Composite leaf springs
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
Composite leaf springs
I'm starting to collect suspension parts for my '73 BB and was looking into swapping out the rear OEM stacked leaf springs for a composite Monospring.
For those of you who have made this swap; do you like the composite spring and how is it performing compared to the OEM spring?
How did it effect ride height?
What kit and manufacturer did you purchase from.
I'm also replacing the front springs, shocks etc.
What kit did you purchase and what coil spring rates for the BB.
Thanks, Greg
For those of you who have made this swap; do you like the composite spring and how is it performing compared to the OEM spring?
How did it effect ride height?
What kit and manufacturer did you purchase from.
I'm also replacing the front springs, shocks etc.
What kit did you purchase and what coil spring rates for the BB.
Thanks, Greg
Racer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 315
Likes: 20
From: Vasteras, Sweden
I had a monospring from Ecklers for a period on my 72 BB, it felt very nice, much better feel than stock spring. You need 10 inch bolts to adjust ride height. Also had KYB gas dampers from Ecklers, they performed nice.
They are sold now and i have a complete new chassie from VBP.
Got it for a very nice price.
They are sold now and i have a complete new chassie from VBP.
Got it for a very nice price.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,330
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
I did this quite a while ago.....my wife had a '79 C-3, and I installed a VB&P composite spring in it, around 1993. The difference in ride quality was night and day. The composite spring rode SO much better. We kept the car for about 4 years after that, and didn't experience any problems.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
The composite spring is the way to go if you are not worried about what 'others' think about losing the correct spring and if it is being judged for facotry correctness.
Keep in mind that the composite springs DO NOT like HEAT, HARSH CHEMICALS, and ABUSE...such as tow hooks put on them or being hit with a hammer.
DUB
Keep in mind that the composite springs DO NOT like HEAT, HARSH CHEMICALS, and ABUSE...such as tow hooks put on them or being hit with a hammer.
DUB
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 16
From: Tanunda South Australia
Composite rear springs are great ,I had quality issues with the VB&P spring and would not buy from them again.
I now have a Hyperco Spring from Van Steel the quality of their product is excellent
I now have a Hyperco Spring from Van Steel the quality of their product is excellent
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
VBP 360 composite on my 78 installed by me in 1986 along with Bilstein Sports....still perfect after all these years. Superior ride, has never sagged, enhanced handling by a mile compared to the OEM gymkhana steel spring AND weighs 8 lbs versus 50 lbs for the steel. Win, win, win all the way around. Would never use steel again.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
Did the 360 composite spring change the ride height?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Did the 360 composite spring change the ride height?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Greg, I need to come to Napa some day when this last storm gets over in the next few days. But anyway I like adjustability and the QA-1 coil over front really works.
It seems like every vendor mono spring has a different amount of arch even for the same spring weight. So no one bolt length fits all
Any bolt place can sell you the correct thread length bolt. I have all sizes from like 3 - 9 inch in 1/2 inch increments because I went from a a 420# VB&P to a 520# VB&P year monoI had some friends video my launches on street tires and my rear end still squats with the 520# I was playing with my front and rear dual adjust shocks. The rear just need some more clicks on the compression, but you need weight x-fer to keep the tires from spinning. I changed from 4.11 to 3.55 and I'm having to rethink my 5 speed
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Did the 360 composite spring change the ride height?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Iv'e been looking at both the VBP and the Van Steel sites and both look like good quality.
Van Steel is a bit pricier.
I'm also looking at both the VBP and Van Steel front semi coil-over single adjustable QA1 shock kits for the front.
What are you using up front?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
I'm not looking to drag race the car, but I do enjoy driving the back roads so my driving will be more on the twisting roads. I'm also reconsidering my plan to change out my TH400 for an overdrive trans.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
I plan to stroke my 454 to 496 so power will not be an issue. Looks like you have the perfect stance and just what I want to achieve. What size tires are you running?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
my ride height in the rear has never been an issue but my 360 spring goes back a long time now. I have 550 springs 1 inch shorter than stock in the front with bilstein HD's...The 550 springs are very stiff and do not require the 30% stiffer Sports in the front..IMO. Had this combo for many years now...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
I do have the 550 1 inch shorter than stock 550 springs and they were perfect with the stock cast iron 882 heads. I cut 1/2 coil after I rebuilt the L-82 in 2014 but I used aluminum AFR replacement heads that raised the ride height slightly being much lighter heads than the OEM 882's and the reason to have to cut the springs 1/2 coil.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,337
Likes: 8,140
From: Napa Valley California
I do have the 550 1 inch shorter than stock 550 springs and they were perfect with the stock cast iron 882 heads. I cut 1/2 coil after I rebuilt the L-82 in 2014 but I used aluminum AFR replacement heads that raised the ride height slightly being much lighter heads than the OEM 882's and the reason to have to cut the springs 1/2 coil.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,330
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
Oddly enough, I called them back, a few weeks later, to inquire about something else, and was talking with another person. I happened to tell him what had happened, and what I had done, and his reply was, "He told you to do WHAT"???? "He should have had you send the springs back, and we would have sent you a pair of the 550 springs, they're an inch shorter"!!
Anyway, at least for us, the cut 360s worked out OK.