Rear mono spring fitment issues?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Rear mono spring fitment issues?
Sorry for asking so many questions. I just don't have anyone else to go to and don't want to mess something up by doing it wrong.
I'm putting my mono spring in (from the worst company in the world ECKLERS
) and it seems like the spring is almost too wide?
The bolts don't line up straight once i have the bracket on there. Also does the spacer go on top or bottom? because it seems like if it's on top the fitment is MUCH worse.
Spacer on bottom. Notice the bolts not going straight down.
Spacer on top. Notice how the bolts are even worse in this position...
0
I'm putting my mono spring in (from the worst company in the world ECKLERS
) and it seems like the spring is almost too wide?The bolts don't line up straight once i have the bracket on there. Also does the spacer go on top or bottom? because it seems like if it's on top the fitment is MUCH worse.
Spacer on bottom. Notice the bolts not going straight down.
Spacer on top. Notice how the bolts are even worse in this position...
0
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
Check the width of Your spring at the mounting position. It looks like its going to be 2 1/2 inches and your rear end cover is set up to have 2 1/4 inch wide spring. It looks like you have the 9/16 size bolts that fit on the heavy duty cover. I just went through this a couple of months ago while doing a frame of on My 73 vert. The Guy I bought the car from had put a new spring in but broke the cover. I purchased the heavy duty cover and installed it then the spring would not fit. It looked exactly like yours. I ended up ordering a new spring to fit, but mine was a steel spring so it was better than trying to pull the cover back off. Good luck
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Check the width of Your spring at the mounting position. It looks like its going to be 2 1/2 inches and your rear end cover is set up to have 2 1/4 inch wide spring. It looks like you have the 9/16 size bolts that fit on the heavy duty cover. I just went through this a couple of months ago while doing a frame of on My 73 vert. The Guy I bought the car from had put a new spring in but broke the cover. I purchased the heavy duty cover and installed it then the spring would not fit. It looked exactly like yours. I ended up ordering a new spring to fit, but mine was a steel spring so it was better than trying to pull the cover back off. Good luck
I bought those bolts due to the old bolts being rusty. As far as I know they're the same size as the old ones just newer looking.
I just can't see Ecklers offering this as a kit without including a larger mounting plate if that's needed.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
There is no sense in buying a new plate if the spring is 2-1/2" and your rearend is set-up for a 2-1/4" spring.. I would install the 4 bolts into the rear end and then measure the spread to see if it is 2-1/4 or 2-1/2..If its 2-1/4" you will have to decide if you want to buy a new spring or replace the rearend cover.. There are 2 different size set-ups, 2-1/4 and 2-1/2 and as mentioned, it seems your rearend is set-up for a 2-1/4 but you have a 2-1/2" spring.. I just installed a new 4.11 rearend and had the opposite problem (2-1/2" rearend and 2-1/4" mono leaf)..
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
this is horse****....
what is stock for a 69 small block? You would think a kit meant for a 69 would fit a 69....
I can't see how this is my fault unless my car is not stock in that area and they obviously couldn't know that.
I'm probably past my 30 days return period so ....
what is stock for a 69 small block? You would think a kit meant for a 69 would fit a 69....
I can't see how this is my fault unless my car is not stock in that area and they obviously couldn't know that.
I'm probably past my 30 days return period so ....
Last edited by PUNISHER VETTE; Jun 29, 2010 at 07:54 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
this is horse****....
what is stock for a 69 small block? You would think a kit meant for a 69 would fit a 69....
I can't see how this is my fault unless my car is not stock in that area and they obviously couldn't know that.
I'm probably past my 30 days return period so ....
what is stock for a 69 small block? You would think a kit meant for a 69 would fit a 69....
I can't see how this is my fault unless my car is not stock in that area and they obviously couldn't know that.
I'm probably past my 30 days return period so ....
... 
They don't mention 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 in the descriptions of the composite springs , only the steel springs.If you want to buy the 78 and up rear differential cover, plate and smaller bolts you can use the spring you have.
Is your rear diff cover original or one of the HD replacements ?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Peabody Ma.
FWIW I bought the same spring from a different vendor and had the same issues! same aluminum spacer ect. My spacer was taped to the top of the spring. On my car 81 the center pin is smaller than the steel one creating some play. I gave up due to aggravation.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Ardennes
Just another thing to look at for, it's the clearance a the end of the spring when it's mounted.
I had this problem when I have swap my gear and when I have reinstall the differential with the correct opposite angle as my gearbox.
I had to grind a little bit the spring to make some clearance.
Take care if you are concern by this and if you have a spring with wide ends.
Sorry if you judge my intervention out of subject, but it's just another info about fitment of composite rear monospring.
I had this problem when I have swap my gear and when I have reinstall the differential with the correct opposite angle as my gearbox.
I had to grind a little bit the spring to make some clearance.
Take care if you are concern by this and if you have a spring with wide ends.
