leaf settling time?

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Jun 24, 2010 | 10:39 AM

tomgallucci57

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 280

Likes: 1

From: cleveland Ohio

leaf settling time?

i just put on a new 9 leaf from eaton spring,plus new gabriel gas shocks all around,it sits at 28 and 3/4 inch now,i want it 27 and 1/4,,just ordered grade 8 8 inch bolts from fastenal,waiting for them to come in.how long does it usally take for a new rear spring to settle and how much might it settle.im going to put on the 8 inch bolts and keep an eye on it,then possibly go back to the 6 inch after settlement,,sound reasonable,,,thanks tom

Jun 24, 2010 | 10:52 AM

Rebelrob

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 1,531

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From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX

Seems like the un-official rule of thumb with longer spring bolts , is you get about 1 inch lower for every 1.5 inch length in spring bolts. I am not sure how long it will take your spring to settle, if it even settles at all. I will have to upgrade to 10 inch bolts, if I want to get the ride height I am looking for.

Jun 24, 2010 | 01:38 PM

tomgallucci57

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 280

Likes: 1

From: cleveland Ohio

do you have a mono leaf that never settles? 10 inch does scare me a bit,with a blowout,what about run flat tires,just a thought.im new at all this vette stuff

Jun 24, 2010 | 02:33 PM

orourke

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,556

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From: Skiatook. Oklahoma.

My spring never did settle. I ended up using 10" bolt's to get mine down to 27".

Marty.

Jun 24, 2010 | 03:00 PM

Rebelrob

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 1,531

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From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX

Yep, I got the composite mono, its factory for my car. If you run larger diameter wheels, that is about all you can do to protect yourself from the blowout concern. Like Orourke said above, I was only able to drop maybe a .9 inch lower with a 8 inch bolt. You may have more luck.

Jun 24, 2010 | 04:49 PM

naasaa

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 133

Likes: 1

From: Denmark

I have the same problem with 9 leaf spring, and either to fond of the longer bolts.

Wonder how the spring action will be affected by removing one of the leaf's?

Jun 24, 2010 | 08:50 PM

tomgallucci57

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 280

Likes: 1

From: cleveland Ohio

well when i took out my old spring it had 5 cracks in the 5th leaf from the bottem,and sat at 27 inches,and didnt like any first gear rough stuff,it bottemed out over small bumps getting on it. so, with the new spring,it still seems like it could use some traction bars or something.the rear end will jump up and down alot during hard takeoffs;then seem ok in other gears.so im thinking if you took out one leaf,it might be too soft.maybe the 7 leaf is firmer,dont know.it will only jump up and down on uneven surfaces in first gear,when getting on it.gotta run,wifes howling,,,seeya tommorow

Jun 25, 2010 | 06:04 PM

TheSkunkWorks

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 7,353

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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray

Installing a solid diff locating kit should most likely solve your diff jumping around in the chassis. Here's the one's I have...

http://www.guldstrand.com/scripts/pr...?idproduct=122