vetski179

Regarding a daily diver, never auto-crossed or road raced 1980 Corvette, how much does the suspension movement want to cause the spring to move side to side? What I mean is, as it's mounted under the rear of the diff, does the suspension movement want to push it left or right? I have a composite spring. There is no hole directly in the center of the spring for the locating dowel bolt. I have been hesitant to drill one and have worked out another clamping method. But, if drilling a hole for the dowel is no big deal, maybe I'll go the route. Thank you.

Kevova

Spring has mounting insolators made to it. Spring should not move laterally. Do not drill holes in composite spring.

vetski179

Thanks for confirming my thought on not drilling holes. How much force is on the spring to move laterally? I understand it's not supposed to move.

claysmoker

There is no side load on the spring as long as you have the correct bolts and bushings on the ends of the spring. If you had a solid lockup between the ends of the trailing arms and the ends of the spring, then you would see some side load.

lars

It's not possible to put a side load into the rear spring.

DUB

For what it is worth.

I have encountered the rear leaf springs rotating 'side to side' on the 1980-1982 aluminum differentials a few times.

Usually this occurs when the previous person who worked on it failed to install this special plate that...for what I assume.... GM installed to aid in taking up some of the space between the two rear bolts and the spring....and also make ti so the edge of the composite spring does not actually make contact with these two bolts and cause an abrasion...which can cause the spring to begin to fail and crack.

On a 1980 Corvette I have only seem a steel spring form the factory. The 'fiberglass' springs can later in 1981 and 1982 not mistaken.



This is the plate that is used for the steel spring and there is no hole between the two outer bolt holes to secure the spring.




This one you can see an extra small hole which is used to cage that special plate.




DUB

vetski179

Thanks for the pix of the bottom plate.

You're correct, my 1980 did not come with a composite spring. Rather, it was the heavy duty steel one that cane with my cars' FE7 optional suspension package.

I got a complete rear end out of a 1986 Vette. I sold everything except the spring. I compared my steel spring to the '86 one. Exact same distance from center to center where the holes are for mounting the long bolts to the trailing arms. Further, after looking at many pix of aftermarket composite springs, it looked to me me like it could work in my car. So, I'm giving it a go. I've been very careful to make sure that no part of the spring comes into contact with any metal parts.