I have a 7 leaf spring in the rear of my 80 vette. The car sat nice,and i was happy with it. When do they need to be changed? I called the local spring place here in town, and he said it the car is sitting where it needs to be then the spring is ok? I dont want to spend $400.00 on a composite spring, and have to wrap the exhaust etc to keep it from failing. What is the life span of the rear spring.

 

I had the rear spring changed on my old 'vette when it broke.

 

The question is,, do you know how old your spring is?

Once you find that out, call these guys, they should be able to answer your Q.

http://eaglesuspensions.com/contact_us.html

 

There seems to be lots of confusion in this area? My car has a 7 leaf in it and the spring shops tell me mine should have a 9 leaf spring. Where can i find the correct listings for springs for a 1980 vette as far as the spring rates go? I know you should have the rear to front rate correct. any idea what they are? Or where i can order a spring from?

 

Hey Grumpy,, I'm not an expert on springs, or handeling, but can give you some 'seat of the pants' feedback and a little of what I've gleaned, and hopefully, someone else will jump in with more quantitative information. When I bought the '73 Vette, the first thing I did was change the rear spring to a 9 leaf, which is apparently stock standard to base 'Vettes,, mine was a 2 1/4 wide, 196 lbs/in. 78 and newer use a 2 1/2 wide, 260 lbs/in spring as stock, due to the cars getting heavier. scroll down here for some info on the available springs:

http://www.duntovmotors.com/RearSuspension.htm

I don't see a 7 leaf for an 80 anywhere. Checked C-Central, Ecklers, Zip and Duntov,, all have only a 9 leaf for the '80 in Steel, which really makes me wonder if yours is 2 1/4 in wide, instead of 2 1/2 wide. looks like the stock 9 leaf was a 260lb/in. A 7 leaf should be 310 or 330, so it's gonna be stiffer, if to narrow for your 'Vette. Personal experience has me with the 7 leaf at 310lb/in, now in, the '73 feels neutral and stable with it, no problems over bumps at all. The 9 leaf felt wallowy and weak, bad handeling, Highway and street, and it was a new spring.
From my personal experience, I would recommend a stiffer spring then stock, 330 at least, and for the 78 1/2's and beyond, with the 2 1/2 in wide spring, It looks like only a composites is available in the higher then stock rates. C.

I would order my spring from Van Steel, and give them a call to talk over handeling options/effects. http://www.vansteel.com/ and possible ride height effects of using a composite rear spring.

 

If it sits at the correct height, it is not worn out.

If you like the ride, there is no reason to change it.

 

I would stay with the 7.
Personally I have never seen a broken 7 or 5 (on the street)but plenty of broken 9s.

 

Awesome guys . Thank you for the replies. Our roads hear are not the greatest, and i have have seen a few broken springs. I will give Vansteel a call. Its sad i cant get a spring made in Canada, i have to import parts from the USA.

 

That's why there's NAFTA. Many Corvette parts (new and restoration) are made in Canada. It works both ways.