Rear Spring Rebuild
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Rear Spring Rebuild
I have a 1973 with a 1978 Differential cover that has the smaller spring mount bolts. I took Rear spring out for a rebuild, took it apart, cleaned, repainted and replaced all liners. It is the 9 leaf. Bought a new center bolt with the button head and put spring back together. I cleaned up mounting surface on old diff cover and inspected and cleaned hole were center bolt button head recesses into. I placed old button head bolt into hole and noticed it does not sit completely in hole ( Flush) It does stick out a bit. Is this correct ? or should it sit completely recessed in hole?. Note; New Button head bold and old bolt are identical and machined with same specs. Can anyone help me out with this question. Thanks in advance
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Rear Spring Center bolt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
I was referring to the 4 spring plate bolts. The small “bolt” only holds the spring leaves together. Once the large bolts are torqued, the small bolt just goes for the ride.
The reason you torque the large bolts after you get weight on wheels is the spring has an arch to it and if you torque the bolts while the wheels are off the ground, the spring will flatten out with weight on wheels and the bolts torque will lessen.h
The reason you torque the large bolts after you get weight on wheels is the spring has an arch to it and if you torque the bolts while the wheels are off the ground, the spring will flatten out with weight on wheels and the bolts torque will lessen.h
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 721
From: Marietta GA
I had the OEM rear spring on my 73 convertible removed and then it was taken to a shop that repairs/fixes truck springs. The shop I used is one of the largest Resellers of Corvettes in the US. I a, think that the spring shop did more than just reaping the spring and replacing the rubber between each leaf?
