rear leaf spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
Likes: 7
From: springstead wi
rear leaf spring
I replaced mine around 20 years ago and it need a new one now .if I remember I went with one that was 300 lb and 7 leaf . what I don't remember is if it was the flatter one or the curved one . I don't want the carbon fiber . so what would do you thing would be right for a 1976?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
Likes: 7
From: springstead wi
the replacements all are curved to some degree . but in the steel there a original which has the big curve and is 192 lb and then theres the flatter one that's 300 lb . I don't remember but I think the flatter one is the one I went with 20 years ago . if its replaced at what height should the car sit .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 22
From: Crystal Lake IL
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
count the leafs, its either 7 or 9 and the width can be 2.25" or 2.5". if the car sits to high, you can buy the next longer bolts. the 7 leaf may be a harsher ride due to the arch radius and may also be considered the gymkana.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
Likes: 7
From: springstead wi
just checked it its 7 layers and has 6 inch bolts . when sitting there the spring lays flat . but I measured the height of the car . suppose to 48 inch . I came up with 49 inches to top . so if the spring is bad like the mechanic says shouldn't the car be sitting lower .
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,736
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has that mechanic worked on a lot of corvettes?
can you post a picture?
how are the half shafts in relation to the ground, parallel to the ground, higher in the center than at the wheels, or higher at the wheels than at the center?
can you post a picture?
how are the half shafts in relation to the ground, parallel to the ground, higher in the center than at the wheels, or higher at the wheels than at the center?
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
Likes: 7
From: springstead wi
he has two ( has 75 he pretty much building from the ground up) and his dad has one and he seems to know quite a bit about them . he also has all the assembly books for them . when looking at the axles they are higher in the middle but not much.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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according to the document below the height is 48.6" so 49 is fine. If you scroll through the document you will find the frame height measurements. I'm not convinced from what you have stated in this thread that you need a new spring.
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Did he happen to say why the spring is bad?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
Likes: 7
From: springstead wi
according to the document below the height is 48.6" so 49 is fine. If you scroll through the document you will find the frame height measurements. I'm not convinced from what you have stated in this thread that you need a new spring.
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
More important than whether your spring is arched or flat when loaded is your rear ride height, with front "Z" and rear "D" being the most preferable references since non-standard tires won't change those measurement. Factory tolerance for either was +0.25". And, unless the diff cover has been changed to a 78-79 one the spring width should be 2.25" thru '77.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,435
Likes: 239
From: Powassan ON
Regardless if the spring is "flat" are the half shafts level? or higher at one end compared to the other?
If your running a stock(ish) spring, 6" bolts and the outer end of the half shafts are higher than the middle, IMO your spring is in need of replacement. This assumes all other item are good, like #3 and #4 frame mounts are solid and the fiberglass around the #4 body mount isn't cracked and broken.
One option would be to tighten up the nut on the 6" bolt, but if the spring is "done" that's a band-aid fix.
Why don't you want to look at fiberglass springs? Just want to maintain originality?
dodosmike
If your running a stock(ish) spring, 6" bolts and the outer end of the half shafts are higher than the middle, IMO your spring is in need of replacement. This assumes all other item are good, like #3 and #4 frame mounts are solid and the fiberglass around the #4 body mount isn't cracked and broken.
One option would be to tighten up the nut on the 6" bolt, but if the spring is "done" that's a band-aid fix.
Why don't you want to look at fiberglass springs? Just want to maintain originality?
dodosmike
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,736
Likes: 2,582
Spring
Regardless if the spring is "flat" are the half shafts level? or higher at one end compared to the other?
If your running a stock(ish) spring, 6" bolts and the outer end of the half shafts are higher than the middle, IMO your spring is in need of replacement. This assumes all other item are good, like #3 and #4 frame mounts are solid and the fiberglass around the #4 body mount isn't cracked and broken.
One option would be to tighten up the nut on the 6" bolt, but if the spring is "done" that's a band-aid fix.
Why don't you want to look at fiberglass springs? Just want to maintain originality?
dodosmike
If your running a stock(ish) spring, 6" bolts and the outer end of the half shafts are higher than the middle, IMO your spring is in need of replacement. This assumes all other item are good, like #3 and #4 frame mounts are solid and the fiberglass around the #4 body mount isn't cracked and broken.
One option would be to tighten up the nut on the 6" bolt, but if the spring is "done" that's a band-aid fix.
Why don't you want to look at fiberglass springs? Just want to maintain originality?
dodosmike