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Restoring my 9 leaf spring. There are actually 10 sections to the spring. I bought some new liners but the 9 leaf kit only came with 7 plastic liners. I read in the Corvette Restoration Guide that there was no liner between #6 and #7. That would leave the last few sections with no liner. Is this correct? When I removed the spring I didn't bother to count them because I figured the new kit would come with a new liner for each section.
Hi T,
The typical springs were 9 leaf; I believe the 10 leaf spring was a service replacement.
There is typically no liner between the last arched leaf and the first straight leaf.
Regards,
Alan
Hi T,
I'm not sure just what you've read.
If you start with the longest leaf and put a liner on top of it you'll use 5 liners until you get to the FIRST straight leaf. Put that leaf DIRECTLY on the LAST arched leaf, and then it's liner (#6), leaf, liner (#7), leaf. Done! 9 Leafs/7Liners.
Regards,
Alan
A great time to paint the leafs before installation. If you are interested in the original look Eastwood has a great match for the blueish gray finish, if not many have just went the black route.
Good luck, you can do it!
RVZIO
The spring is a 10 leaf either a replacement or a late 1975 spring. Doesn't have the straight sections on the top only curved leafs.I have read some previous posts by members who have 1976 and later model years and they found the 10 leaf spring installed from the factory. I was going to replace it but the ride height was good so I decided to restore it. I sand blasted the smaller leaves and the ones that wouldn't fit in my blast cabinet got cleaned up with a wire wheel on a grinder. One light coat of POR 15 black and then I top coated it with Eastwood Brake Gray. Not really the correct shade of gray but I had a couple of new cans on the shelf. It looks pretty good. Gonna get the liners in and bolt it back together. Thanks all for the help.
The spring is a 10 leaf either a replacement or a late 1975 spring. Doesn't have the straight sections on the top only curved leafs.I have read some previous posts by members who have 1976 and later model years and they found the 10 leaf spring installed from the factory. I was going to replace it but the ride height was good so I decided to restore it. I sand blasted the smaller leaves and the ones that wouldn't fit in my blast cabinet got cleaned up with a wire wheel on a grinder. One light coat of POR 15 black and then I top coated it with Eastwood Brake Gray. Not really the correct shade of gray but I had a couple of new cans on the shelf. It looks pretty good. Gonna get the liners in and bolt it back together. Thanks all for the help.
Apply a liberal coat of anti seize between the liners and spring leafs. The orginal liners where pregnated with graphite to help with friction. Repro liners are not
The spring is a 10 leaf either a replacement or a late 1975 spring. Doesn't have the straight sections on the top only curved leafs.I have read some previous posts by members who have 1976 and later model years and they found the 10 leaf spring installed from the factory. I was going to replace it but the ride height was good so I decided to restore it. I sand blasted the smaller leaves and the ones that wouldn't fit in my blast cabinet got cleaned up with a wire wheel on a grinder. One light coat of POR 15 black and then I top coated it with Eastwood Brake Gray. Not really the correct shade of gray but I had a couple of new cans on the shelf. It looks pretty good. Gonna get the liners in and bolt it back together. Thanks all for the help.
Sounds like a good job. I agree the East brake gray is also a nice look unless you are a purist like some.
Good job get the pictures for us to see, we love pictures.
RVZIO
Here is the finished spring. I need to trim the spring liners a little and it will be finished. I also cleaned and painted the driveshaft in the same gray color. I've got things back in full gear since the winter break so I am continuing on with painting parts and will start re-assembly of the rear suspension soon. I had a lot of parts all blasted and ready to paint but they flash rusted from sitting over the winter. I re-blasted them today. Didn't take very long as there was only a light coating of rust. I am going to get a coat of Eastwood Epoxy Primer on them and then top coat them.
I may take the spring apart again. Didn't think of any kind of anti seize between the leaf sections as suggested. I have some graphite or I could use anti seize compound in aluminum or copper.
Hi T,
There's no mention of the use of a 'lubricant' in the Chassis Service Manual's rear suspension section that details replacing the spring liners.
?
Regards,
Alan
Alan I have a old copy of a AMA spec guide for 67 and for the rear spring liners it says the liners are impregnated of graphite for friction wear. And a long time ago on the NCRS TDB someone said the repro liners from Quanta has no graphite and to use anti seize
Rvzio,
Do you know the name of that Eastwood gray paint? They have detail gray and spray gray. I like that gray with a hint of blue in it and I want to get the right stuff for the differential and the other rear end parts.
Rvzio,
Do you know the name of that Eastwood gray paint? They have detail gray and spray gray. I like that gray with a hint of blue in it and I want to get the right stuff for the differential and the other rear end parts.
Teamo, I believe it's called leaf spring gray. Let me see if I have a picture. Since I am moving all that stuff is packed. Be right back.
RVZIO
Restoring my 9 leaf spring. There are actually 10 sections to the spring. I bought some new liners but the 9 leaf kit only came with 7 plastic liners. I read in the Corvette Restoration Guide that there was no liner between #6 and #7. That would leave the last few sections with no liner. Is this correct? When I removed the spring I didn't bother to count them because I figured the new kit would come with a new liner for each section.
Don't mind that this pic is a before and after... but thats the colour I went with for the leaf spring... this was actually "Cold Galvanizing Paint" from Home Depot.
Quite good match to original I believe.
leaf spring liners