Sorry if you judge my intervention out of subject, but it's just another info about fitment of composite rear monospring.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: PYOTE BOMBER BASE TEXAS
I agree it appears as if the Retaining plate is warped, as well...Check it with a straight edge ...As "wcsinx" stated ...it should bring the bolts back into alignment...and trimming some of the excess epoxy bonding agent, as stated by " Van Steel" should work out just fine for you.
Remember, you will also have to jack up the spring at the ends so that you can line up the bolts...that connect the spring to the trailing arm assembly.
Remember, you will also have to jack up the spring at the ends so that you can line up the bolts...that connect the spring to the trailing arm assembly.
Last edited by TEXASDESERTVETTE; Jun 29, 2010 at 07:16 PM. Reason: Bad MOJO!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Probably not what you want to hear just this minute, but judging from some of your recent threads you might perhaps avoid a few pitfalls and a bit of frustration by taking a little more time to better familiarize yourself with what your about to take on before diving in and/or spending $. Otherwise, IMHO it's hard to know what you don't know or sometimes even what questions to ask. Friendly advice, not flames.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
I called up ECKLERS and after about 5min of me bitching to them the guy called his "tech" and the tech confirmed the spring should be universal.
I then bitched about 5 more minutes and he decided to talk to the tech again. This time he gave the tech the model number of the spring and sure enough.....IT WON"T FIT. It's a common problem they've been getting complaints about...
So they emailed me a UPS number and i can ship it out whenever and they're sending me the proper spring that was supposed to come with the kit. Only problem is i through the box away already so i'll have to buy another one i guess.
Overall Ecklers is probably the worst company to ever still be in business. I don't know of any other company that can sell a product, get it all shipped to you within 4 months, mess up the order once or twice, not give you any warning about what's going on.......
I then bitched about 5 more minutes and he decided to talk to the tech again. This time he gave the tech the model number of the spring and sure enough.....IT WON"T FIT. It's a common problem they've been getting complaints about...
So they emailed me a UPS number and i can ship it out whenever and they're sending me the proper spring that was supposed to come with the kit. Only problem is i through the box away already so i'll have to buy another one i guess.
Overall Ecklers is probably the worst company to ever still be in business. I don't know of any other company that can sell a product, get it all shipped to you within 4 months, mess up the order once or twice, not give you any warning about what's going on.......
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
didn't think about that!
I'm still not 100% sure they're shipping mine right away but i would say i'm at least 50% sure they'll process it and ship it out tomorrow or the next day. 50% may not seem very good odds but with Ecklers it's almost as good as a guarantee.
I'm still not 100% sure they're shipping mine right away but i would say i'm at least 50% sure they'll process it and ship it out tomorrow or the next day. 50% may not seem very good odds but with Ecklers it's almost as good as a guarantee.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Just got off the phone with Chuck the manager at Eclkers and it took them about 10minutes to figure out what exactly was going on.
Bottom line was no spring was ever sent out this week and wasn't even in the system to be sent out. The one they would have shipped out was going to be a 330lb spring(i think it'll be too weak) so i told Chuck to talk to his tech on Tuesday and call me and hopefully they can do something right for a change.
I was hoping for at least a 360lb spring but it looks like they're trying to use their $50 cheaper springs and all they have were the one that i have(didn't fit) and the 330lb type(too soft). I'd like them to use their nicer springs which come in 360lb and even a 420lb but like i said they're more $$ and i'm guessing they're trying not to use those.
I looked at Van Steels website for the similar 360lb and 420lb springs and their website says they're .5in shorter. Are those solely for double offset trailing arms or will the .5in shorter springs work with just normal offset arms? All their website said is i need to use the 8in bolts. I'm assuming the springs on Eclkers website are probably the same they just don't say they're .5in shorter.
Bottom line was no spring was ever sent out this week and wasn't even in the system to be sent out. The one they would have shipped out was going to be a 330lb spring(i think it'll be too weak) so i told Chuck to talk to his tech on Tuesday and call me and hopefully they can do something right for a change.
I was hoping for at least a 360lb spring but it looks like they're trying to use their $50 cheaper springs and all they have were the one that i have(didn't fit) and the 330lb type(too soft). I'd like them to use their nicer springs which come in 360lb and even a 420lb but like i said they're more $$ and i'm guessing they're trying not to use those.
I looked at Van Steels website for the similar 360lb and 420lb springs and their website says they're .5in shorter. Are those solely for double offset trailing arms or will the .5in shorter springs work with just normal offset arms? All their website said is i need to use the 8in bolts. I'm assuming the springs on Eclkers website are probably the same they just don't say they're .5in shorter.
Last edited by PUNISHER VETTE; Jul 3, 2010 at 01:14 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Bottom line was no spring was ever sent out this week and wasn't even in the system to be sent out. The one they would have shipped out was going to be a 330lb spring(i think it'll be too weak) so i told Chuck to talk to his tech on Tuesday and call me and hopefully they can do something right for a change.
are you really expecting Ecklers to send out a second spring before they get the first one back?