82 FE7 Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 382
Likes: 141
From: Pine Ridge FL
82 FE7 Leaf Spring
I have an 82 with the FE7 Gymkhana and I am about to undertake a rear suspension restoration. One thing that I know that needs addressed is the rear spring. It's squeaking like crazy. Given the age of the spring I am figured it be best just to replace it but I am not able to figure what's the spring rate. Since it's gymkhana it has the 9 leaf metal spring. Were the 82 9 leafs the same as the base 78-80 with the 260 lb spring rate? That seems odd to me but I've never been able to find any spring rates on the 81-82 FE7 suspension to confirm or anyone selling 9 leaf FE7 springs.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 382
Likes: 141
From: Pine Ridge FL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 966
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Gm Heritage Center ^^^^^ shows you have an 8 leaf FE7 Sport steel spring and should have the 7/16 rear sway bar as well if it is a factory installed sport spring. Only 82's with Sport suspension had the rear sway bar.
Unfortunately, the GM documents do not list the spring rate for the steel spring above, only the marshmallow composite monospring at 172 lbs, pathetically soft for any car in 1982, much less a sports car. My 78 steel 7 leaf Sport spring was 292lbs. I replaced it 35 years ago with a 360 lbs composite. I would never use steel again since steel is harsh, will sag with time, is 50 lbs versus 8 lbs for the composite and a composite at MUCH higher spring rates has a superior ride versus steel.
Gm Heritage Center ^^^^^ shows you have an 8 leaf FE7 Sport steel spring and should have the 7/16 rear sway bar as well if it is a factory installed sport spring. Only 82's with Sport suspension had the rear sway bar.
Unfortunately, the GM documents do not list the spring rate for the steel spring above, only the marshmallow composite monospring at 172 lbs, pathetically soft for any car in 1982, much less a sports car. My 78 steel 7 leaf Sport spring was 292lbs. I replaced it 35 years ago with a 360 lbs composite. I would never use steel again since steel is harsh, will sag with time, is 50 lbs versus 8 lbs for the composite and a composite at MUCH higher spring rates has a superior ride versus steel.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jul 24, 2021 at 01:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 382
Likes: 141
From: Pine Ridge FL
Thanks, jb78L-82. I had started with Heritage Center docs and as you mentioned, no mention of spring rates. I wanted to avoid going the composite route just because the steel springs make it different from the rest of the 82's and some have feel sullied for messing with the originality. The car still had the original tires when I got it two years ago! But since my goal is not to have show car but a driver I it's looking more like the composite will be the way to go.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Gm Heritage Center ^^^^^ shows you have an 8 leaf FE7 Sport steel spring and should have the 7/16 rear sway bar as well if it is a factory installed sport spring. Only 82's with Sport suspension had the rear sway bar.
Unfortunately, the GM documents do not list the spring rate for the steel spring above, only the marshmallow composite monospring at 172 lbs, pathetically soft for any car in 1982, much less a sports car. My 78 steel 7 leaf Sport spring was 292lbs. I replaced it 35 years ago with a 360 lbs composite. I would never use steel again since steel is harsh, will sag with time, is 50 lbs versus 8 lbs for the composite and a composite at MUCH higher spring rates has a superior ride versus steel.
Gm Heritage Center ^^^^^ shows you have an 8 leaf FE7 Sport steel spring and should have the 7/16 rear sway bar as well if it is a factory installed sport spring. Only 82's with Sport suspension had the rear sway bar.
Unfortunately, the GM documents do not list the spring rate for the steel spring above, only the marshmallow composite monospring at 172 lbs, pathetically soft for any car in 1982, much less a sports car. My 78 steel 7 leaf Sport spring was 292lbs. I replaced it 35 years ago with a 360 lbs composite. I would never use steel again since steel is harsh, will sag with time, is 50 lbs versus 8 lbs for the composite and a composite at MUCH higher spring rates has a superior ride versus steel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 966
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
if only someone still made a composite spring for our cars that fit without the lifted 4x4 effect....Its been about a year now since Ive seen anything available but empty promises and an everchanging backorder date..so I gave up and bought a 7 leaf steel spring myself. Since ive already been waiting for months for my l88 fresh air box ordered in may from ecklers.. I should have purchased it from ebay where at least the seller had stock and was upfront about it.
