Front and rear spring life?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Forever??? Mine, both are 25 years old with over 165,000 miles on them and they are doing just fine. Do you want me to let you know when they go so you will have 10 years advance notice?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
Reason why I posed this question: I had my front and rear suspension rebuilt (VB&P kit), new shocks, new wheel bearings, and new tires. The final piece of this project is the alignment. Well, I tried to have them dial in the advanced street settings from VB&P. Unfortunately, the alignment is now way off. Caster is off in the front from right to left by over 2 degrees!
The alignment technician and Corvette mechanic both said the cause for the car not being in alignment is that the springs are sagging and need to be replaced. The mechanic who rebuilt the entire suspension disagrees and said the springs were fine (otherwise he would have told me and we could have replaced them when everything was apart).
This is why I am trying to determine what the average spring life is. I have a '94 with 101K miles on it. The car seems to drive just fine. How can one tell if springs are sagging on the car??? Thoughts?
The alignment technician and Corvette mechanic both said the cause for the car not being in alignment is that the springs are sagging and need to be replaced. The mechanic who rebuilt the entire suspension disagrees and said the springs were fine (otherwise he would have told me and we could have replaced them when everything was apart).
This is why I am trying to determine what the average spring life is. I have a '94 with 101K miles on it. The car seems to drive just fine. How can one tell if springs are sagging on the car??? Thoughts?
Last edited by LilR3dCorvette; Mar 10, 2008 at 11:53 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Thats a good question. Other than seeing a break or delamination (looks like its peeling) how would one tell? Other than the ride height settling seems it would be tough to decipher.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
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From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,858
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
OK here's what's going on.
The springs are not sagged. VB&P, hopefully they'll chime in, rearches the springs to give you a lower ride hieght than stock w/o having to put wedges in.
When the tech looks at it it looks he sees the dearch spring and it w/o knowing they've been replaced with non-stock springs, assumes the stock ones have arched.
C4 have a varience left to right normally, but 2 degrees does seem excessive.
Have a look at these rest of the components and make sure they are all installed properly.
The springs are not sagged. VB&P, hopefully they'll chime in, rearches the springs to give you a lower ride hieght than stock w/o having to put wedges in.
When the tech looks at it it looks he sees the dearch spring and it w/o knowing they've been replaced with non-stock springs, assumes the stock ones have arched.
C4 have a varience left to right normally, but 2 degrees does seem excessive.
Have a look at these rest of the components and make sure they are all installed properly.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
OK here's what's going on.
The springs are not sagged. VB&P, hopefully they'll chime in, rearches the springs to give you a lower ride hieght than stock w/o having to put wedges in.
When the tech looks at it it looks he sees the dearch spring and it w/o knowing they've been replaced with non-stock springs, assumes the stock ones have arched.
C4 have a varience left to right normally, but 2 degrees does seem excessive.
Have a look at these rest of the components and make sure they are all installed properly.
The springs are not sagged. VB&P, hopefully they'll chime in, rearches the springs to give you a lower ride hieght than stock w/o having to put wedges in.
When the tech looks at it it looks he sees the dearch spring and it w/o knowing they've been replaced with non-stock springs, assumes the stock ones have arched.
C4 have a varience left to right normally, but 2 degrees does seem excessive.
Have a look at these rest of the components and make sure they are all installed properly.
The springs on the car are just the stock FE1 springs the car came with. They have over 101K on them. I was told by the person who examined the car and installed the VB&P kit (poly bushings/balljoints/tie rod ends) that my springs were fine and did not need replacement. The alignment techs disagree. Hence my original questions as to how long stock C4 springs last...
The car also has new Z51 Bilsteins, wheel bearings, and tires. The car seems to drive fine but the alignment #s are way off. Any new thoughts?
Last edited by LilR3dCorvette; Mar 10, 2008 at 02:00 PM. Reason: added info
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Z51 Bilsteins with FE1 springs??? You can't do that.
Seriously! I would seek a second opinion. Maybe you are asking for settings that the tech can't manage or doesn't want to do. Neither pmihaltian nor I are wrong, it's just that we've had different experiences. A spring could become damaged at any mileage or age.
RACE ON!!!
Seriously! I would seek a second opinion. Maybe you are asking for settings that the tech can't manage or doesn't want to do. Neither pmihaltian nor I are wrong, it's just that we've had different experiences. A spring could become damaged at any mileage or age.
