I saw indicated it's only 5 lbs stiffer.

Apr 9, 2011 | 07:42 PM

davidfarmer

Race Director

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From: CONCORD NC

did you unload the spring so that the adjusters can turn freely.......They can seem unbelievably tight if they are loaded against the control arm.

Apr 10, 2011 | 09:09 AM

avizandum

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From: Farmington MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfarmer

did you unload the spring so that the adjusters can turn freely.......They can seem unbelievably tight if they are loaded against the control arm.

Unfortunately I've done it correctly. I had a brain-child to weld a nut on the top. If that doesn't work, I'm screwed. (I stripped the tops in haste / desperation.)

I'm really pissed, 'cuz had I taken a wire brush to the threads when it got difficult, this probably wouldn't have happened.

Which still begs the question: which spring... It's a DD, so ride degredation is somewhat a consideration, too.

Last edited by avizandum; Apr 10, 2011 at 09:13 AM.

Apr 10, 2011 | 12:56 PM

gkmccready

Safety Car

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From: Redwood City CA

I doubt you need a new spring, just figure a way to remove the adjusters and HardbarUSA sells replacements...

Apr 10, 2011 | 01:07 PM

drivinhard

Racer

Joined: Dec 2006

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From: Braselton GA

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkmccready

HardbarUSA sells replacements...

they are very easy to turn/adjust, even with the car loaded. nice for making adjustments while it's loaded on the scales

Apr 10, 2011 | 02:53 PM

sperkins

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Macon, GA

Quote:

Originally Posted by avizandum

Unfortunately I've done it correctly. I had a brain-child to weld a nut on the top. If that doesn't work, I'm screwed. (I stripped the tops in haste / desperation.)

.

I had the exact same problem recently. Tried to weld a nut to it, double nut it and cussed at it a lot - nothing worked.

I had to pull the spring from the car and clamp it in a vise to break it free. They were frozen badly from rust, but I was able to get them out.

Clamp in vise here:

Last edited by sperkins; Apr 10, 2011 at 03:04 PM.

Apr 10, 2011 | 04:54 PM

Rag Top

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2002

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From: San Diego CA

Careful with the amount of heat when you weld. You don't want to damage the spring.

Apr 10, 2011 | 07:03 PM

avizandum

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From: Farmington MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperkins

I had the exact same problem recently. Tried to weld a nut to it, double nut it and cussed at it a lot - nothing worked.

I had to pull the spring from the car and clamp it in a vise to break it free. They were frozen badly from rust, but I was able to get them out.

Clamp in vise here:

The welded nut worked, but they're still very tough to turn. Did new ones go in OK?

Can new ones be installed w/o removing the springs?