Mono Leaf Front - Corvette Pacifica
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 229
Likes: 31
From: Finger Lakes area NY
Mono Leaf Front - Corvette Pacifica
Rebuilding the rear of my 68, I am looking to tackle the front next.
Does anyone have experience with the Corvette Pacifica mono leaf kit?
See here:
https://www.corvettepacifica.com/pro...ospring-63-82/
I was shocked how light weight the rear mono leaf is and has me thinking about the same setup for the front.
VBP made a kit that was highly regarded but I nothing about this one.
Please share your experience or thoughts.
Thanks
Does anyone have experience with the Corvette Pacifica mono leaf kit?
See here:
https://www.corvettepacifica.com/pro...ospring-63-82/
I was shocked how light weight the rear mono leaf is and has me thinking about the same setup for the front.
VBP made a kit that was highly regarded but I nothing about this one.
Please share your experience or thoughts.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Listen to all the C4/5/6/7 guys wanting to switch from monoleafs to coilovers. Crosstalk is a thing.
They're finally going to coil suspension on the C8s, making a lot of the handling guys very happy.
Spend your money on a more modern control arm setup that retains the coil springs and you'll be better served. There are some big ticket items out there, but a good global west kit should be able to come in at just a bit more than that kit you're looking at.
If it's just a basic rebuild you're doing on the rear though and you're not trying to go nuts, then I'd recommend just rebuilding the front setup at a fraction of the price of either setup. The cars handle quite well in stock configuration and adding modern tire compound will help significantly more than any hardware you can throw at it.
They're finally going to coil suspension on the C8s, making a lot of the handling guys very happy.
Spend your money on a more modern control arm setup that retains the coil springs and you'll be better served. There are some big ticket items out there, but a good global west kit should be able to come in at just a bit more than that kit you're looking at.
If it's just a basic rebuild you're doing on the rear though and you're not trying to go nuts, then I'd recommend just rebuilding the front setup at a fraction of the price of either setup. The cars handle quite well in stock configuration and adding modern tire compound will help significantly more than any hardware you can throw at it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 229
Likes: 31
From: Finger Lakes area NY
Shark,
That makes sense, I was amazed at how light the rear mono-leaf spring was and thought that a front would offer a lot of weight savings.
I guess there is a reason race cars use coilover.....
That makes sense, I was amazed at how light the rear mono-leaf spring was and thought that a front would offer a lot of weight savings.
I guess there is a reason race cars use coilover.....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I think you can move the mounts to different holes in the brackets to make some change to the spring rate and it also allows some ride height adjustability. It would definitely put the weight lower on the front which does help. I also doubt you'd find much gain or loss vs coilovers unless it's a pretty hard core track car.
You pay almost what a coilover costs for a good adjustable C5/C6/C7 shock (since it's the same shock basically) so might as well go right to coilover vs installing good shocks only.
You pay almost what a coilover costs for a good adjustable C5/C6/C7 shock (since it's the same shock basically) so might as well go right to coilover vs installing good shocks only.
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
It does look identical to my VBP setupas well.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
That looks like my VBP system.
I've had it for more than 10 years.
Pros:
Works well.....softer ride/far better handling and cornering than coils.
Total ride height adjust-ability and no sag. Car still sits EXACTLY as it did when we set it a decade ago.
Cons:
Get used to buying EXPENSIVE SHOCKS.......the faster reaction is no joke. It's quite real and only a top quality shock can handle it without giving you a punishing ride quality.
Turning radius: The lower control arms in this kit are well constructed. Much stronger than the stamped steel stock coil arms but for what -ever reason you do lose the tighter turning radius you had with the stock set up. Nothing you notice when driving.......but in tighter situations........I found myself doing some 3 point turns where I wouldn't have had to before.
Over all though.......the car turns FLAT as can be and it's a better ride. Way better that I could have ever gotten with coils that handle like this.
A have your cake and eat it too situation for sure vs a coil spring set up.
I've had it for more than 10 years.
Pros:
Works well.....softer ride/far better handling and cornering than coils.
Total ride height adjust-ability and no sag. Car still sits EXACTLY as it did when we set it a decade ago.
Cons:
Get used to buying EXPENSIVE SHOCKS.......the faster reaction is no joke. It's quite real and only a top quality shock can handle it without giving you a punishing ride quality.
Turning radius: The lower control arms in this kit are well constructed. Much stronger than the stamped steel stock coil arms but for what -ever reason you do lose the tighter turning radius you had with the stock set up. Nothing you notice when driving.......but in tighter situations........I found myself doing some 3 point turns where I wouldn't have had to before.
Over all though.......the car turns FLAT as can be and it's a better ride. Way better that I could have ever gotten with coils that handle like this.
A have your cake and eat it too situation for sure vs a coil spring set up.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
You will never have the fine ride height adjustment, choices of spring rates, or the worry about fiber mono getting cracks. the side to side ride height adjustability.
Semi coil overs like the dual or single adjustable QA-1 or the full coil overs with tubular A-arms are the only smart way to go for the front end of a C-3.
Very limited choices with the front mono systems.
Semi coil overs like the dual or single adjustable QA-1 or the full coil overs with tubular A-arms are the only smart way to go for the front end of a C-3.
Very limited choices with the front mono systems.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,259
Likes: 9,397
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
You can adjust side to side stiffness and also have unlimited height changes just like the rear. You do have a handfull of spring stiffness choices as well vs more withthte coil but if your not using it as a race only car the mono spring is great. The VBP system performed flawlessly for me at Canaan when I was race/ learning there. It was so great I need to upgrade the brakes to keep up with the suspension
