Its only a spring question.
Front and rear spring life?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,958
Likes: 707
From: WI
Sometimes humor is difficult over the internet.
I keep coming up perplexed with this thread, I'd like to look at the car and see what is up. I keep wondering if it would matter about the spring. So what if it is weak and sagging, why would that make it hard to align? The car is not cornering or going over bumps on the rack. If the spring were sagging wouldn't your car look very low? Does it?
No trouble with the springs on mine at over 100K and track use. Here is an article about springs:
It says nearly forever for use. It also says no sag.
I keep coming up perplexed with this thread, I'd like to look at the car and see what is up. I keep wondering if it would matter about the spring. So what if it is weak and sagging, why would that make it hard to align? The car is not cornering or going over bumps on the rack. If the spring were sagging wouldn't your car look very low? Does it?
No trouble with the springs on mine at over 100K and track use. Here is an article about springs:
It says nearly forever for use. It also says no sag.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
You missed the three following "
", and the next paragraph starting with "Seriously!". I was being sacastic. That was tongue in cheek.
However, because of accusations, ("No need to be a jacka$$") I now regret posting my experience.
Buy new springs. They should be changed at every oil change, JERK!
RACE ON!!!
", and the next paragraph starting with "Seriously!". I was being sacastic. That was tongue in cheek.However, because of accusations, ("No need to be a jacka$$") I now regret posting my experience.
Buy new springs. They should be changed at every oil change, JERK!
RACE ON!!!
in my post. Also tongue in cheek. However, your sarcastic response to begin with was unnecessary. I do believe your post calling me a jerk is in violation of the forum rules.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,926
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
I was having my suspension realigned, when the guy was concerned as the left side wasnt doing what it was supposed, during raising and lowering. This was his pre alignment check. Come to find out my drivers side upper control was loose. MY FAULT. But he caught it before going into the alignment.
Lower and upper control arms are supposed to be tightened while loaded. Maybe, just maybe something is binding, and causing the alignment to be off.
Springs should las longer than the car, unless cracked or delaminated.
Lower and upper control arms are supposed to be tightened while loaded. Maybe, just maybe something is binding, and causing the alignment to be off.
Springs should las longer than the car, unless cracked or delaminated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette94
You obviously missed the in my post. Also tongue in cheek. However, your sarcastic response to begin with was unnecessary.
in my post. Also tongue in cheek. However, your sarcastic response to begin with was unnecessary.
Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette94
I do believe your post calling me a jerk is in violation of the forum rules.
Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette94
No need to be a jacka$$
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis MN
Just playing
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Anything is possible, but I wouldn't expect any measurable degradation in a composite spring in 100k miles of driving - even if you regularly autocrossed or slalomed.
That said, rather than wearing out, your spring may be suffering from a manufacturing error and was out of spec even when new. Also, what composite springs do not handle real well is any sort of cut or fracturing of the surface. If the surface has been damaged in any way, that usually compromises a composite spring's integrity. Composite springs can be damaged in collisions, or from road debris (pretty rare), or from mistakes like placing a jack against the surface.
As for all the other topic chest puffing...chillax, its just a spring thing and not everyone plays well with others. A short while back I joked that I tell people my car was a special order Polo Green Grand Sport. Some people saw the humor, others thought it made anything else I might say to be unworthy of reading. Why this sort of thing happens on Internet forums is a topic for a scholar. Fortunately conflict de-escalation is pretty straighforward: one of the guys has to decide that his manhood is still intact even if an audience member calls him a boob.
Thomas
That said, rather than wearing out, your spring may be suffering from a manufacturing error and was out of spec even when new. Also, what composite springs do not handle real well is any sort of cut or fracturing of the surface. If the surface has been damaged in any way, that usually compromises a composite spring's integrity. Composite springs can be damaged in collisions, or from road debris (pretty rare), or from mistakes like placing a jack against the surface.
As for all the other topic chest puffing...chillax, its just a spring thing and not everyone plays well with others. A short while back I joked that I tell people my car was a special order Polo Green Grand Sport. Some people saw the humor, others thought it made anything else I might say to be unworthy of reading. Why this sort of thing happens on Internet forums is a topic for a scholar. Fortunately conflict de-escalation is pretty straighforward: one of the guys has to decide that his manhood is still intact even if an audience member calls him a boob.
Thomas
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2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thank you for your reply Tomas, I am new to c4 corvettes and to this site but I used to run an offroad club and website so I am familar with some peoples' attempt at humour...lol all in good fun.
Thanks again,
So far this car is everything I thought it would be... I had a '78 L48 I think it was.. not the pace car model...anyway this '86 far superior in my opinion.
Jon
Thanks again,
So far this car is everything I thought it would be... I had a '78 L48 I think it was.. not the pace car model...anyway this '86 far superior in my opinion.
Jon
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Every Corvette generation has some outstanding and redeemable qualities.
Your '78 L48 was a great cruiser, easy to get in and out of, distinctively and classically styled - and given the great styling I find it interesting the the C3 was probably the most likely to receive custom paint and body modifications when new.
The C4 is a fantastic car, not so easy to get in and out of, and it was purposely destyled as compared to the C3. If you want to have some fun, go back and read the road test reports, especially from the early C4 years - the C4 is what helped to make Corvettes credible in the world stage. None of us should ever forget how the C4 raised the performance bar: so successful in showroom stock racing that it was effectively banned into its own "Corvette Challenge" racing series. How about the Calloway made/Lingenfelter driven Sledgehammer: more than 250 mph decades before the Bugatti Veyron.
Glad you have a good sense of humor, and I hope the forum helps you keep your '86 in top form.
Thomas
Your '78 L48 was a great cruiser, easy to get in and out of, distinctively and classically styled - and given the great styling I find it interesting the the C3 was probably the most likely to receive custom paint and body modifications when new.
The C4 is a fantastic car, not so easy to get in and out of, and it was purposely destyled as compared to the C3. If you want to have some fun, go back and read the road test reports, especially from the early C4 years - the C4 is what helped to make Corvettes credible in the world stage. None of us should ever forget how the C4 raised the performance bar: so successful in showroom stock racing that it was effectively banned into its own "Corvette Challenge" racing series. How about the Calloway made/Lingenfelter driven Sledgehammer: more than 250 mph decades before the Bugatti Veyron.
Glad you have a good sense of humor, and I hope the forum helps you keep your '86 in top form.
Thomas
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 92
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
I remember Dave McLellan's book addressed composite spring fatigue life. It was much longer than a steel spring. (It was an unexpected benefit; the lighter weight was the primary benefit.)
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 635
Likes: 1
Hi I would supect your ride height is off side to side. Mine was way off side to side. I would check for broken or bad parts first and then ride height side to side If off you could add shims above spring to even it out if that's the case. I'm not a expert but would VB&P's adjustable lower suspension bushings also be a fix for this? They give more camber but don't know if they affect caster also. Good luck Tim
