Geometry Lesson, C4 rear spring?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Geometry Lesson, C4 rear spring?
Okay, I am having a geometry problem here. I look at how the rear leaf spring is located in the rear, and how the lowering/raising spring bolts are put in.But how does the spring actually hold the car up? It is bolted to the center, and the spring angles down to the ground. The spring bolt goes through it with a pad towards the ground, and one on top of the spindle.
It seems all it does is push the center up. I am at a loss, like its staring me in the eyes and I cant see the obvious.
It seems all it does is push the center up. I am at a loss, like its staring me in the eyes and I cant see the obvious.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 6
From: MichAgain
Geometry
It pushes up in the center (to the body) and down on the ends (to the wheels). The first time I saw it I was like "What the hell?". But it's a pretty easy setup. A floor jack with a pad to protect the spring can be used to take pressure off the wheel end to disconnect it.
T
T
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Yeah Steve its bolted hard to the rear cover of the diff, which cant move in the car. The ends of the spring are pulling down on the rear knuckles which holds the car up. Pulling the knuckles down will raise the car up 
As apposed to the front end, the spring is held under the engine cradle and pushes down against the lower control arms.
As apposed to the front end, the spring is held under the engine cradle and pushes down against the lower control arms.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Oddly enough, the same basic spring configuration was the norm on most autos until after WWII. The only real difference was that the cars had live axles instead of independent control of each wheel. Although it works pretty well on Corvettes, on which it's used since '63 and at least through the C4 era (not sure after that), I still think it's rather archaic and can certainly be improved upon.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26,598
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
Cruise-In 8-9 Veteran
aka/Trunk Monkey/Banned For Life/Corvette For Life
Oddly enough, the same basic spring configuration was the norm on most autos until after WWII. The only real difference was that the cars had live axles instead of independent control of each wheel. Although it works pretty well on Corvettes, on which it's used since '63 and at least through the C4 era (not sure after that), I still think it's rather archaic and can certainly be improved upon.
, but you cant argue with results...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,310
Likes: 2,231
From: Central Maryland
The only real difference was that the cars had live axles instead of independent control of each wheel. Although it works pretty well on Corvettes, on which it's used since '63 and at least through the C4 era (not sure after that), I still think it's rather archaic and can certainly be improved upon.
Be well,
SJW
