Is it time to replace my composite spring?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
it was bouncy until I added QA-1 single adjust shocks. We not comparing apples and apples with my vette compared yours though. It is the lightest spring I have used in years. I went out to the track and I had so much body roll that I was rubbing the fender on the tires so I reinstalled my 3/4 sway and cranked up the nuts to get some clearance and now it's fine....
I have more leverage on the spring using rear 12 inch wheels. My tires are about 3 inches farther out on each side My front springs are 600 or 700 pounds
I have more leverage on the spring using rear 12 inch wheels. My tires are about 3 inches farther out on each side My front springs are 600 or 700 pounds
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I have had my VBP 360 composite spring on my 78 since 1986 (24 years)-no issues-no chips, no cracks, no sagging, nothing. A composite is infinitely more durable than a steel spring as long as you don't "crash" something into it while it on the car. The steel springs are very heavy, degrade in performance and ride over time, sag (big problem) with age and can fail as well for a number of reasons. The composite in my opinion and experience is infinitely more reliable-that's why GM has been using them for years (1981) in many of its cars, not just vettes. Forget the steel springs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
My spring is a TRW 340# from 1988. It has atleast 50k miles on and it's 22yrs old. I recently rebuilt my IRS and did a Super 10 bolt build up. I cleaned the spring, check it for cracks.....it looked fine so I shot some paint on it and stuck it back in. I did add some QA1s and the car sits great, rides great and dead hooks at the track.... So I am gonna run it til it breaks.
