Spring rates
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,487
Likes: 2,376
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Spring rates
I have a 96 LT4 conv. with the base FE1 suspension. The front leaf spring is cracked. I was considering upgrading to the Z51 springs. Does anyone know the difference in the spring rates or are they the same? Thanks
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,487
Likes: 2,376
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I found my answer. They are the same. The stabilizer bars and the shocks are different.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Your info source is wrong. Z51 springs are stiffer than the base springs. How much stiffer depends on year. '89-'90 & '91 Z07 front springs are the stiffest relative to the later year (88 & up) C4s.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Here you go:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...usp_chart.html
What do you do with the car? What will determine if it is worth getting the stiffer springs.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...usp_chart.html
What do you do with the car? What will determine if it is worth getting the stiffer springs.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,487
Likes: 2,376
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Per the link given by 93Rubie the rates are the same for the front spring at 73.2 for FE1 conv. and Z51. What numbers do you show?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
So in fact, I may be incorrect and by virtue of it using the '95 base spring, you have the equivalent of the '96 Z51 spring (p/n difference aside). FWIW, The '96 Z51 coupe was essentially the '95 base suspension. Just goes to show how soft the car got.
Last edited by 96GS#007; May 4, 2012 at 05:05 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Unless you plan making other changes I would NOT change the front spring rate. The 73.2 is very common and should be easy to find.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
