Rear Spring Replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Austell Georgia
Rear Spring Replacement
Ok. I have read about 201 threads about the different composite springs and shocks and combos and etc, etc, etc. I hope this is an easier question. For a daily driver, keeping the car for a long time, and am budget minded; is replacing the rear spring with a composite worth it? The spring in there is in terrible shape and needs to be replaced. Is it worth replacing steel for steel and a good set of shocks a good idea or keep the car off the road for a longer time and go composite. For the wife ride quality is more important than road racing 78 L82
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
In my opinion getting the better upgrade for the long haul and having to wait a bit for it is much better a choice than just throwing something on there for the time being. Get a set of good shocks, Bilstein sports if possible if not get the ones at autozone like these:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...258137_0_7413_
I put these on my old chevy silverado and have been happy so far.
Big upgrade will be the rear spring. VB&P:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...y-1963-82.html
The spring is an easy install and will soften the ride a lot but here's the deal. The cheapy shocks may not do well with the new spring. This spring is designed to run with a good quality shock. But the cheapy ones will get you by for now. So in short if you can get the rear spring and the new good quality shocks at the same time.
hth,
Sully
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...258137_0_7413_
I put these on my old chevy silverado and have been happy so far.
Big upgrade will be the rear spring. VB&P:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...y-1963-82.html
The spring is an easy install and will soften the ride a lot but here's the deal. The cheapy shocks may not do well with the new spring. This spring is designed to run with a good quality shock. But the cheapy ones will get you by for now. So in short if you can get the rear spring and the new good quality shocks at the same time.
hth,
Sully
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
When you said "fanned out like a deck of cards" I was thinking sideways, as in not in line with each other. So I thought you must have broken one of the four bolts that held the spring to the diff.
Hopefully you meant like what Alan is talking about and they are fanned up/down
As for the spring, I've had a TRW one on my 72 for ever and with a decent set of delco shocks (just changed this winter to KYB so don't know about those yet) I was very happy with the ride, 99% of the time boulevard crawler.
My $.02
Mooser
Hopefully you meant like what Alan is talking about and they are fanned up/down
As for the spring, I've had a TRW one on my 72 for ever and with a decent set of delco shocks (just changed this winter to KYB so don't know about those yet) I was very happy with the ride, 99% of the time boulevard crawler.
My $.02
Mooser
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
The VBP #330 spring with the specifically designed VBP218 shocks is a nice combo. It works very well for me for just driving.
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...ear-Shock.html
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...ear-Shock.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 651
From: Thunder Bay
Installing the fiberglass rear spring was possibly the best upgrade I ever made to my '79. There is nothing else you can do that will improve the ride and handling of a C3 as much as that spring!
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis
Ok. I have read about 201 threads about the different composite springs and shocks and combos and etc, etc, etc. I hope this is an easier question. For a daily driver, keeping the car for a long time, and am budget minded; is replacing the rear spring with a composite worth it? The spring in there is in terrible shape and needs to be replaced. Is it worth replacing steel for steel and a good set of shocks a good idea or keep the car off the road for a longer time and go composite. For the wife ride quality is more important than road racing 78 L82
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Austell Georgia
I'll crawl back under again this evening. Yes, fanned out sideways not up and down as Alan suggested. I'll try to find out what the problem is and will start looking for the composite spring. Now I remember why I haven't had a corvette in 25 years.....
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The usual cause of the leafs fanning sideways is a mismatch of spring and diff rear cover, or missing spacers. Look for a big gap in the pocket where the spring sits in the cover.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 9
From: Johnson City TN
The VBP #330 spring with the specifically designed VBP218 shocks is a nice combo. It works very well for me for just driving.
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...ear-Shock.html
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...ear-Shock.html
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,102
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, OK
I've had mine (330lb VBP with KYB GR2 shocks valved for composite springs) for about a month. Its the main reason why my car is fun to drive again.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
And driving just some 50 miles in 2012 all seems fine.
Last edited by Paul L; Apr 18, 2012 at 07:57 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
My '75 had the HD spring (7 leaf), was a daily driver for 6 years, and my wife hated the harsh ride. My '80 has the composite spring (upgraded by previous owner) and it is a noticeable improvement. Having driven both I would recommend the composite spring. If you are changing it yourself, do some research on the shielding required to protect it from exhaust heat.
