C2CorvetteBob

Has anyone installed a new rear leaf spring on their c2 and had it settle after a few miles have been put on the car? My new rear spring seems to sit a little high and I can't drive the car until winter is over.

MelWff

it is very common for replacement springs to sit high.
Have you at least rolled the car backward and forward to settle the suspension after replacing the spring?
Did you use the stock 6" bolts or the longer 8" bolts?

Mike67nv

Yes, a new leaf spring will sit a little higher until it "settles" in after driving a few miles. My Eaton Detroit 9 leaf spring sat about 1" higher when it was first installed.

After driving it, check your suspension height buy going to your AIM, UPC 4, sheet B5, and measuring the “D” height for the rear (“Z” height for the front, UPC 3, sheet A6). It will tell you if your suspension height is within spec or not (regardless of tire size).

Just in case you didn't, before driving, torque (loosen and re-torque) the spring mounting bolts to the differential casting with the full car weight on the wheels.

C2CorvetteBob

Yes. I pushed the car back and forward while pushing down on the rear bumper. It is a 9 leaf that was ordered 1'' lowered. 8'' bolts and the rear fender lip to ground measurement is 26-1/2''. That seems way too high considering the spring and length of bolts.

Powershift

Not all rear springs are the same..........some are better than others. Who did you buy from?? Eaton Detroit Spring or someone else??

Larry

Powershift

Got your PM. Most folks are happy with the Eaton spring, although some do report the car sits a bit high. A couple of things you can try:


1. Make sure that you first set to the correct, typical factory ride height dimensions in the AIM for rear suspension before you tighten the various rear suspension bolts. Car must also be on its four wheels during this time. You may need to add weight to the inside rear of car to achieve this. For a 1967 car this is shown in UPC B5 and B6 in the AIM.......and is called "Rear Suspension Trim Height and Geometry" Dimensions are "D" and "K". If you do not do this......or if you did not do this.........you will lock in an incorrect suspension height when tightening all the nuts and bolts. So you essentially start out with things in an incorrect and 'too-high' position. When your car was built in St Louis, there was a special fixture to push the suspension to the "D" dimension before the suspension bolts were tightened by the workers.

2. If you still have issues and still have the original spring, consider using the new Eaton main spring leaf and reusing the remaining original leafs (with new liners) if the ride height doesn't settle down. The main leaf is the one that generally wears out over time.

Larry