Ride height - Fiberglass spring ?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Ride height - Fiberglass spring ?
I rebuilt the suspension and re-installed the original rear (9 leaf) spring. I installed the 'grand touring' 460 lbs springs and had to cut 3/4 coil to get the height right (27.75") . The rear is sitting at 30", I guess the longer bolts will fix this problem.
The rear is pretty rough, to my surprise worse than the front. I assumed that with the new 460lbs springs the front would be a lot stiffer than the rear with the original spring.
I am thinking about the 330lbs fiberglass spring, will this make the rear even stiffer ? Will I then need the 550lbs springs for the front ?
Does the fiberglass spring change the ride height ??
I am a little confused that the car is so high in the rear with basically all original parts.
======================================== ========
Thanks for all the input.
It seems that I was not clear in my post and caused some confusion - I did not install a fiberglass spring, my vette sits at 30" with the original spring
In addition the rear is pretty rough, feels stiffer than the front with the 460lbs coils...
I was wondering if that's 'normal', the rear spring appears to be original and 25 years old.
The rear is pretty rough, to my surprise worse than the front. I assumed that with the new 460lbs springs the front would be a lot stiffer than the rear with the original spring.
I am thinking about the 330lbs fiberglass spring, will this make the rear even stiffer ? Will I then need the 550lbs springs for the front ?
Does the fiberglass spring change the ride height ??
I am a little confused that the car is so high in the rear with basically all original parts.
======================================== ========
Thanks for all the input.
It seems that I was not clear in my post and caused some confusion - I did not install a fiberglass spring, my vette sits at 30" with the original spring
In addition the rear is pretty rough, feels stiffer than the front with the 460lbs coils...
I was wondering if that's 'normal', the rear spring appears to be original and 25 years old.
Last edited by MYBAD79; Nov 8, 2004 at 09:42 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
You are experiencing what SEVERAL members here have experienced. After switching to a fiberglass spring my rear ride hight increased a couple inches. The car sits as it it was a pro-preet car. 
I installed longer bolt to no avail. This seems to occur w/ Mid-America/TRW rear springs.
I installed longer bolt to no avail. This seems to occur w/ Mid-America/TRW rear springs.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have the 460 coils in the front and the 330 spring in the rear. I bought the kit from VB a few years ago. I did have to go to longer bolts but this solved my problem. Both front and rear are at 27 inches without cutting the front coils.My front end is also very light. Car weighs 3250 lbs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,145
Likes: 125
From: The Motor City
Oh boy... here we go again!!
Do a search and see if you can find the 7,000 page thread that we had going 6 months or so ago on the TRW spring. Almost everyone who has one doesn't like the ride height or the 10" long bolt that it takes to get it right. When I set the height where I wanted it, the end of the spring was 1/4" from the sidewall of the tire.
Do a search and see if you can find the 7,000 page thread that we had going 6 months or so ago on the TRW spring. Almost everyone who has one doesn't like the ride height or the 10" long bolt that it takes to get it right. When I set the height where I wanted it, the end of the spring was 1/4" from the sidewall of the tire.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
I have the opposite problem most of you are having or have had. Sounds like it could just be personal preference. My car ('75 coupe) sits too low in the rear, at least compared to the front it does. I can live with it but my rear wheels are bowed out slightly. Will a simple bolt adjustment correct this or do I need a new spring and bolt kit? Also, how complicated is the bolt adjustment? How exactly is it done? Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 1
From: OKC Oklahoma
If you find the thread with my pics on it, you can see my rear VBP spring. My car sits pretty low and I like it that way. I also have a mono front spring and tubular controls arms, but anyway..... Van Steel custom made my spring. I think it's like 345lbs and it's an inch shorter to clear bigger tires.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Thanks for all the input.
It seems that I was not clear in my post and caused some confusion - I did not install a fiberglass spring, my vette sits at 30" with the original spring
In addition the rear is pretty rough, feels stiffer than the front with the 460lbs coils...
I was wondering if that's 'normal', the rear spring appears to be original and 25 years old.
It seems that I was not clear in my post and caused some confusion - I did not install a fiberglass spring, my vette sits at 30" with the original spring
In addition the rear is pretty rough, feels stiffer than the front with the 460lbs coils...
