Friggin Composite Spring
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by mandm1200
Why not call the manufacture and see if they will replace it. The warranty is only something on a piece of paper. If the thing failed after 2000 miles, there is a good chance they will send one out. Offer to pay the shipping.
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
you sure hat thing is in there right? I have never seen one do that that was installed correctly with the pads in the right place.
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
A real question to ask is..why do these springs fail?...there has to be a real reason. I would think that the manufacturer of the spring would try to discover the real reason. There's certainly a problem when it's people like me or you have to guess the reason, when I'd suspect the manufacturer knows.
It looks like your suspension has an aftermarket strut rod differential bracket. I have one. The holes on the aftermarket bracket are drilled slightly larger than stock. The stock bracket is very snug and the bracket cannot move transversely (i.e. left and right) because the shaft of the mounting bolts are almost exactly equal to the diameter of the holes drilled in the bracket. I wonder if the larger holes in the aftermarket bracket allow the entire assembly to shift slightly left and right and stress the fiberglass spring....and cause it to break.
It looks like your suspension has an aftermarket strut rod differential bracket. I have one. The holes on the aftermarket bracket are drilled slightly larger than stock. The stock bracket is very snug and the bracket cannot move transversely (i.e. left and right) because the shaft of the mounting bolts are almost exactly equal to the diameter of the holes drilled in the bracket. I wonder if the larger holes in the aftermarket bracket allow the entire assembly to shift slightly left and right and stress the fiberglass spring....and cause it to break.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by 72vette_454
I've had composite spring for about 4 years and love it.
Can't tell from your pictures but do you have metal "heat shield" between your spring and exhaust?
Can't tell from your pictures but do you have metal "heat shield" between your spring and exhaust?
It looks like there is exposed exhaust pipe too close to the spring.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
I've been using VBP and TRW/AOSmith composite springs for years without a failure like that.
I did have one failure to a VBP spring that started with a nick in the edge of the sprng. So, I think you have to have some type of mechanical damage to start a delamination like you have.
I did have one failure to a VBP spring that started with a nick in the edge of the sprng. So, I think you have to have some type of mechanical damage to start a delamination like you have.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by 72vette_454
I've had composite spring for about 4 years and love it.
Can't tell from your pictures but do you have metal "heat shield" between your spring and exhaust?
Can't tell from your pictures but do you have metal "heat shield" between your spring and exhaust?
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
Originally Posted by theandies
I don't have a metal heat shields but the header wrap is a least 6 inches on either side of where the pipes go below the spring area. It's hard to tell in those pictures. I also took a contact temp probe to the pipes and the spring when I first installed it and the spring surface temp never exceeded OAT. The pipes right before and after the header wrap was around 300 degrees F but the header wrap was just at 100 degrees F. The pipes are about 5 to 6 inches from the spring too. Heat was not the cause.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Corvette has had a rear composite spring since 1981. its proven more durable. and about 40 pounds less weight. steel is obsolete old school on a c3 that weighed too much from the factory, i swapped out the steel spring in my 80, for a VBP, atleast 30000 miles ago- and have had no problems. less weight means more accelleration and fuel savings. . i drove my c4 for 165000 mi. and my c5 for 60000 mi. without incident. i suspect you got a defective piece, the installation was wrong, or something else in your suspension affected it. good luck with the replacement, but you shouldn't give up on the fiberglass spring. Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Not sure why it broke like that but definitely do no give up hope on composite springs. You've got statistics, technology, and 25 years of success in favor of composite springs so I'd say that they're generally a good bet. I wish ya luck with your new one! I wish my '81 had a fiberglas spring... darn gymkhana suspension...
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Originally Posted by VetteSmart06
Looks like you have some badly worn sideyokes, you should replace those before you put another spring in your car whether it is composite or steel.
What pic did you see side yokes in???
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by VetteSmart06
Looks like you have some badly worn sideyokes, you should replace those before you put another spring in your car whether it is composite or steel.
