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1978 rear leaf spring?

Old Aug 6, 2024 | 08:59 PM
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Default 1978 rear leaf spring?

I have a 78 the rear spring is a 9 leaf that is 2 1/2" wide. I found some who has a fiberglass spring that said it was used in a 74. Every thing I read says 77 and older used a 2 1/4 wide spring. Was wondering is their any way for this to work in my 78? Spacers ware it mounts? The price this guy is asking is 1/4 of what they are new and he says it was only used a few years.

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Old Aug 6, 2024 | 09:56 PM
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79 assume 78 used 2 1/4 on gymkhana suspension and used spacers. Assme they will work for you.
watch your bolt lengths.


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Old Aug 6, 2024 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by red86silver78
I have a 78 the rear spring is a 9 leaf that is 2 1/2" wide. I found some who has a fiberglass spring that said it was used in a 74. Every thing I read says 77 and older used a 2 1/4 wide spring. Was wondering is their any way for this to work in my 78? Spacers ware it mounts? The price this guy is asking is 1/4 of what they are new and he says it was only used a few years.

What brand is it. Some are high arch springs, and the reason for selling. I had a VB&P low arch spring in my 78. Used a spacer to fit the 2 1/2 mounting plate on the diff. This can work. But check the brand most are high arch and look like you have a 4x4 vette once installed.


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Old Aug 6, 2024 | 10:58 PM
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I was researching some old posts on the forum and it seems this one is a TRW sold trough Muskegon brake possibly. The one photo I posted is the only label on it from the guys photos he took.
The bolts on the car holding mine on are 1/2 diameter with a 5/8 head. I had been reading about othe years using different bolts. Hers a photo of mine. I guess I can ask the guy how wide it is.


Last edited by red86silver78; Aug 6, 2024 at 11:05 PM.
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Old Aug 7, 2024 | 12:30 AM
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Setting the ride height is really easy. Don't worry about that. Longer outer hanger bolts will lower the car. The weight of the spring is the most important thing you should be looking at. Most seem to think spring weight in the area of 300 -350 LB's is what most look for as a compromise between ride quality and handling. You really need to run the correct shocks with glass spring or you'll get a bouncy ride. With a spring in the 300 -330 ball park and the correct Bilstien shocks. You'll love the ride. 1/4 inch difference in width isn't going to make any difference when you bolt it up in the center. It'll be mounted on a thick rubber block on one side and thinner rubber on the other. It anit going anywhere.
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Old Aug 7, 2024 | 12:38 AM
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Read this thread, and buy what works.

There's a reason that one is discounted 75%

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...igh-still.html
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 02:08 AM
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Originally Posted by red86silver78
I have a 78 the rear spring is a 9 leaf that is 2 1/2" wide. I found some who has a fiberglass spring that said it was used in a 74.
I would be cautious about using a "used" fiberglass spring, older ones delaminated. My 78 had a fiberglass spring (back in the 1990s) and within a couple of years, it delaminated. Think about where its located and what is running below it...exhaust pipes that generate heat!
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 05:33 AM
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And yet mines been on my car since the early 90's. And in use this entire time. And it's just as good today as the day I installed it.
No, I'm not thinking there is a issue with fibreglass springs. Quite the contrary. It's the steel springs that lose there luster.
I went mono spring way back when because my factory steel spring gave up it's will to live!
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 06:28 AM
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Well then they both have their faults...don't they.
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 07:08 AM
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Nothing's perfect. Especially in this world of old cars.
My experience has been the composite spring has lasted twice as long as the factory multi leaf steel spring and is still going strong.
Yet your experience is the opposite.
The OP needs to hear these things and then make up his own mind.
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