steel leaf spring advice needed (71 LT-1).
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5
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From: Ontario
steel leaf spring advice needed (71 LT-1).
I need to replace my rear leaf spring very shortly. I have the TRW 340# composite spring on the car now, but it has cracked after only 8,000 to 10,000 miles.
Given this experience, I'm thinking of going back to a steel spring.
Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with the Muskegon 9 or 7 leaf steel springs?
The car is mostly a cruiser and I was wondering if the 7 leaf would be too stiff.
Thanks in advance.
Given this experience, I'm thinking of going back to a steel spring.
Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with the Muskegon 9 or 7 leaf steel springs?
The car is mostly a cruiser and I was wondering if the 7 leaf would be too stiff.
Thanks in advance.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,130
Likes: 3,938
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: steel leaf spring advice needed (71 LT-1). (CanuckLT1)
I used a new steel spring last Summer. I didn't get it from Muskegon, but another vette shop a couple of years ago. It didn't fit good at all, in fact I had to grind reliefs in the spring to get it mounted. It was the correct early spring but still too wide to fit in between the 4 mounting bolts.
I don't know who makes these, but I don't think very many places are so chances are you'll get the same mfg from most suppliers.
I did talk to Shawn Fox about this problem at the time and she said they didn't have that issue. I would buy from Muskegon and if there's a problem they'll stand behind it. Just be sure to measure it when you get it and check the dimension between the cover mounting bolts.
Gary
I don't know who makes these, but I don't think very many places are so chances are you'll get the same mfg from most suppliers.
I did talk to Shawn Fox about this problem at the time and she said they didn't have that issue. I would buy from Muskegon and if there's a problem they'll stand behind it. Just be sure to measure it when you get it and check the dimension between the cover mounting bolts.
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 1,360
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: steel leaf spring advice needed (71 LT-1). (CanuckLT1)
I put on the GM 7 leaf spring (F41) in 1971. It's been there since.
I didn't find the ride any stiffer. General driving was the same.
However, if you hit a low/high spot in the road, it would not compress as far as the 9 leaf. You simply followed the road.
The reason to add the 7 leaf was to stop the "squat" of the rear on hard acceleration.
Shocks will determine the ride much more than a spring.
Some people will add stiffer shocks to overcome a weak spring.
If you have firm shocks and a stiff spring, then you would lighten up on the shock.
Barry
I didn't find the ride any stiffer. General driving was the same.
However, if you hit a low/high spot in the road, it would not compress as far as the 9 leaf. You simply followed the road.
The reason to add the 7 leaf was to stop the "squat" of the rear on hard acceleration.
Shocks will determine the ride much more than a spring.
Some people will add stiffer shocks to overcome a weak spring.
If you have firm shocks and a stiff spring, then you would lighten up on the shock.
Barry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Re: steel leaf spring advice needed (Barry's70LT1)
I would also find the root cause of why the spring cracked, what condition is your frame in. Have heard a few stories from ppl who have had there composite spring crack and the real problem was due to a poor frame putting stresses on the spring that it was not designed to withstand.
