rear spring
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
rear spring
'72 - 350 - auto
my rear spring has gone level, slightly over centre with 1/2 tank fuel.
as the $$ is crap at the moment to import downunder, i'll look at getting it re done local.
but they need to know what it should be to start with.
from my findings the stock spring should be 9 leafs @ 196lbs,
but they need to know the arch height / tip length before they can do anything.
does anyone have this info?
my rear spring has gone level, slightly over centre with 1/2 tank fuel.
as the $$ is crap at the moment to import downunder, i'll look at getting it re done local.
but they need to know what it should be to start with.
from my findings the stock spring should be 9 leafs @ 196lbs,
but they need to know the arch height / tip length before they can do anything.
does anyone have this info?
Last edited by riverracer au; Aug 24, 2015 at 08:33 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 582
From: West Monroe Louisiana
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have a photo of my original spring before I restored it, but don't
have any dimensions for it. I found this online maybe it will help you.
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index....oducts_id=9582
Will post my photo if you think it might help.
Donnie
have any dimensions for it. I found this online maybe it will help you.
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index....oducts_id=9582
Will post my photo if you think it might help.
Donnie
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
thanks, that chart is a start.
FYI:
there is spares place in another capital city down here, he has the spring in stock,
but his price is 580$ for a stock 9 leaf, +50$ shipping to me....
hell of a mark up on a spring you can buy for under 200$ over there..
FYI:
there is spares place in another capital city down here, he has the spring in stock,
but his price is 580$ for a stock 9 leaf, +50$ shipping to me....
hell of a mark up on a spring you can buy for under 200$ over there..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 582
From: West Monroe Louisiana
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I believe the stock 9 leaf was used on all unless
you had optional F-41 suppension that had 7 leaf.
Someone will correct me if I am wrong.
Donnie
you had optional F-41 suppension that had 7 leaf.
Someone will correct me if I am wrong.
Donnie
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
Update Time
here's a photo of my original rear spring not looking too good, bent upwards.
got hold of a second hand spring local. (read my other post on the rip off price here for a new one)
my original 72 at the top, replacement at the bottom, think it was from a 76, both 9 leaf rated @ 196lbs.
holding in position whilst getting the diff bolts correct length, as the new spring is thicker the the middle by about 5/16".
you can see how low i was by the scraping in spare tyre carrier.
snugged bolts up firm, but not over tight yet.
put the wheels back on, lowered to the ground, torqued up the diff bolts under load,
drove back/forth over the driveway gutter and up n down the street to help settle it,
replacement spring bends upwards like the original one.. they are the original 6-3/8" long trailing arm bolts.
measured under the side rail, body is sitting even/level at approx 5-1/4" front n rear. running 235/60r15 @ 32psi.
so what's going on?
have i gotten another worn out / soft spring, or is something else going on?
got hold of a second hand spring local. (read my other post on the rip off price here for a new one)
my original 72 at the top, replacement at the bottom, think it was from a 76, both 9 leaf rated @ 196lbs.
holding in position whilst getting the diff bolts correct length, as the new spring is thicker the the middle by about 5/16".
you can see how low i was by the scraping in spare tyre carrier.
snugged bolts up firm, but not over tight yet.
put the wheels back on, lowered to the ground, torqued up the diff bolts under load,
drove back/forth over the driveway gutter and up n down the street to help settle it,
replacement spring bends upwards like the original one.. they are the original 6-3/8" long trailing arm bolts.
measured under the side rail, body is sitting even/level at approx 5-1/4" front n rear. running 235/60r15 @ 32psi.
so what's going on?
have i gotten another worn out / soft spring, or is something else going on?
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
had a look at a couple of mates cars at the weekend, their springs definatly bow downwards...
stock spring, stock length bolts, new rubbers etc,
and i was worried that it would be too high like a 4wd....
karnt run a glass spring due to our historic rego rules where i am.
thinking, thinking, maybe a few of these
will help....
stock spring, stock length bolts, new rubbers etc,
and i was worried that it would be too high like a 4wd....
karnt run a glass spring due to our historic rego rules where i am.
thinking, thinking, maybe a few of these
will help....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi rau,
I believe the original 9 leave springs through 1977 had the 3 straight upper leaves.
I see the replacement spring doesn't have them; that makes me wonder why, and could it be part of the cause of what you're seeing (is this a stock spring)?
???
Regards,
Alan
I believe the original 9 leave springs through 1977 had the 3 straight upper leaves.
I see the replacement spring doesn't have them; that makes me wonder why, and could it be part of the cause of what you're seeing (is this a stock spring)?
???
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
found this whilst looking for answers
http://www.eatonsprings.com/corvettespringends.html
as far as i could tell my vette is mostly original, unmolested,
most vendors i've looked at for a new spring are all curved leafs.
the replacement i got was from a '76, but not sure if it was original to that car.
thinking outside the box here,
what if i was to pull the old spring apart and add the longest leaf to the replacement spring to make it a bit stiffer?
either remove the smallest leaf to keep the same mounting thickness or leave it on and use 10 leafs and get 4 more longer diff bolts ?
rough (bubba-ish) i know, but getting a spring sent down here would take weeks, and the exchange rate is crap at the moment also...
http://www.eatonsprings.com/corvettespringends.html
as far as i could tell my vette is mostly original, unmolested,
most vendors i've looked at for a new spring are all curved leafs.
the replacement i got was from a '76, but not sure if it was original to that car.
thinking outside the box here,
what if i was to pull the old spring apart and add the longest leaf to the replacement spring to make it a bit stiffer?
either remove the smallest leaf to keep the same mounting thickness or leave it on and use 10 leafs and get 4 more longer diff bolts ?
rough (bubba-ish) i know, but getting a spring sent down here would take weeks, and the exchange rate is crap at the moment also...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
So, was there a particular reason why did you not get the original spring re-tempered using the dimensions you were given?
