Need leaf spring help 70 base corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
Need leaf spring help 70 base corvette
From everything I've been reading on the forum it sounds as though the way to tell if you're due a new set of leafs is if yours are laying flat or broken. Mine appear almost parallel to the garage floor and none appear broken.
I'm trying to stay as original as possible, within $ reason, and would like to know, since this is my 1st C3 and I've only owned it about 3 months and all of my vettes have been 1 C4 and 5 C5's, if there's any other tell tale signs I need to look for. I've no experience with new spring ride therefore I don't know how it should feel.
All I know is it's rougher than the C5's.
I do have new shocks on the rear and the fronts aren't very old.
I'm trying to stay as original as possible, within $ reason, and would like to know, since this is my 1st C3 and I've only owned it about 3 months and all of my vettes have been 1 C4 and 5 C5's, if there's any other tell tale signs I need to look for. I've no experience with new spring ride therefore I don't know how it should feel.
All I know is it's rougher than the C5's.
I do have new shocks on the rear and the fronts aren't very old.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi eot,
You can easily check the rear ride height which give you an indication if your rear spring is sagging.
It's a shame to replace it if it doesn't need to be replaced, plus, replacing the spring often causes new problems getting the car to sit at the proper ride height again.
The measurement from the ground to the center of the fender wheel arch should be right around 28". The size of the tires you're presently using may influence that dimension since they may be taller or shorter than the originals.
Regards,
Alan
You can easily check the rear ride height which give you an indication if your rear spring is sagging.
It's a shame to replace it if it doesn't need to be replaced, plus, replacing the spring often causes new problems getting the car to sit at the proper ride height again.
The measurement from the ground to the center of the fender wheel arch should be right around 28". The size of the tires you're presently using may influence that dimension since they may be taller or shorter than the originals.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
Hi eot,
You can easily check the rear ride height which give you an indication if your rear spring is sagging.
It's a shame to replace it if it doesn't need to be replaced, plus, replacing the spring often causes new problems getting the car to sit at the proper ride height again.
The measurement from the ground to the center of the fender wheel arch should be right around 28". The size of the tires you're presently using may influence that dimension since they may be taller or shorter than the originals.
Regards,
Alan
You can easily check the rear ride height which give you an indication if your rear spring is sagging.
It's a shame to replace it if it doesn't need to be replaced, plus, replacing the spring often causes new problems getting the car to sit at the proper ride height again.
The measurement from the ground to the center of the fender wheel arch should be right around 28". The size of the tires you're presently using may influence that dimension since they may be taller or shorter than the originals.
Regards,
Alan
I'm showing 27 5/8" Passenger side to 27 3/8" Driver side with 215/70r15 tires.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 793
leaf spring
I just went through the spring thing on my 69. 7 or 9 leafs? My orig. spring was flat straight. The rear of the car was very low. Installed a new 7 leaf considered to be the f41 option and the car sit allot better. How are your trailer arms and shocks. Alan height range is correct.
good luck
good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
I just went through the spring thing on my 69. 7 or 9 leafs? My orig. spring was flat straight. The rear of the car was very low. Installed a new 7 leaf considered to be the f41 option and the car sit allot better. How are your trailer arms and shocks. Alan height range is correct.
good luck
good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
What brought this subject up is that I have a 78 Carter Carb, that I replaced with a correct carb, for sale and someone wants to trade me a new set of springs + $50 for my carb so I thought I'd try to determine if I might have a need for the springs before I made a decision on the swap. I don't have any knowledge on springs but since the forum is so full of info, thought I'd learn something here.
Thanks for your concern for my car. Believe me, I have even more concern, just don't have as much knowledge on C3's.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 793
leaf
I agree with Alan on the height, you are close enough. Yes my car was very low in the rear. Unfortunatley I did not measure height. Car rose very close to 28" with new spring and all new rubber bushings. Any other 69 questions Iam ready thanks R
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 628
Likes: 34
From: Evergreen Park Illinois
As others have said, the ride height on your car is fine. The 7 leaf spring if it is an F41 will ride harder than the standard spring as it has a higher spring rate. As for the spring being parallel to the garage floor, that is the way they are supposed to be. Close to flat from trailing arm to trailing arm. It all sounds good.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
As others have said, the ride height on your car is fine. The 7 leaf spring if it is an F41 will ride harder than the standard spring as it has a higher spring rate. As for the spring being parallel to the garage floor, that is the way they are supposed to be. Close to flat from trailing arm to trailing arm. It all sounds good.