Front spring.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Front spring. (lemans396)
you know, thats a good question. I doubt they go bad, tho. I know steel springs will last 200,000 miles or so... without a problem. I would expect these to last just as long.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Front spring. (lemans396)
There was an article someone had from an old Book (Corvette A-Z51 or something like that). I beleive it was this book that talked about how the fiberglass springs wont sag like steal springs do. Only thing you really have to worry about is the rear spring and road debree. My original rear spring had 1/2" wide 1/8" thick peices of fiberglass starting to peal off, not sure what happened.
One guy on the forum said his front spring snapped after applying high heat to the frame above it. ALso have heard different cleaners people have used have weakened them... But as far as normal wear/tear should last almost forever.
Hope i helped some
One guy on the forum said his front spring snapped after applying high heat to the frame above it. ALso have heard different cleaners people have used have weakened them... But as far as normal wear/tear should last almost forever.
Hope i helped some
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Re: Front spring. (lemans396)
They delaminate over time. I changed mine at 145K when I went through the rest of the car. The old front spring was letting the drivers side front sag. Replace it when your ride suffers or your ride height drops.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Socorro New Mexico
Re: Front spring. (lemans396)
A few years ago, Corvette Quarterly ran an article on the new composite springs. They stated that the metal springs started loosing tensile strength after a few hundred thousand cycles. They gave up on testing the composite springs at 5 million cycles with no lose in tensile strength. Delaminating wasn't discussed, but that would probably be due more to time than cycles, maybe a combination of both.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 72
From: Sumter, SC
Re: Front spring. (Aaron's 87)
Thats good to know. The front of my 86 seems to sag about 1 inch more than other cars I've seen. It has about 102K on it now. When you changed the front spring did you use a base or Z51? How much did it raise the front of the car? Did you do it or have it done? Wondering about cost too.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Re: Front spring. (Curtis629)
I did it (and everything) myself. Just make sure the car is way up in the air because the spring curve takes up a few feet when unloaded. It's not as bad as everyone makes it out, but I might be jaded because I've done it so many times. The reason - Vette Brakes sport spring. It's too stiff and too arched for the car. It sits too high for my liking, although not much different than it would have rolled out of the factory.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Front spring. (Aaron's 87)
They'll last forever as previously stated, but inspect them for chips and cracks. If you see a crack then you better plan on a replacement. Time consuming task that is easily handled with common tools and a Helms manual. Good luck.... :p:
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