Jonathan502

I have VBP´s 420 Composite rear leaf spring.
Can I shorten it myself?

Just stick it off about 1" on each side and drill a new hole for the bolt, or will the composite material crack?

I will get my boss 338 wheels 18*9.5 with 285/40-18 tires soon, and I am guessing that shorten the rear spring with 10" bolts will be necessary..

63mako

No. Sell yours, buy a new one from VBP. They have a sale going.

Gordonm

Do not modify the composite spring.

yellow 72

Sure, why not? I removed an inch from each side of mine a few years ago. Ain't rocket science

1nicecorvette

isnt it fiberglass and you above is joking right?

69427

I narrowed mine. The car is still apart, so no miles on it yet, but the end terminations look the same now as they did before the modification.

1nicecorvette

so it IS possible then? i thought it would splinter like fiberglass would. I stand astonished!!

Jonathan502

yellow 72:
can you explain how you did it? pics?

yellow 72

Don't have any pics, but I simply removed the re enforcement caps from the ends and cut the spring just inside the existing spring bolt hole and drilled new holes for the spring bolt and the cap.....and ShaZam

69427

Same method here.

miechesa

I just cut mine and epoxed the ends then put cap back on.

63mako

Or you could buy this for $150:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...te-spring.html
And sell yours.

mrvette

I have 8" bolts, and I suspect with my 17 vs your 18 wheels, you will have room a plenty....VBP 360 spring, never touched once...so far, but I"m never jumped the car either....not Dukes of Hazard style anyway.....

bluegtp

What's the most someone has shortened a composite rear spring? I ordered mine shortened (1/2"on each side if remember right) and it's still pretty close to the rear tire. I was thinking of maybe another 1/4" - 1/2"on each side to ease my mind about my tires rubbing in turns. I'm using the 10"lowering bolts in the rear.



Ryan

69427

Update: Been running my car on autocross and track days since completing the build two years ago, and the spring is doing just fine.

Gale Banks 80'

If you shorten the Spring it changes the Bolt Angles unless You move the Mount on the Trailing Arms. I found out the hard way that this is unessisary as the Spring will probably fit up inside the Rims on 17" or larger Rims anyway. What I do do tho is Cut off the Spring Corner on the Aft side where it is closest to the Rim. The metal Bracket that is on the Spring ends has a Sharp Corner and it acts like a Lathe Bit and will ruin a Wheel in an instant if contact happens. So I just Cut it off, never had a problem. I might remove a 1/2" at a 45 deg angle.

bluegtp

how many total inches did you take off?

bluegtp

My spring won't fit up inside my 18"wheels, maybe because I have ,the car sitting low in the rear. Itd probably run in turns. I understand what you are saying about the position change of the lower bolt with shortening the reat spring. Cutting the corner edges is thought.

MN80Vette

Can you post a picture of this mod? I just put in 10" bolts shortened to 9" but haven't put weight on the springs and won't be able to until late June when I finish some other mods. Now would be a good time to make this mod.

69427

I'm guessing about an inch and a half off each side. I just cut the ends off just inboard of the original (large) bolt hole.