Do not modify the composite spring.
Shorten a Composite rear spring?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Växjö kronoberg
Shorten a Composite rear spring?
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..
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..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,775
Likes: 957
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
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.
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Le Mans Master
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From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Or you could buy this for $150:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...te-spring.html
And sell yours.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...te-spring.html
And sell yours.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
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..
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..
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Bringing it back!
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
Ryan
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,775
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Update: Been running my car on autocross and track days since completing the build two years ago, and the spring is doing just fine.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,705
Likes: 550
From: Seattle Washington
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.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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.
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.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
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.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,775
Likes: 957
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