As I stated on another post today, This country is now becoming a third world nation...don't expect to get parts like we once did during the "dark years of the best economy in 50 years"...all gone now..enjoy!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
Thanks, jb78L-82. I had started with Heritage Center docs and as you mentioned, no mention of spring rates. I wanted to avoid going the composite route just because the steel springs make it different from the rest of the 82's and some have feel sullied for messing with the originality. The car still had the original tires when I got it two years ago! But since my goal is not to have show car but a driver I it's looking more like the composite will be the way to go.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...igh-still.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...mposite-2.html
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 966
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
FWIW-I installed my 360 composite back in 1986 made by Vette Brakes and Products, now out of business, and even back then, the TRW springs were known for adversely raising the rear of the car above the stock height which is why i did not use a TRW spring......some things never change.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
My guess would be In reality this likely has something to do with the covid fiasco effecting production worldwide since I work for the Belgians and we get our parts for our equipment from all over the world from china to canada and we are experiencing the same production delays and shutdowns... and that if Fedex can even deliver it since they have decided to not upgrade their infrastructure even though they have been overwhelmed for over a year from the increased delivery business. Instead they charge the same rates but no longer guarantee anything... Great deal.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jul 24, 2021 at 04:05 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
FWIW-I installed my 360 composite back in 1986 made by Vette Brakes and Products, now out of business, and even back then, the TRW springs were known for adversely raising the rear of the car above the stock height which is why i did not use a TRW spring......some things never change.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 966
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
My VBP 360 spring has said exactly the same height as the 7 leaf 292lbs OEM steel spring now for 35 years...Zero raise or lift. The 360 composite was very bouncy with KYB Gas A Just Monotube gas shocks way back when I put the composite on. I eventually switched to Bilstein HD's all around, front and rear, which amounted to less bounciness (still not to my liking) and, then eventually about 12 years ago, switched out the rear ONLY from the Bilstein HD's to Bilstein Sports (30% stiffer than HD). The car currently has Bilstein Sports in the rear and HD's up front. Ride is firm but no bounce and not harsh at all....
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Rebuilding the existing spring would be my recommendation for your FE7 car. If you don't want to mess with the spring rebuild, take the spring to a truck repair shop and ask them to do it. They should have all the equipment an know-how to get that job done well. If you want to purchase 'replacement' liners ahead of time, the shop should have no trouble with that. It would be nice [but unusual] for a repair shop to NOT charge you a premium because it is for a Corvette..... 
But, this spring rebuild is only going to happen once in the life of the car.
But, this spring rebuild is only going to happen once in the life of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
Keep the old spring, but give VanSteel a call. Tell them your application and driving style, and ask what weight low-arch spring they would recommend. Get on their waiting list, and don't expect to see your new spring for months. It will still be worth it, though.
The 385 lb VB&P spring in my 80 is still a bit soft for my taste, but I have no idea what that equates to in the VanSteel line.
The 385 lb VB&P spring in my 80 is still a bit soft for my taste, but I have no idea what that equates to in the VanSteel line.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 966
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
The 385 lb VB&P spring in my 80 is still a bit soft for my taste, but I have no idea what that equates to in the VanSteel line
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,713
Likes: 550
From: Seattle Washington
If You can even find a spring shop these days I would be very careful of telling them what You want. A local Spring shop that is long gone used to do do some work for some of my friends Vettes. They treated every Spring as though it was sagged out and they were there to make it better ! Each and every car I saw after words looked like it had had High Jacker Shocks installed and all You had to do was install longer bolts to get it back to the original ride height if that's what You wanted..
I think a Vendor like Paragon will have all the parts to redo the Spring You have it can't be that hard to do. Despite the age I doubt the squeaking sounds Your getting are from the Spring anyway. If this car still had the original Tires on it a couple of years ago then why would we suspect that the Pads between the Leafs are shot ? I think Your going to go in there and freshen things up and not need to deal with the Spring at all.
I once went to an NCRS meet and there was a very late production 82 with Aluminum Strut Rods on it like a C4 has. Your car does not have them does it ?
I think a Vendor like Paragon will have all the parts to redo the Spring You have it can't be that hard to do. Despite the age I doubt the squeaking sounds Your getting are from the Spring anyway. If this car still had the original Tires on it a couple of years ago then why would we suspect that the Pads between the Leafs are shot ? I think Your going to go in there and freshen things up and not need to deal with the Spring at all.
I once went to an NCRS meet and there was a very late production 82 with Aluminum Strut Rods on it like a C4 has. Your car does not have them does it ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 1,116
From: North tonawanda NY
Keep the old spring, but give VanSteel a call. Tell them your application and driving style, and ask what weight low-arch spring they would recommend. Get on their waiting list, and don't expect to see your new spring for months. It will still be worth it, though.
The 385 lb VB&P spring in my 80 is still a bit soft for my taste, but I have no idea what that equates to in the VanSteel line.
The 385 lb VB&P spring in my 80 is still a bit soft for my taste, but I have no idea what that equates to in the VanSteel line.