You'll be much happier.
Composite Spring Vendors: RE: height issues
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Yes, I was about to say, most folks, regardless of wheel size, 15, 16, 17, 18 inch or greater wheel size, still figure out the correct tire series profile so they can end up with the 27 inch diameter.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 9
From: Johnson City TN
"Which brand does not seem to make a difference?"
I know its a little hard to tell from these pics, but there is not an obvious difference. And if I were running rubber bands on 18" wheels, there still wouldn't be an obvious difference.
With original 9-leaf and 8" bolts:
With VBP 330# and 8" bolts:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
I replaced a broken composite with a new one from VBP, same length bolts (8"), measured length of exposed threads before removing the old and kept the same measurement on the new. No trouble at all in maintaining the same height as before. only other difference was I chose poly rather than rubber bushings.....225 x 70 x 15 tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Also another thing to consider, does anybody know the stock bolt lenght on the original factory composite spring? All I see people posting about are the stock steel spring bolts. The original composite bolts might have been 8". Also who made the original composite springs for GM? If I remember right, wasn't it TRW?
Last edited by vettehardt; May 27, 2010 at 06:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Reason for the problems is the same reason a set of expensive Hooker Headers designed to fit your C3 won't clear your spark plugs, hit your steering box or are so close everything melts and the grease inside boils and on the other side they hit your idler arm.
It's not like they just started making them, last week, space shuttle parts are their main focus and headers are just something they do on the side. That's what they do, they make headers and have been making them for decades now, the problem is they just don't give a f...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
We have run into ride height issues on specific vehicles, but with over 10,000 springs out there to date I think we've been pretty successful. Case in point: I have a 77 in the shop that has had one of our springs for probably 8 years and it sits perfectly level with the bolts that come in the install kit.
I know there have been ride height issues discussed on this forum in the past, they are out there and we do keep track of them. But I hear more rave reviews from my return customers than complaints (otherwise I wouldn't be in business) and have several customers with multiple cars with our spring under all of them.
If one of our customers does experience a ride height issue we stand behind the product and are concerned with our customer's satisfaction. I would rather take back the spring than have an in-correctable ride height issue and a dissatisfied customer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Andrew
800-442-0335
I know there have been ride height issues discussed on this forum in the past, they are out there and we do keep track of them. But I hear more rave reviews from my return customers than complaints (otherwise I wouldn't be in business) and have several customers with multiple cars with our spring under all of them.
If one of our customers does experience a ride height issue we stand behind the product and are concerned with our customer's satisfaction. I would rather take back the spring than have an in-correctable ride height issue and a dissatisfied customer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Andrew
800-442-0335
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 7
From: dallas pa
We have run into ride height issues on specific vehicles, but with over 10,000 springs out there to date I think we've been pretty successful. Case in point: I have a 77 in the shop that has had one of our springs for probably 8 years and it sits perfectly level with the bolts that come in the install kit.
I know there have been ride height issues discussed on this forum in the past, they are out there and we do keep track of them. But I hear more rave reviews from my return customers than complaints (otherwise I wouldn't be in business) and have several customers with multiple cars with our spring under all of them.
If one of our customers does experience a ride height issue we stand behind the product and are concerned with our customer's satisfaction. I would rather take back the spring than have an in-correctable ride height issue and a dissatisfied customer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Andrew
800-442-0335
I know there have been ride height issues discussed on this forum in the past, they are out there and we do keep track of them. But I hear more rave reviews from my return customers than complaints (otherwise I wouldn't be in business) and have several customers with multiple cars with our spring under all of them.
If one of our customers does experience a ride height issue we stand behind the product and are concerned with our customer's satisfaction. I would rather take back the spring than have an in-correctable ride height issue and a dissatisfied customer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Andrew
800-442-0335
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Lot's of good replies and opinions guy's. Thanks to Andrew from Muskegon for chiming in. I guess the rest of the vendors cant be bothered. At this point I have cut the exhaust to refit it around the spring. I really wish I hadn't, but now I might as well test drive the new spring. Van Steel posted in Grumpy's thread that they would take the hypercoil back after I drove it if I was dissatisfied. So we will see where that goes. It seems from the reply's in this thread the VBP users are the most satisfied but still wonder about the whole design of thing.....seems like it would be pretty easy to reduce the arch on the spring a little and solve the problem, and allow us to easily lower these cars a little while getting the ride and handling improvements from the composite.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
The joy of free will....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I bought my rear TRW spring from Muskegan Brake last summer. The rear does sit higher than normal. maybe 1" I just thought you had to get the longer bolts when going with the higher spring rate. I was going to order the 9" bolts and install. I really did not think of it as a big deal. Al
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
From: Muskegon MI
As always, this topic brings up a spirited discussion. I have read all the responses and I take them in the spirit that they are offered. I know the company has reviewed altering the spring in the past, but it was years ago. It sounds like it is time to do so again. And again, if you have any questions or concerns please call me.
Have a great holiday weekend everyone, and take a moment to thank the people who gave so much that we could have a three-day weekend. Seriously, thank a Vet. I mean a member of the armed forces, not your Stingray
Andrew
800-442-0335
Have a great holiday weekend everyone, and take a moment to thank the people who gave so much that we could have a three-day weekend. Seriously, thank a Vet. I mean a member of the armed forces, not your Stingray
Andrew
800-442-0335
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
I for one implore you to get them to review this. If "customer satisfaction" doesn't move the bean counters to do so - try the words negligence and liability out on them - that usually lights a fire under even the widest of rumps.
Like I've said... there's some fairly serious legal exposure with those longer than stock bolts. And now that all this has been noted in this thread (again), it part of the "permanent record" as such too.
I know your heart is in the right place, now go get 'em
-W
PS: It would be nice to see VBP jump in here too....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Do you know what bolt length comes standard with the VBP springs?
And ditto with the Hyperco/LiteFlex units?
Do you (or anyone) know what year GM switched over to the composite springs?
We are just trying to determine who is high - and by how much overall.
So far only Andrew from Muskegon (TRW spring) has come in to help.
-W
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Hi there Van Steel
Do you know what bolt length comes standard with the VBP springs?
And ditto with the Hyperco/LiteFlex units?
Do you (or anyone) know what year GM switched over to the composite springs?
We are just trying to determine who is high - and by how much overall.
So far only Andrew from Muskegon (TRW spring) has come in to help.
-W
Do you know what bolt length comes standard with the VBP springs?
And ditto with the Hyperco/LiteFlex units?
Do you (or anyone) know what year GM switched over to the composite springs?
We are just trying to determine who is high - and by how much overall.
So far only Andrew from Muskegon (TRW spring) has come in to help.
-W
The composite spring was introduced in 1981.
Last edited by Paul L; May 28, 2010 at 10:00 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
