help with rear suspension!
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Cookeville TN
help with rear suspension!
i have a 77 L82 that is currently recovering from a fire. the fire destroyed the original steal leaf spring and i have replaced it with a composite 420lbs from vette brakes and products. installation held no suprises, as i have done this part before. here is where the problem comes in. after getting the ride height adjusted (i got the extended 8" bolts), the car is extremely bouncy. i have new shocks on the rear end, they are nothing to brag about, the standard autozone gabriels. the car is equiped with the stock rear sway bar. what causes the bounce? is it the low quality shocks or did i miss something that needs to be done different with a composite spring as opposed to a steal one. i hope someone out there can help!
:confused:
thanks,
Osiris77
:confused:
thanks,
Osiris77
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: help with rear suspension! (Osiris77)
According to my VBP catalog, the 420lb spring is a direct replacement for the Daytona steel spring (400 lbs.). I think the shocks would be the same.
Just my $0.02
Just my $0.02
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: help with rear suspension! (Osiris77)
You aren't the first person I've heard complain about composite springs bouncing. I'm afraid it must be part of the package. You might have luck with some better shocks, but it probably won't make much difference, especially if your current shock are fairly new.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: help with rear suspension! (e3pres)
420 spring is a real heavy duty spring. Stock is 300 lbs. I am running a 330 spring with Vette Brakes recomended shock. It is a good riding car that handles well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 3
From: far, far away
Re: help with rear suspension! (Osiris77)
A 420 lb/in spring is very stiff, much more than the stock steel spring. I suspect that's what you're feeling. I suppose the shocks might make a difference. VB recommended Bilsteins for me when I installed their 330 lb/in glass spring. The glass spring has virtually no internal friction, unlike the steel spring in which the leaves rub on each other as it compresses and rebounds, so the glass spring has less inherent damping, thereby requiring more external damping from the shocks. However, the stiffer the spring gets, the less I would expect this to be noticeable. With that spring and a sway bar, you've essentially got a solid axle car. I bet it handles the corners flat! :cool: (on smooth pavement, anyway... :eek: )
:seeya
:seeya
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Boxford Mass
Re: help with rear suspension! (GORDO77)
Osiris77,
Don't get discouraged, its likely the shocks. I have VBP glass spring I purchased at Carlisle. The rep said the wrong shocks will make the bounce excessively. I just installed a new set of KYBs that work great. Less bounce than the steel spring...
Don't get discouraged, its likely the shocks. I have VBP glass spring I purchased at Carlisle. The rep said the wrong shocks will make the bounce excessively. I just installed a new set of KYBs that work great. Less bounce than the steel spring...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: help with rear suspension! (74jack)
Just a quick update. I helped Osriris77 install a set of KYB Gas-a-Just's on the rear and it made it a new car. Excellent ride and handling... To bad he didn't let me drive. :D