The spring in my 70 looks like your one when it is off the vehicle but not like yours when fitted. Th PO had it re tempered in an effort to fix a sag on the LH side of the car, this was a mistake, I found out that it was clapped out front springs that caused the problem. Regardless though the re-tempered rear spring seems fine.
The spring in my 70 looks like your one when it is off the vehicle but not like yours when fitted. Th PO had it re tempered in an effort to fix a sag on the LH side of the car, this was a mistake, I found out that it was clapped out front springs that caused the problem. Regardless though the re-tempered rear spring seems fine.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
There is only one place in the state I live in, went there and they karnt get the same size steel,
Even then, as it's so old, they won't warranty it as it will probably sag again in 6mths.
As you probably know Haggish, our dollar has crashed against the US dollar atm.
So importing a new spring is out for now.
And the shop in Sydney wants 580$ + for the same spring you can buy over there for around 150$.....
Even then, as it's so old, they won't warranty it as it will probably sag again in 6mths.
As you probably know Haggish, our dollar has crashed against the US dollar atm.
So importing a new spring is out for now.
And the shop in Sydney wants 580$ + for the same spring you can buy over there for around 150$.....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi rau,
I read the info at the Eaton link.
It's interesting, and as you posted the all arched spring is possible although it may have been the service replacement.
I don't think there's any reason not to add the leaf as you describe, but I would do the test drive carefully to see if/how it may have changed the ride characteristics.
Certainly because of the cash you're talking about a little experimentation is in order!
Regards,
Alan
I read the info at the Eaton link.
It's interesting, and as you posted the all arched spring is possible although it may have been the service replacement.
I don't think there's any reason not to add the leaf as you describe, but I would do the test drive carefully to see if/how it may have changed the ride characteristics.
Certainly because of the cash you're talking about a little experimentation is in order!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
Thanks Alan, with your words of encouragement, I'll give it a try.
Will remove the shortest leaf, and add the longest from the old to the replacement.
Will place on top of existing long leaf.
Don't think the central assembly bolt will be long enough for 10 leafs.
Will remove the shortest leaf, and add the longest from the old to the replacement.
Will place on top of existing long leaf.
Don't think the central assembly bolt will be long enough for 10 leafs.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
well now i'm really confused, the replacement spring i got hold of is 10 leaf.....
pulled it apart to clean and replace the liners, and ended up with 10 pieces of steel....
so do i add the extra big leaf to the original and make it a 10 leaf, or add it to the replacement and have 11?
or pay the ridiculous price being asked local for a new spring ?
pulled it apart to clean and replace the liners, and ended up with 10 pieces of steel....
so do i add the extra big leaf to the original and make it a 10 leaf, or add it to the replacement and have 11?
or pay the ridiculous price being asked local for a new spring ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
There is only one place in the state I live in, went there and they karnt get the same size steel,
Even then, as it's so old, they won't warranty it as it will probably sag again in 6mths.
As you probably know Haggish, our dollar has crashed against the US dollar atm.
So importing a new spring is out for now.
And the shop in Sydney wants 580$ + for the same spring you can buy over there for around 150$.....
Even then, as it's so old, they won't warranty it as it will probably sag again in 6mths.
As you probably know Haggish, our dollar has crashed against the US dollar atm.
So importing a new spring is out for now.
And the shop in Sydney wants 580$ + for the same spring you can buy over there for around 150$.....
I agree with the above comment you can do a lot of experimenting for $500 :-)
FWIW Our $$ has dropped relative to the US as well curtailing my spending somewhat! I'm glad I got my transmission sorted before the b*m dropped out of our dollar.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
the place i went to is a industrial spring manufacturer, they do every thing from small to lrg, round n flat, they have furnaces.
The main thing is why does it have 10 to start with.......?
i've gotten some longer diff bolts again, going to paint the leafs, new liners between,
then i'll try a couple of combinations till it arches the correct way.
getting pretty quick at removal and instillation of the spring...
haven't put the pipes back on yet as they sit right under the diff bolts..
The main thing is why does it have 10 to start with.......?
i've gotten some longer diff bolts again, going to paint the leafs, new liners between,
then i'll try a couple of combinations till it arches the correct way.
getting pretty quick at removal and instillation of the spring...
haven't put the pipes back on yet as they sit right under the diff bolts..
Last edited by riverracer au; Sep 10, 2015 at 05:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
assembled the spring with all new liners using the lrg leaf off the original on the bottom, making 11 leafs.
sat too high looking like a 4wd, so i removed the 2 shortest leafs, one at a time, reassemble, installed, repeat...
spring faces the correct way, will take for a spin morow and see if it settles much, and how it rides.
feels firm when bouncing it up n down, not soft n spongy like before.
sat too high looking like a 4wd, so i removed the 2 shortest leafs, one at a time, reassemble, installed, repeat...
spring faces the correct way, will take for a spin morow and see if it settles much, and how it rides.
feels firm when bouncing it up n down, not soft n spongy like before.