When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Soon I’m going to be replacing the rear spring among other rear end components on my c3. It’s a 75.
Looking around on the Internet I see a lot of options for steel springs, from a lot of different vendors. I would like a slightly stronger spring with the same ride height. I would also like to stay with steel.
I would appreciate anyone’s two cents on which company to choose from and if you had any issues.
I don't know which vendor has the best steel unit. But I can tell you the number one complaint over the years was Too Much Arch.
The end result was a rear end sitting so high that the wheel well to tire gap was huge and looked ridiculous.
Then, the only solution was longer spring bolts to drop the back half.
I recall a very clever idea on this forum. An owner was really disgusted in the final height of the C3 after installing a new spring. Way too high. Way too stiff.
He removed the new spring and laid it on its side on the garage floor. Then placed the old well-worn spring next to it.
The difference in the two springs profiles were remarkable. He then disassembled BOTH springs.
Taking every other leaf from the old spring and mix / matched with the new.
Obviously the bottom leaf was new. 2nd one was, old. 3rd was new and so on. Put the band clamps on, installed the spring. Bingo !
He claimed it was the perfect height and a great ride.
Not clear why you want a steel spring. The composite springs are better in every way. You just need to match the correct shock to them. The OEM's switched to composite for a number of reasons.
You might want to start a new thread, with a new title, asking which spring weight is best. I'm convinced that the VanSteel low-arch composite spring is the "best" choice for any car that doesn't care about NCRS points, and doesn't have a coil-over solution.
Or skip the thread, call VanSteel and ask what weight they suggest.
EDIT: Come drive my car in the mountains, and if you don't change your name to @randallcomposite, I'll buy you a beer.
Not clear why you want a steel spring. The composite springs are better in every way. You just need to match the correct shock to them. The OEM's switched to composite for a number of reasons.
Im not 100% dead set against it, I would just want to do some more research into it first. Theres a lot of threads of guys who switched to composite and seemed to have a hassle to get back to stock height.
Im thinking I’ll start with removing the current spring, take some measurements to try and see what arch height I’ll need.
current ground to rear wheel well is 28.5”
My 75 Vert has a new Hyperco composite. Reference photo of label and the ride height.
It rides very comfortably.
Add on to my post - I acquired my car with the Hyperco spring already installed. My half-shafts are perfectly flat. I have 8 inch bolts using Nylock nuts. I can fit my hand between the tire and end of the spring. I don’t know anything about Hyperco springs, but apparently they have been around for a long time.
My concern is it is only a 200 lb spring. When I eventually get a hard top for my Vert, it may be too much weight. How are you choosing your weight rating?
Until Inget a hardtop, it rides great.
See additional picture (yes I can use a new bushing). The angle of the pic makes it look closer than it actually is.
It's great that some folks have gotten the Hyperco to work. I wouldn't recommend it, and there are videos in the thread that show why. The poster at the link went down a long and winding path, and ended up with the VanSteel low-arch spring at the end of the journey.
FWIW, VB&P used to make this spring. It's what I have in my 80. They went out of business, but VanSteel is using their molds to make new springs. Were I to do it over again, I'd get the absolute stiffest spring VanSteel would sell me, likely 400 lbs.
If you read two threads, read @interpon's Eaton 7 leaf thread. That's as fine a solution as exists for a steel spring.
Back when I switched to composite everyone, and I mean everyone said, that's the only way to go. Years later I too have heard of some guys using a clearly inferior spring and having height problems.
when I put in a VB&P spring to replace a sagging out gymkhana steel spring I didn't even change the hanger bolts! Ride height was as per stock.
.years later I did put in slightly longer bolts to lower just a tad.
Fairly recent photo of my ride height. Keeping in mind the original factory gymkhana steel spring was sagging out badly when the car was about 12 years old. Then this composite spring was installed. Car will be 48 in about a month.
Guess which spring has lasted longer?
Guess which spring weighs less?
Guess which spring rides smoother?
And perhaps I don't have hard data. But I truly believe handles better as well.
Appreciate everyone taking the time to contribute thoughts/advice.
got it backed in the garage today, ready for disassembly.
on a side note, the last trip to the drag strip I used race gas mix with 93 instead of just straight 93 pump. Ran fine at the track, but man idles and starts like crap. Not too surprising, but it ran slower N/A with the 100 octane mix(10 gal 93, 5 gal 110 leaded) Must not have enough compression to make the higher octane happy, but it’s safer when I’m using my little 125 shot.
I probably need to bump up the idle
timing when Im running the higher octane mix
Maybe you bought a spring already, but just FYI, a few years ago I replaced my steel spring and stock type shocks with a Van Steel 340 lb, low arch, composit spring and QA 1 single adjustable shocks. Ride height is the same on stock bolts. Car launches the same, rides good and gets down the track a few hundredths quicker due to the 50 lb weight savings.
I replaced the stock 9-leaf on my '72 with the Eaton 9-leaf.
Painted the leaves and put in new plastic interleafs.
I have been happy with the Eaton.
I can't comment on the composites as I have not tried one.
Maybe you bought a spring already, but just FYI, a few years ago I replaced my steel spring and stock type shocks with a Van Steel 340 lb, low arch, composit spring and QA 1 single adjustable shocks. Ride height is the same on stock bolts. Car launches the same, rides good and gets down the track a few hundredths quicker due to the 50 lb weight savings.
It's also a LOT easier to install and remove than the steel one.😀
Appreciate everyone’s input.
I went with the Eaton HD 7 spring. The van steel mono spring was a close second.
got the old spring out today. The shocks are pretty blown too. All the bushings are trash. Should be a good refreshment opportunity. Also going to change out the diff fluid.
that’s pretty good lol
Rear spring selection