I was wondering if that's 'normal', the rear spring appears to be original and 25 years old.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 478
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
My rearend is so bouncy with the original fiberglass spring it is almost uncontrolable 
but I think my problem is the cheap shock I put back there. When I rebuild my rearend this winter I'm going with better shocks and see if that helps. Maybe someone has canged your rear spring with a firmer one.
YBnormal...drive a vette
but I think my problem is the cheap shock I put back there. When I rebuild my rearend this winter I'm going with better shocks and see if that helps. Maybe someone has canged your rear spring with a firmer one.YBnormal...drive a vette
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 190
Likes: 1
From: Greenville CA
Waht length bolts did you go to?
Originally Posted by Gordonm
I have the 460 coils in the front and the 330 spring in the rear. I bought the kit from VB a few years ago. I did have to go to longer bolts but this solved my problem. Both front and rear are at 27 inches without cutting the front coils.My front end is also very light. Car weighs 3250 lbs.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Originally Posted by Scooter70
Oh boy... here we go again!!
Do a search and see if you can find the 7,000 page thread that we had going 6 months or so ago on the TRW spring. Almost everyone who has one doesn't like the ride height or the 10" long bolt that it takes to get it right. When I set the height where I wanted it, the end of the spring was 1/4" from the sidewall of the tire.
Do a search and see if you can find the 7,000 page thread that we had going 6 months or so ago on the TRW spring. Almost everyone who has one doesn't like the ride height or the 10" long bolt that it takes to get it right. When I set the height where I wanted it, the end of the spring was 1/4" from the sidewall of the tire.
I think a lot of history (threads) were lost in the conversion. I can't find what you are refering to
. Can you send me a link? I remember you talking about this at Bakers. What spring are you using? TRW? LBS?
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,145
Likes: 125
From: The Motor City
John,
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=706428
You have to be sneaky to get what you want from this search engine! The threads are there, you just have to know how to find them.
It's only 17 pages long.
I have the 355lb/in spring that I bought from Zip (I think). It is the TRW designed, Muskegon manufactured one.
RedBad1979,
What was the ride height before you put everything back together? I'm suprised that it would be that high with a 25 year old spring. Usually by that age they're sagging so badly that the trailing arms hit the bump stops. What are you using for shocks? Going from the 9 leaf to my composite spring and Bilstein shocks, the ride got infinitely better.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=706428
You have to be sneaky to get what you want from this search engine! The threads are there, you just have to know how to find them.
It's only 17 pages long.I have the 355lb/in spring that I bought from Zip (I think). It is the TRW designed, Muskegon manufactured one.
RedBad1979,
What was the ride height before you put everything back together? I'm suprised that it would be that high with a 25 year old spring. Usually by that age they're sagging so badly that the trailing arms hit the bump stops. What are you using for shocks? Going from the 9 leaf to my composite spring and Bilstein shocks, the ride got infinitely better.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Scooter70
RedBad1979,
What was the ride height before you put everything back together? I'm suprised that it would be that high with a 25 year old spring. Usually by that age they're sagging so badly that the trailing arms hit the bump stops. What are you using for shocks? Going from the 9 leaf to my composite spring and Bilstein shocks, the ride got infinitely better.
What was the ride height before you put everything back together? I'm suprised that it would be that high with a 25 year old spring. Usually by that age they're sagging so badly that the trailing arms hit the bump stops. What are you using for shocks? Going from the 9 leaf to my composite spring and Bilstein shocks, the ride got infinitely better.
This is actually why I started this post :
1) will a fiberglass spring be even stiffer (probably) and more uncomfortable (likely) than what I have now ?
2) Will the ride height change when installing a fiberglass spring ?
3) should I just get the $20 dollar 8" bolts to get the height down ??
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
[QUOTE=Scooter70]John,
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=706428
You have to be sneaky to get what you want from this search engine! The threads are there, you just have to know how to find them. It's only 17 pages long.
WOW! no wonder you could not believe this issue was up for discussion again
I did learn quite a bit at the beginning of the thread and some at the end.
I guess I am lucky I have the 315lbs and next spring I should be sporting 17'S
Thanks for the link
,
John
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=706428
You have to be sneaky to get what you want from this search engine! The threads are there, you just have to know how to find them.
It's only 17 pages long.WOW! no wonder you could not believe this issue was up for discussion again
I did learn quite a bit at the beginning of the thread and some at the end.
I guess I am lucky I have the 315lbs and next spring I should be sporting 17'S
Thanks for the link
,John