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
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From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
Z51 Bilsteins with FE1 springs??? You can't do that.
Seriously! I would seek a second opinion. Maybe you are asking for settings that the tech can't manage or doesn't want to do. Neither pmihaltian nor I are wrong, it's just that we've had different experiences. A spring could become damaged at any mileage or age.
RACE ON!!!
Seriously! I would seek a second opinion. Maybe you are asking for settings that the tech can't manage or doesn't want to do. Neither pmihaltian nor I are wrong, it's just that we've had different experiences. A spring could become damaged at any mileage or age.
RACE ON!!!
I have gotten second, third, fourth, etc opinions.
Everyone is equally split, which doesn't help. I'm not saying that either you or pmihaltian are 'wrong' just that your responses differ, which makes it all the more difficult.The alignment specs I'm requesting aren't very radical...so who knows what the problem is...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,858
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Yes w/o actually being there, or reading the question too fast , various opinions will ensure.
Take a look at the spring, if it's started to delaminate you should be able to see it. Also have them measure the ride hieght. You can also measure how much the spring compresses when loaded. Have someone sit on that corner of the car etc. and measure how much it goes down, do the same on the other side and see what happens. Also check the mounts both on the frame and down by the a-arms.
, various opinions will ensure.Take a look at the spring, if it's started to delaminate you should be able to see it. Also have them measure the ride hieght. You can also measure how much the spring compresses when loaded. Have someone sit on that corner of the car etc. and measure how much it goes down, do the same on the other side and see what happens. Also check the mounts both on the frame and down by the a-arms.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
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From: Woodstock Georgia
[QUOTE=CFI-EFI;1564479451]Z51 Bilsteins with FE1 springs??? You can't do that
Really? Why Not? Assuming that by Z51 Bilsteins he means the Bilstein Sports they bolt right up. While the HO version iis recommended for the FE1 the sports version will work with a slightly rougher ride being the only difference for a street car. As always though mismatched components are not a good idea for a track car.
Really? Why Not? Assuming that by Z51 Bilsteins he means the Bilstein Sports they bolt right up. While the HO version iis recommended for the FE1 the sports version will work with a slightly rougher ride being the only difference for a street car. As always though mismatched components are not a good idea for a track car.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
Really? Why Not? Assuming that by Z51 Bilsteins he means the Bilstein Sports they bolt right up. While the HO version iis recommended for the FE1 the sports version will work with a slightly rougher ride being the only difference for a street car. As always though mismatched components are not a good idea for a track car.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
Yes w/o actually being there, or reading the question too fast , various opinions will ensure.
Take a look at the spring, if it's started to delaminate you should be able to see it. Also have them measure the ride hieght. You can also measure how much the spring compresses when loaded. Have someone sit on that corner of the car etc. and measure how much it goes down, do the same on the other side and see what happens. Also check the mounts both on the frame and down by the a-arms.
, various opinions will ensure.Take a look at the spring, if it's started to delaminate you should be able to see it. Also have them measure the ride hieght. You can also measure how much the spring compresses when loaded. Have someone sit on that corner of the car etc. and measure how much it goes down, do the same on the other side and see what happens. Also check the mounts both on the frame and down by the a-arms.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 344
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From: Duncanville Texas
check the basics
did any one of them leave out the little spacers that are held in on the upper control arm adjustment bolts? The process of elimination should lead to the answer in short order.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
[QUOTE=aminnich;1564480709]
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$$") I now regret posting my experience.
Buy new springs. They should be changed at every oil change, JERK!
RACE ON!!!
Z51 Bilsteins with FE1 springs??? You can't do that
Really? Why Not? Assuming that by Z51 Bilsteins he means the Bilstein Sports they bolt right up. While the HO version iis recommended for the FE1 the sports version will work with a slightly rougher ride being the only difference for a street car. As always though mismatched components are not a good idea for a track car.
Really? Why Not? Assuming that by Z51 Bilsteins he means the Bilstein Sports they bolt right up. While the HO version iis recommended for the FE1 the sports version will work with a slightly rougher ride being the only difference for a street car. As always though mismatched components are not a good idea for a track car.
", and the next paragraph starting with "Seriously!". I was being sacastic. That was tongue in cheek.However, because of accusations, ("No need to be a jacka$$") I now regret posting my experience.
Buy new springs. They should be changed at every oil change, JERK!
RACE ON!!!