Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 56
Leaf Spring
Hello. I will be installing new liners in the leaf spring on my 69 SB. I have read that they did not have a liner between the 6th.and 7th. leaf. I presently do and will probably do the same just to reuse the same bolts into the diff.and not worry about them being to long. My question is why did they not use a liner between those two leafs? Just curious.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,947
Likes: 4,506
From: Virginia
Is this an NCRS question?
If not, do what @interpon did, which I'm sure put liners between each leaf (but read it for yourself!).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...af-spring.html
If you just want to drive your car, save 40 lbs and a bunch of aggravation, buy a low-arch composite spring from VanSteel instead.
If not, do what @interpon did, which I'm sure put liners between each leaf (but read it for yourself!).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...af-spring.html
If you just want to drive your car, save 40 lbs and a bunch of aggravation, buy a low-arch composite spring from VanSteel instead.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,404
Likes: 791
From: Redondo Beach, California
Removing the rear spring......removing the composite spring is much easier and much softer than removing the iron spring. The iron spring weighs about 42 pounds and the composite, 8 pounds. Someone doing this will probably want to install stiffer shock absorbers. The composite spring is much more springy.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 240
Likes: 82
From: Pittsburgh, Pa. da 'burg
My SB '69 does not have a liner between leaves 6 & 7. Your car is over 50 years old, and a different spring may have been installed along the way. They've been known to break.
Will installing a liner when it should not be installed cause the rear of the car to be raised a smidge FWIW?
Unless you are installing an NOS spring, expect probable ride height issues.
I once read that the best way to go is to re-use all of your original leaves, except #1 leaf (bottom). Sandblast and paint the remaining leaves, and clean and reuse the liners. I haven't done this, but I may pull my spring some day and try this to see if it returns a reasonable ride cushioning, and correct ride height. If you purchase new liners, you may want to measure their thickness with a micrometer and compare the result to the original liners. It's been my experience that vendors, some times, don't care about origanal GM specs and try to replicate them.
I'm hoping others that have had favorable results will post the vendor, and it's manufacturer that they've used.
Will installing a liner when it should not be installed cause the rear of the car to be raised a smidge FWIW?
Unless you are installing an NOS spring, expect probable ride height issues.
I once read that the best way to go is to re-use all of your original leaves, except #1 leaf (bottom). Sandblast and paint the remaining leaves, and clean and reuse the liners. I haven't done this, but I may pull my spring some day and try this to see if it returns a reasonable ride cushioning, and correct ride height. If you purchase new liners, you may want to measure their thickness with a micrometer and compare the result to the original liners. It's been my experience that vendors, some times, don't care about origanal GM specs and try to replicate them.
I'm hoping others that have had favorable results will post the vendor, and it's manufacturer that they've used.
Last edited by REDONBLACK69; Dec 6, 2023 at 03:03 PM.
