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I'm sure Alan has the best pictures and procedure but here is my leaf spring that I refurbished with new liners. The liner were long as yours are. I just trimmed them to size with a razor knife a little longer than the leaf sections
Hi a67,
Typically the liners were about 1/4" to 3/8" longer than the each leaf. But they varied so anything close is good.
As your photo shows there was no liner between the 3rd and 4th leafs on original springs which had the straight leafs at the top.
The liner's 'flanges' were trimmed off in the center to clear the spring mounting bolts.
Wee's photo shows a really nice job.
Regards,
Alan
Original spring leafs often have raised letters/digits on them.
Hi a67,
Typically the liners were about 1/4" to 3/8" longer than the each leaf. But they varied so anything close is good.
As your photo shows there was no liner between the 3rd and 4th leafs on original springs which had the straight leafs at the top.
The liner's 'flanges' were trimmed off in the center to clear the spring mounting bolts.
Wee's photo shows a really nice job.
Regards,
Alan
Original spring leafs often have raised letters/digits on them.
thanks Alan one ? Though my spring does not have a liner between 9 and 10 leafs is this normal
Rookie question: Should the spring pack be installed with the weight of the car on the pack before cutting/trimming the extra liner length (to allow for bottoming-out/etc.?
I didn't but it is something to consider....The first liner is the tricky one because it will interfere with the bolt at the ends if it's too long.
I'll try to get a pick of mine after installed with weight on the car. I'm not sure how hard it would be to cut them in place with weight on the car....? Having something like a 4 post lift would help.
Hi,
Although I didn't install the spring, (put the weight of the car on the spring), I DID assemble the spring and liners, and tightened the center bolt, before marking each liner where it was to be cut. I then took it back apart to cut the liners.
As I mentioned the original liners on my car were NOT uniform in how far they extended beyond the length of the lead above.
I didn't try to make them all the same… I just had them extend 1/4" to 3/8" beyond the curled end of the leaf above.
Regards,
Alan
I found it interesting to see where the used liners had been worn by the slight movement of the leafs while the spring cycled.
Hi Andy,
# of liners/ # of leafs.
In looking closely at the photo of your spring am I seeing 2 leafs the same length? 2nd from the longest?
It looks like a leaf…. without the 'curl' at the end as the originals have.
Regards,
Alan
Hi Andy,
# of liners/ # of leafs.
In looking closely at the photo of your spring am I seeing 2 leafs the same length? 2nd from the longest?
It looks like a leaf…. without the 'curl' at the end as the originals have.
Regards,
Alan
yes you are seeing two leafs the same length and as you can see there is no liner between the last and second last I have 10 leafs and 7 liners that is how it came apart thanks for info
Hi Andy,
I don't think I've read of, or seen, an original spring with that configuration…. 2 leafs of the same length.
The original spring is known as a variable rate spring and those 2 leaves would affect that I'd think.
I 'think' that additional leaf was added at some time for some reason.
Regards,
Alan
Hi Andy,
I don't think I've read of, or seen, an original spring with that configuration…. 2 leafs of the same length.
The original spring is known as a variable rate spring and those 2 leaves would affect that I'd think.
I 'think' that additional leaf was added at some time for some reason.
Regards,
Alan
I think your right it may have been added it seems weird. If anybody out there has a factory original 74 stingray with a 454 please take a pick of your spring thanks
Hi Andy,
I believe the STANDARD springs used for 74 production were 9 leafs, variable rate, curled and tapered ends on each leaf, 3 straight leaves and 6 arched leaves.
There were 2 suspension options FE7 and ZO7.
Regards,
Alan
If I am not wrong, rear springs were only 7 or 9 leafs. The 7 for HD suspension and the 9 for standard.
Here is my 73's original springs with new liners and I didn't trim them at all.
Before:
After:
Just remembered that I got the exact reproduction liners from Corvette Central.
Donnie
Last edited by DonnieP73; May 16, 2017 at 04:39 PM.
If I am not wrong, rear springs were only 7 or 9 leafs. The 7 for HD suspension and the 9 for standard.
Here is my 73's original springs with new liners and I didn't trim them at all.
Before:
After:
Just remembered that I got the exact reproduction liners from Corvette Central.
The main/bottom leaf on my '68 started bending upward at the ends....I did some modifying of the main leaf to slide past the spring bolt, then I fabricate a new main leaf to fit under the original/the original modification supports the new leaf to prevent "end sagging"....
Last edited by doorgunner; May 17, 2017 at 10:59 AM.
Hi Allen,
I don't think it matters.
Tightening the center bolt only serves to help keep the leaves aligned until the spring is mounted on the differential and the 4 bolts that run through the spring plate to the differential housing are finally torqued (70 lbs./ft.) after the car's weight is on the spring.
That 70 lbs./ft. is certainly greater than the small center bolt could be tightened without breaking it.
Regards,
Alan
