Rear leaf spring bolt broke off!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 2
Rear leaf spring bolt broke off!!
I was driving and when I was going through a speed bump, very slowly I heard loud noise, like something broke and then I could hear something dragging.
Got off, looked around and found out that the rear spring leaf was hanging completely. After taking a closer look I found that the bolt that holds this in place was broken. I found a cople of feet away the parts.
A little bit of bolt with the threaded end and a castle screw and some kind of rubber dampening part.
I now know that this part is the one that holds the spring in place and in tension. And that if you use a longer bolt the ride hight will increase and a smaller one will give you a low ride.
It is a peculiar bolt. Very long: 9" head included and about 1/2 inch in diameter.
I have looked around and it seems to be a difficult part to come by here in Mexico.
I have found a screw that is 1/2 inch diameter and 8" long. But is grade 5. I believe it is not strong enough.
Do you know what grade is the original? Could this be strong enough or not really?
Thanks for the advise in advance.
And by the way, this car sees a little track day action. Maybe one a year.
Got off, looked around and found out that the rear spring leaf was hanging completely. After taking a closer look I found that the bolt that holds this in place was broken. I found a cople of feet away the parts.
A little bit of bolt with the threaded end and a castle screw and some kind of rubber dampening part.
I now know that this part is the one that holds the spring in place and in tension. And that if you use a longer bolt the ride hight will increase and a smaller one will give you a low ride.
It is a peculiar bolt. Very long: 9" head included and about 1/2 inch in diameter.
I have looked around and it seems to be a difficult part to come by here in Mexico.
I have found a screw that is 1/2 inch diameter and 8" long. But is grade 5. I believe it is not strong enough.
Do you know what grade is the original? Could this be strong enough or not really?
Thanks for the advise in advance.
And by the way, this car sees a little track day action. Maybe one a year.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 628
Likes: 13
From: Indiana
"I now know that this part is the one that holds the spring in place and in tension. And that if you use a longer bolt the ride hight will increase and a smaller one will give you a low ride."
I believe you have that backwards. The longer one makes the car lower and shorter makes it higher. They have the longer ones available for lowering. All you need to do is get one of these kits and adjust it till both sides match. The eight inch bolt will probably make the car ride a little too high.
I believe you have that backwards. The longer one makes the car lower and shorter makes it higher. They have the longer ones available for lowering. All you need to do is get one of these kits and adjust it till both sides match. The eight inch bolt will probably make the car ride a little too high.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,389
Likes: 2,741
You mention Mexico - the bolt is 14mm X 200m long (approximately) OR you could use a 9/16 X 9 temporarily regardless of the grade to get it mobile. That would get you "safe to drive"!
Ideally you would like 9.8 or 10.9 metric but if you were using SAE hardware you'd like grade 9 product. To get you driving you can use what you can find!
Ideally you would like 9.8 or 10.9 metric but if you were using SAE hardware you'd like grade 9 product. To get you driving you can use what you can find!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Nov 27, 2013 at 05:13 PM.
Team Owner
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
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Likes: 39
He stated it happened because he went over a speed bump. The speed bump did not have to be there, and because it was there, applied a load on his bolt and caused it to break.
But yes in NJ I'm pretty sure if the road causes damages to your car, you can make them pay for it.
At least this is what I've been told by other people.
With my father's C5 Corvette, the bumper is so low that actually some of the bumps on the roads here would take it off if he went over them.
But yes in NJ I'm pretty sure if the road causes damages to your car, you can make them pay for it.
At least this is what I've been told by other people.
With my father's C5 Corvette, the bumper is so low that actually some of the bumps on the roads here would take it off if he went over them.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
He stated it happened because he went over a speed bump. The speed bump did not have to be there, and because it was there, applied a load on his bolt and caused it to break.
But yes in NJ I'm pretty sure if the road causes damages to your car, you can make them pay for it.
At least this is what I've been told by other people.
But yes in NJ I'm pretty sure if the road causes damages to your car, you can make them pay for it.
At least this is what I've been told by other people.
Highly unlikely the speed bump "caused" the bolt to break.
You can file a claim for damage if you feel the road caused that damage.
But it isn't as simple as "making the town pay".
They can just as easily deny your claim.
Last edited by RollaMo-LT4; Nov 27, 2013 at 06:04 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
Are you kidding? This is Mexico. You could get killed there and no one would look twice. You are suggesting the op get a lawyer and sue Mexico for a bolt? Back to the op, just go to a hardware store (or whatever you have in Mexico) and find a bolt at least as long as the broken one. A similar diameter SAE bolt will do just fine. As mentioned, grade 5 will get you going until you find the right one. When I was running an irs, I used SAE bolts and they were fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,306
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
See if you can find 2 feet of 9/16" alloy threaded rod. 11 inch pieces will allow for lowering, if you wish. Some grade 8 stover or nyloc nuts for top and bottom and your good to go.
Where are you in Mexico.
Where are you in Mexico.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 2
Thank you for the advise guys.
Kleptopigdog I want to thankyou very much for your kind offering. But after looking around I could not find something that would work well, best I could find was an 8" allen head bolt that was 0.5" in diameter grade 5.
So I found on E bay a set that will have to work, I hope it is still in good condition.
Agent 86 I live in Mexico city which is one of the safest right now with only the usuall going on like kidnapping, robery, car theft, etc as any big city.
Fortunately not as bad as the nrthern parts with all the drug cartels fighting for territory.
Anyway, if you ever come to Mexico I will be glad to help if I can. Just let me know so I can be prepared.
Kleptopigdog I want to thankyou very much for your kind offering. But after looking around I could not find something that would work well, best I could find was an 8" allen head bolt that was 0.5" in diameter grade 5.
So I found on E bay a set that will have to work, I hope it is still in good condition.
Agent 86 I live in Mexico city which is one of the safest right now with only the usuall going on like kidnapping, robery, car theft, etc as any big city.
Fortunately not as bad as the nrthern parts with all the drug cartels fighting for territory.
Anyway, if you ever come to Mexico I will be glad to help if I can. Just let me know so I can be prepared.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,306
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Agent 86 I live in Mexico city which is one of the safest right now with only the usuall going on like kidnapping, robery, car theft, etc as any big city.
Fortunately not as bad as the nrthern parts with all the drug cartels fighting for territory.
Anyway, if you ever come to Mexico I will be glad to help if I can. Just let me know so I can be prepared.
I think that's a bit of a drive from Mexico City, though.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,109
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It is a little bit far. I was in Puerto Vallarta as a very young boy, I do not remember much.
But friends that have gone there just fell in love with tha place.
A friend is even going to live there maybe next year.
They say it is really beautifull and if you like deep sea fishing, specially for sail fish, it is the right place.
But friends that have gone there just fell in love with tha place.
A friend is even going to live there maybe next year.
They say it is really beautifull and if you like deep sea fishing, specially for sail fish, it is the right place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
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From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
25 year old car? No way
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,109
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Problem is that the size has been increasing because a lot of persons are now using trucks, big pick ups, 4x4 , SUV's. etc.
A lot of them are not even painted so you can't spot them on time.
I once saw a speed bumb that was about 50cm tall! That is almost two feet, and very wide, like a mountain. The surface was very damaged because everybody was dragging their cars.
You can take legal action against the government but it will take you more than 5 years to get paid if that ever happens.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,189
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From: Wallingford Vermont
I used 9/16" x 10" grade 8, just a touch longer that stock.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...r-my-86-a.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...r-my-86-a.html
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,306
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I have only been to the Mayan Riviera and Nayarit Riviera, speed bumps galore and huge. My Vette wouldn't last long there.
