C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Another Rear Leaf Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 25, 2018 | 07:29 PM
  #1  
Cavu2u's Avatar
Cavu2u
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Default Another Rear Leaf Question


For reasons of safety, what can I expect will happen when I undo/cut/remove that shipping clamp?
A big BOOM?
The car dropping a few inches down?
Or nothing at all?
Do I need to remove some, all, or in between, the ground weight from the tires by jacking up the frame a bit?
Just wanna know before I do it now. It was an easier leaf install with them on.
Thanks.

Steve
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2018 | 07:59 PM
  #2  
KapsSA's Avatar
KapsSA
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,372
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Default

Nothing at all.
Just cut em off.
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2018 | 09:41 PM
  #3  
Hammerhead Fred's Avatar
Hammerhead Fred
Melting Slicks
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
Default

Originally Posted by Cavu2u
For reasons of safety, what can I expect will happen when I undo/cut/remove that shipping clamp?
A big BOOM?
The car dropping a few inches down?
Or nothing at all?
Do I need to remove some, all, or in between, the ground weight from the tires by jacking up the frame a bit?
Just wanna know before I do it now. It was an easier leaf install with them on.
Thanks.

Steve

Nothing. Just push the tab over and pull it apart
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2018 | 07:21 AM
  #4  
Cavu2u's Avatar
Cavu2u
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Default

Great to know guys.
Thanks very much.

Steve
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2018 | 06:27 PM
  #5  
DUB's Avatar
DUB
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Why do you want to remove it. It actually does provide added retaining ability to keep the leak spring from rotating. YES I am aware that the four bolts also do this somewhat...but it gives the four bolts a bit of added help. ONLY because I have seen the leaf springs begin to rotate and slide and not all be in a line and packed together. I leave them on myself due to is it is not doing any harm. But take them off it you feel better about it.

DUB
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 08:54 AM
  #6  
Cavu2u's Avatar
Cavu2u
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Default

Originally Posted by DUB
Why do you want to remove it. It actually does provide added retaining ability to keep the leak spring from rotating. YES I am aware that the four bolts also do this somewhat...but it gives the four bolts a bit of added help. ONLY because I have seen the leaf springs begin to rotate and slide and not all be in a line and packed together. I leave them on myself due to is it is not doing any harm. But take them off it you feel better about it.

DUB
Never got around to it yet.
I did realize the lateral stability they provided, but was concerned with the vertical flex change, and your post leads me to believe any change of it with the band's removal are negligent.
I now have other things to concentrate on.

Thanks for the advice DUB.
Steve
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 09:06 AM
  #7  
DUB's Avatar
DUB
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Default

I also wondered if that strap was going to impair the ability of the leaf spring doing its job and I cannot see in any way how this strap is going to hold back any forces the spring goes under. I just cannot see it...so I leave them on with no problems....other than it being there....to some may seen NOT factory correct and un-slightly.

I also...much like you...have other things to concentrate on repairing and do not dwell to much on this strap.

DUB
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 11:39 AM
  #8  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,736
Likes: 2,582
Default

Are you sure the clamps aren't causing the liner between the leaves to bind as seen in the picture?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 06:08 PM
  #9  
DUB's Avatar
DUB
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by MelWff
Are you sure the clamps aren't causing the liner between the leaves to bind as seen in the picture?
Without seeing a picture of the other side...I guess it could do that. But those clamps are installed by hand and just wrapped around and bent...due to I have been standing there at the local company in my area that does re-arch leaf springs and saw him put them on that way.

And if this clamp was causing a problem...why are the other two liners not doing anything???

DUB

Last edited by DUB; Dec 28, 2018 at 06:10 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 06:27 PM
  #10  
John 65's Avatar
John 65
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Default

That spring looks flat as a pancake, not showing any arch at all.

Don't that mean it's pretty much done and time to replace?

I ask because it looks flat like the one in my car. I have the 7 leaf heavy duty, 2 and a quarter wide and I think my 77 sits a little low at 28 and a half
to the center of wheelwell, with the correct tires and wheels.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 06:40 PM
  #11  
DUB's Avatar
DUB
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Default

YES...generally a spring that is flat when the car is sitting still is worn out.

DUB
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2018 | 06:45 PM
  #12  
John 65's Avatar
John 65
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Default

Thanks DUB,

Just ordered one from CC, with a free shipping discount, which is a nice savings on a heavy spring.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Another Rear Leaf Question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:43 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE