Monoleaf vendors
05-26-2018, 05:37 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Monoleaf vendors
As I was pulling my gas tank, I noticed pieces of a black material on the floor under the center of my VBP monoleaf spring. Apparently there was a cushioning pad between the spring and the clamping plate and like most of the other VBP parts on the car, has disintegrated with time.
I doubt they made their own springs so does anyone have any idea who the original manufacturer might be? And if not, who are the trusted vendors that might be able to supply a replacement cushion?
I doubt they made their own springs so does anyone have any idea who the original manufacturer might be? And if not, who are the trusted vendors that might be able to supply a replacement cushion?
05-26-2018, 06:24 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
I just bought a set of the pads and the insulator from VBP before they closed their doors. I spoke to them over the phone, and he said the rubber material they use comes from Goodyear rubber on the industrial side of the business. They buy it in large rolls and have a machine that cuts it to proper size. If we knew the spec for the rubber, might be able to buy a small quantity from Goodyear. It is bonded to the spring with Window Weld adhesive.
05-26-2018, 10:03 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I just bought a set of the pads and the insulator from VBP before they closed their doors. I spoke to them over the phone, and he said the rubber material they use comes from Goodyear rubber on the industrial side of the business. They buy it in large rolls and have a machine that cuts it to proper size. If we knew the spec for the rubber, might be able to buy a small quantity from Goodyear. It is bonded to the spring with Window Weld adhesive.
05-27-2018, 12:32 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Sorry, I don't have access to the car right now to measure anything, but they are the both the same size, I would estimate around 1/8" to 3/16" thick. Pretty firm rubber, I believe the primary function is to protect the fiberglass spring from getting scratched or gouged from direct metal contact.
05-27-2018, 07:53 PM
#5
Pro
Sorry, I don't have access to the car right now to measure anything, but they are the both the same size, I would estimate around 1/8" to 3/16" thick. Pretty firm rubber, I believe the primary function is to protect the fiberglass spring from getting scratched or gouged from direct metal contact.
Vansteel is another fiberglass spring vendor
I talked to VBP about a month ago and yes they do (did) make their own springs.
Last edited by 66RBS; 05-27-2018 at 08:06 PM. Reason: Added Vansteel info
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65air_coupe (05-28-2018)
05-27-2018, 08:07 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
I needed the same cushions and VBP delayed for so long I made my own. I got a 6"x6" sheet of polyurethane 3/8" thick in hardness 60A from my favorite hardware supplier mcmaster.com (link). I cut it into four pieces of the correct size and secured as mentioned above. That is enough for one dual mount spring.
P.S. One of the highly respected engineers here said that attempting to secure those pads with a simple bolt and nut was hopeless as the urethane compresses too much to allow the bolt to properly stretch and lock in place. I solved that problem by adding nyloc nuts. That lets me secure the bolts without deforming the polyurethane too much. I also used thread locker on the threaded plate.
P.S. One of the highly respected engineers here said that attempting to secure those pads with a simple bolt and nut was hopeless as the urethane compresses too much to allow the bolt to properly stretch and lock in place. I solved that problem by adding nyloc nuts. That lets me secure the bolts without deforming the polyurethane too much. I also used thread locker on the threaded plate.
Last edited by kellsdad; 05-27-2018 at 08:16 PM.
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65air_coupe (05-28-2018),
Frankie the Fink (05-28-2018)
06-26-2018, 04:34 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I needed the same cushions and VBP delayed for so long I made my own. I got a 6"x6" sheet of polyurethane 3/8" thick in hardness 60A from my favorite hardware supplier mcmaster.com (link). I cut it into four pieces of the correct size and secured as mentioned above. That is enough for one dual mount spring.
P.S. One of the highly respected engineers here said that attempting to secure those pads with a simple bolt and nut was hopeless as the urethane compresses too much to allow the bolt to properly stretch and lock in place. I solved that problem by adding nyloc nuts. That lets me secure the bolts without deforming the polyurethane too much. I also used thread locker on the threaded plate.
P.S. One of the highly respected engineers here said that attempting to secure those pads with a simple bolt and nut was hopeless as the urethane compresses too much to allow the bolt to properly stretch and lock in place. I solved that problem by adding nyloc nuts. That lets me secure the bolts without deforming the polyurethane too much. I also used thread locker on the threaded plate.
06-26-2018, 09:05 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
I bought a fiberglass rear spring from VB&P back in the early 90's when rebuilding the rear suspension on my '73 Corvette. It came with a Poly block that the instructions called for placing between the spring and the differential. The block was about 1" thick.
I was autocrossing the car at the time and in lowering the car to the height I wanted to run it with longer bolts, it placed the spring ends too close to the tire sidewall. I contacted VB&P and asked if I could remove the block and just use shorter bolts. (This would have the effect of lowering the car another inch and allow me to raise the spring ends an inch higher for additional tire clearance.) They told me it was there primarily to insulate the fiberglass spring from the heat of the differential.
I removed the block and replaced it with a 1/4" thick piece of Pheonolic Resin Board we used to insulate electronic components from the heat of gas turbine engines. It is still there ...as is the fiberglass spring.
GUSTO
I was autocrossing the car at the time and in lowering the car to the height I wanted to run it with longer bolts, it placed the spring ends too close to the tire sidewall. I contacted VB&P and asked if I could remove the block and just use shorter bolts. (This would have the effect of lowering the car another inch and allow me to raise the spring ends an inch higher for additional tire clearance.) They told me it was there primarily to insulate the fiberglass spring from the heat of the differential.
I removed the block and replaced it with a 1/4" thick piece of Pheonolic Resin Board we used to insulate electronic components from the heat of gas turbine engines. It is still there ...as is the fiberglass spring.
GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; 06-27-2018 at 12:17 AM.
06-26-2018, 11:08 PM
#9
Safety Car
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I called Van Steel, they can’t help us at all on front suspension.
I called Van Steel, they can’t help us at all on front suspension.
Last edited by 59BlueSilver; 06-26-2018 at 11:11 PM.