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Does anyone know anything about Vette Brakes and Products? This spring is on my 84' and I called the 1-800 number on the spring and they told me the tech guy who would know about this spring was out until Monday. Can anyone decipher this spring? The guy only knew they punch out the spring rates with a hole punch on the sticker. Too bad they didn't punch the rate, only what starts with "Sa" unless the punch is supposed to be for "84-94RE".
I feel like this spring is from 94' (as the years only go up to 94). Any ideas?
(This is the best picture I have as the car is 4 hours from me)
Edit: I think the "Sa" is supposed to say sales because the phone number is right next to it.
So what does 84-94RE mean? 84-94 Rear? No idea what the spring rate could be then...
Last edited by v8vette84; Feb 18, 2016 at 04:37 PM.
Well apparently my friend took 2 pictures of both stickers (I guess there are 2 on the spring) The picture is blurry so it's real hard to tell but there seems to be a mark near the 300 number. Which according to the guy on the phone the numbers on the bottom are the spring rate. So if that mark is a punch I would have a spring rate of 300?
I assumed my spring was changed after I saw another members car personally and his rear spring was shaped differently. (his spring looks more like a butterfly I guess) Just past the mounting blocks it gets wider. Where this VBP spring is rectangular and doesn't change width from the blocks out to the wheels.
Did they not write anything on the spring with a paint pen? Something like in the pic below? The "K-xxx" would be the spring rate that your particular example tested at after they finished making it.
Did they not write anything on the spring with a paint pen? Something like in the pic below? The "K-xxx" would be the spring rate that your particular example tested at after they finished making it.
Not that I could see. If they did it must have been worn off or something.
This is the blurry photo. It does look like there might be a "hole punch" near the number "300". It's hard to tell though. My buddy who lives close by my parents told me the sticker is quite beat up but he also didn't pay attention to where a "hole punch" was. I'm just surprised both stickers wouldn't be punched the same...
Also when I looked up the history report when I got the car it had an accident in 97' to the rear of the car. I wonder if the factory spring got whacked and had to be replaced. Or maybe one of the prior owners didn't like the ride and installed this weaker spring (Is factory 84' Z51 spring 326lbs?) in the rear? (Front looks to be original)
I'm 25 so I'm not concerned too much about the ride. If I find out my spring is weaker anyone got an 84' Z51 rear spring they want to sell? I want the car to handle/ride like it did from the factory. Too harsh of a ride? Its a sports car... I never got that about ppl.... You buy a Corvette then complain how it rides, go buy a cadillac if you want a cushy ride.
If I find out my spring is weaker anyone got an 84' Z51 rear spring they want to sell? I want the car to handle/ride like it did from the factory.
Those are probably hard to find. You can get similar spring rates from Vette Brake Products, though. I know they sell at least up to 550lb spring s for the rear of C4s (I have one). Give them a call.
Those are probably hard to find. You can get similar spring rates from Vette Brake Products, though. I know they sell at least up to 550lb spring s for the rear of C4s (I have one). Give them a call.
Hard to find? That sucks. I thought they made tons of 84' Z51 cars...
I'm just not sure I want to spend $400 on a rear spring just because... I'll have to check ebay.
Last edited by v8vette84; Feb 20, 2016 at 10:53 AM.
Well my buddy stopped by again to look at the pring and he said the mark above 300 is not a punch, it's a gouge in the sticker from something hitting it he said. He said there were no other marks on the spring. I'm going to be calling VBP today and I'll update when I talk to them.
Well I actually just called and spoke with a tech about the spring; apparently they mark the spring in chalk/paint pen (like MatthewMiller said) This rear leaf spring was manufactured in 1994 and it is a "sport" spring. I just have no idea the exact spring rate. He didn't seem to know why the spring's sticker had rates of 300-420 on a "sport" spring. He said when they manufacture the sport springs most end up around 500lbs. Too bad there are no 84' Z51 cars near me I could ride in to feel how stiff the factory spring is. I guess I'll never know the rate unless there is a way to test it.
FWIW the spring whose pic I posted is also marked as a Sport spring and has similar rate choices on the sticker, although when they tested it the result was exactly 442lb/in. Here's a pic of the sticker on it:
They do test each spring they make, to verify exactly what the rate is. You can test your own spring to get at least a close idea of the rate. Just clamp it onto something solid at the exact same mounting points as stock, and hang weights at one of the outer bolt locations until you get exactly one inch of movement. As an alternative, maybe VBP would test it for you if you shipped it to them and paid for return shipping.
FWIW the spring whose pic I posted is also marked as a Sport spring and has similar rate choices on the sticker, although when they tested it the result was exactly 442lb/in. Here's a pic of the sticker on it:
They do test each spring they make, to verify exactly what the rate is. You can test your own spring to get at least a close idea of the rate. Just clamp it onto something solid at the exact same mounting points as stock, and hang weights at one of the outer bolt locations until you get exactly one inch of movement. As an alternative, maybe VBP would test it for you if you shipped it to them and paid for return shipping.
Ok it must be they don' t punch those numbers then. I wonder what those numbers are for then. Anyways I was kind of tempted to ask if I could send it to them to test it. Even if they charge a fee it shouldn't be that much... Maybe a machine shop might be able to do it?
Fiberglass mono spring type
