C3 rear spring replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
C3 rear spring replacement
A friend of mine has a 1970 Corvette coupe. He is thinking about replacing the rear spring. There is a composite mono spring on sale from The Vette Brakes & Products Summer Sale ! ! ! (Sticky thread.)
Name: 360lb Fiberglass Spring Only 1963-82
ID: 31360
Have any of you replaced the steel spring with a fiberglass spring? If so what are the results?
How difficult will it be to replace the spring on his car? We have access to a lift and tools. Is there a special tool needed to compress the spring?
Name: 360lb Fiberglass Spring Only 1963-82
ID: 31360
Have any of you replaced the steel spring with a fiberglass spring? If so what are the results?
How difficult will it be to replace the spring on his car? We have access to a lift and tools. Is there a special tool needed to compress the spring?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Just replaced mine with a 330 lb monospring from VBP two months ago. Only had the car on ramps and used a floor jack to compress the spring to remove the end links. No special tools needed and everything comes with the kit. Make sure to use the bushing lube if you get the poly bushings. As far as the ride quality, I'm very pleased. You will most likely need to look at your shocks for some upgraded units, I'm using Koni adjustables but many swear by the KYB G2 gas adjust. Total time for spring replacement is about an hour taking you time to make sure everything is centered. Good Luck, Marc 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by mrcorvette79
Just replaced mine with a 330 lb monospring from VBP two months ago. Only had the car on ramps and used a floor jack to compress the spring to remove the end links. No special tools needed and everything comes with the kit. Make sure to use the bushing lube if you get the poly bushings. As far as the ride quality, I'm very pleased. You will most likely need to look at your shocks for some upgraded units, I'm using Koni adjustables but many swear by the KYB G2 gas adjust. Total time for spring replacement is about an hour taking you time to make sure everything is centered. Good Luck, Marc
Thanks for the info. Sounds like we should be able to handle it.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso IN
I used a pair of Vicegrips with wooden blocks a few inches up the spring as a 'stop' in case the floorjack started to 'walk' up the spring as you unload it..You don't need that jack to walk off the spring while you're in there. Also look into getting some longer bolts..The bolts that came with my spring were too short and my A$$end was too high. Longer bolts brought it right down..
Good Luck..
Steve
Good Luck..
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: parsippany nj
If you put in a fiberglass rear spring definitely get the longewr bolts because it will give you more ride height adjustment. I put the fiberglass spring in my '64 and it rides real nice. I wish I had done it in my '72
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
"Have any of you replaced the steel spring with a fiberglass spring? If so what are the results? "
I bought the 360# spring several years ago. It was such a big improvement in ride quality (along with a significant weight reduction!) that after a few months I replaced it with a 420# spring. It has the perfect (for me) combination of ride quality and handling stiffness.
Buy the spring, and watch yourself wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
I bought the 360# spring several years ago. It was such a big improvement in ride quality (along with a significant weight reduction!) that after a few months I replaced it with a 420# spring. It has the perfect (for me) combination of ride quality and handling stiffness.
Buy the spring, and watch yourself wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Bluffdale Utah
I replaced mine back a few years ago with the 360 lb spring. The ride was significantly better and quieter while cornering performance was certainly enhanced. One of the best suspension mods I've done and very easy.
Good Luck!!
Brad
Good Luck!!
Brad