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I'm going to replace my rear spring on my 75'. Going with composite and wanted some feedback on stiffness. I'm thinking 315 pounds. Not racing her but looking a more comfortable ride. TIA
NewbVetteGuy, why would you recommend hd's over sport?
The HD's will make a cushier ride, which you stated as the direction you were wanting to go.
If you look at the old VB&P full suspension packages (now that they're out of business, I guess you can't do that any more...) , the lighter weight suspension packages (more stock style) were paired with Bilstein HDs, and the Gymkhana-like suspension packages combined like 550 lb front springs and 360 mono composite rear springs with Bilstein Sports.
There's a number of threads on here that the 360 lb rear monoleaf springs require the Bilstein Sport's to "tame" the spring. There's even people like JBL82 who have combined a 360lb mono spring in the rear with bilstein Sports back there and Bilstein HD's in the front with the coil springs to result in a cushier ride.
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; Oct 10, 2018 at 03:53 PM.
Van Steel is a good place to get your monoleaf. It's worth a call to talk with them and get their recommendation as well. I am running Bilstein HD's in the rear along with a Van Steel 330lb on my '70. It's a nice ride, not harsh at all, and there have been times since I put it in (1500 miles or so ago) that I wish I'd gone one step stiffer. Just my two cents. Very pleased, though.
Also, read up on here regarding heat and the glass springs -- some (not all) people either wrap exhaust or install some kind of a heat shield to avoid any spring damage if your exhaust runs close to it. Mine is tucked up pretty close to be neat and give some ground clearance, so I wrapped it with some exhaust wrap and secured the ends with hose clamps. Some have run these springs for years without issues and without any heat treatments, but I just didn't want to chance it. If you check the pipes after running it, they really don't get that hot back in that area.
I just checked Van Steel's site and they start recommending the Bilstein Sports @ 330 lbs and up on the rear monosprings. (315lbs might be borderline where you could go either way.)
To you adjustable guys: I've heard from some others that the softest setting can already be pretty hard and it just adjusts harder from there and that most of the adjustable shocks are focused on going from a fairly stiff, yet streetable ride to a SUPER STIFF drag-type setup. (And that they don't really go from "cushy cruiser" to "good performing street ride") (What I took away is that there isn't really a HUGE range even with an adjustable shock -you're not going to go from "Cadillac to Drag", because that's not the market that the adjustable shocks cater to.) .
Any comments on the extreme ends of "Soft vs. Hard" on the Koni Single Adjustables?
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; Oct 11, 2018 at 02:55 PM.
To you adjustable guys: I've heard from some others that the softest setting can already be pretty hard and it just adjusts harder from there and that most of the adjustable shocks are focused on going from a fairly stiff, yet streetable ride to a SUPER STIFF drag-type setup. (And that they don't really go from "cushy cruiser" to "good performing street ride") (What I took away is that there isn't really a HUGE range even with an adjustable shock -you're not going to go from "Cadillac to Drag", because that's not the market that the adjustable shocks cater to.) .
Any comments on the extreme ends of "Soft vs. Hard" on the Koni Single Adjustables?
Adam
I use QA-1 rear adjustables on mine, and yes there really is quite a range. With a 380 lb. VBP spring, you can get a soft mushy ride or a teeth rattler if you stiffen them all the way. It does depend on your spring somewhat, but I can still get a soft ride on my 420 lb. spring if I loosen the setting all the way.
I use QA-1 rear adjustables on mine, and yes there really is quite a range. With a 380 lb. VBP spring, you can get a soft mushy ride or a teeth rattler if you stiffen them all the way. It does depend on your spring somewhat, but I can still get a soft ride on my 420 lb. spring if I loosen the setting all the way.
^This. I'm running QA-1 shocks as well on a Van Steel advanced street and slalom setup. 360lb rear spring. 550lb fronts. I have it pretty soft right now for street driving and it feels softer than my Z3M with hd shocks.
To you adjustable guys: I've heard from some others that the softest setting can already be pretty hard and it just adjusts harder from there and that most of the adjustable shocks are focused on going from a fairly stiff, yet streetable ride to a SUPER STIFF drag-type setup. (And that they don't really go from "cushy cruiser" to "good performing street ride") (What I took away is that there isn't really a HUGE range even with an adjustable shock -you're not going to go from "Cadillac to Drag", because that's not the market that the adjustable shocks cater to.) .
Any comments on the extreme ends of "Soft vs. Hard" on the Koni Single Adjustables?
Adam
Adam I started out with the softest setting on the Konis. I liked the ride so much that I left it there. My wife owns a 2008 C6. My car rides much better than the C6. I own a Cadillac also. I would say the ride is almost as smooth as the Caddy.
Last edited by Street Rat; Oct 12, 2018 at 09:20 AM.
My 78 with 360 lbs rear spring, 550 lbs coils 1 inch shorter than stock, Bilstein HD's front and Sports rear, 1 1/8 inch front sway bar and rear 3/4 OEM GM style sway bar, poly bushings everywhere including sway bars and control arms, front spreader bar, 17 inch Ultra high performance summer only tires rides much softer than my 08 Chrysler 300 with ultra Performance summer only 18 245/55/18's with Bilsteins/Chrysler Strut brace , 12 Lexus IS350 F Sport, and 10 C6Z06 with Doug Rippie Valved Bilstein Sports...ALL OF THEM RIDE MUCH STIFFER!
I would go with Sports with the monoleaf spring. The HD's have too much movement with it, IMO....and I have HD's with a monoleaf rear spring. It's OK...but it does move a lot over a sizable bump..
Rear spring
