Lowering rear by removing spring leaf?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 227
From: Beecher Illinois
Lowering rear by removing spring leaf?
Working on a friends 78 over the winter. Has a newer heavy duty(gymkhana) spring and it sits up a little high. I want to lower it about 1"-1 1/2". Don't really want to go with the longer bolts if I can help it.
Thinking of removing the 7th leaf(real short one) and the 1/4" spacer to see what that does(just that would bring it down about 5/8"). Factory original gymkhana spring is only 6 leaf with the spacer. Does it really need the spacer? I can always shorten the mounting bolts if necessary, but as it sets now, the 2 rear bolts don't even extend through the flange. Actually they are about 3/16" below the top edge of the flange so they could really be a little longer anyway.
Also, this isn't an original gymkhana equipted 78, front springs are original. Shocks are KYBs. Thinking one less leaf may even soften the ride a bit. Owner says it rides pretty hard!
Thinking of removing the 7th leaf(real short one) and the 1/4" spacer to see what that does(just that would bring it down about 5/8"). Factory original gymkhana spring is only 6 leaf with the spacer. Does it really need the spacer? I can always shorten the mounting bolts if necessary, but as it sets now, the 2 rear bolts don't even extend through the flange. Actually they are about 3/16" below the top edge of the flange so they could really be a little longer anyway.
Also, this isn't an original gymkhana equipted 78, front springs are original. Shocks are KYBs. Thinking one less leaf may even soften the ride a bit. Owner says it rides pretty hard!
Last edited by KapsSA; Nov 17, 2008 at 05:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 227
From: Beecher Illinois
I might as well reply
Wasn't looking for the easier way to do it, wanted to keep it looking stock without going to the longer bolts.
Plus the owner complained about the harsh ride. I did remove shipping clamps that the original installer left on. I'm told that helped.
But that's what I did, longer bolts
If I ever put a new spring on my own Vette and it sits too high, I will go ahead and remove a short leaf and see what happens.
Wasn't looking for the easier way to do it, wanted to keep it looking stock without going to the longer bolts.
Plus the owner complained about the harsh ride. I did remove shipping clamps that the original installer left on. I'm told that helped.
But that's what I did, longer bolts
If I ever put a new spring on my own Vette and it sits too high, I will go ahead and remove a short leaf and see what happens.
Last edited by KapsSA; Nov 3, 2014 at 09:55 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 268
From: Central Wisconsin
[QUOTE=KapsSA;1588184856
If I ever put a new spring on my own Vette and it sits too high, I will go ahead and remove a short leaf and see what happens.[/QUOTE]
This is an interesting thread cuz my leaf spring is sitting on my work bench right now and I'm thinking about the same thing
If I ever put a new spring on my own Vette and it sits too high, I will go ahead and remove a short leaf and see what happens.[/QUOTE]
This is an interesting thread cuz my leaf spring is sitting on my work bench right now and I'm thinking about the same thing
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 268
From: Central Wisconsin
this is a good question. I searched and couldnt find much on this subject, I want to hear what you guys have to say about this.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,630
Likes: 7,083
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
O.K. I'll rat myself out......on my '68 project, I removed the top short leaf (and spacer if there was one installed).
The rear suspension is noticeably smoother (compared to just -plain stiff)....smoother is good for my cracked discs.
The rear fender lip dropped only 5/8" (which helps if you are also making other changes).
I also changed to longer spring bolts to lower the fender lip for the look that I wanted.
NOW......the thing is.......if you remove the top spacer and short leaf.....
You MAY have to modify the leafs that rest against the differential housing by grinding a 1/8" notch in the leafs so that the retaining bolts will fit correctly (depending on your current width springs)....
you will see what I'm talking about when you try to re-install the spring-pack once the spacer/short leaf are removed......
..........OR MAYBE NOT!
The rear suspension is noticeably smoother (compared to just -plain stiff)....smoother is good for my cracked discs.
The rear fender lip dropped only 5/8" (which helps if you are also making other changes).
I also changed to longer spring bolts to lower the fender lip for the look that I wanted.
NOW......the thing is.......if you remove the top spacer and short leaf.....
You MAY have to modify the leafs that rest against the differential housing by grinding a 1/8" notch in the leafs so that the retaining bolts will fit correctly (depending on your current width springs)....
you will see what I'm talking about when you try to re-install the spring-pack once the spacer/short leaf are removed......
..........OR MAYBE NOT!
