Damaged Front Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Damaged Front Leaf Spring
Hello everyone. I am in the process of disassembling my front suspension to lower the front of my 1986 C4. I took the spring out and noticed it was cracked in this spot. I am assuming this means the spring is toast due to it being fiberglass, but I wanted to know if there is any way to repair the spring? I highly doubt it but I didn't know if somebody may have a method. Secondly, how does this type of damage occur? The car handled fine before I took it apart, and I don't think I could have caused this type of damage anytime in the disassembly process. The car only has around 80k miles. Lastly, where can you find replacement front springs for a 1984-1987 Corvette? I cannot seem to find them anywhere. Thanks in advance.
Last edited by LucasMc22; Apr 25, 2019 at 09:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,553
Likes: 936
From: Communist Colorado
It cant be fixed
hard to say how it happened, maybe improper jacking at some point
Find a good used one either here on the sale section or one of the many used parts suppliers
Youll need to see what code is on the spring to match it. My 86 had a small metal plate attached to it with the numbers on it..
hard to say how it happened, maybe improper jacking at some point
Find a good used one either here on the sale section or one of the many used parts suppliers
Youll need to see what code is on the spring to match it. My 86 had a small metal plate attached to it with the numbers on it..
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
belairbrain, Do you have a link you could share? How much are they? Needs to be an 84-87 spring.
81c3, Didn't think so, just wanted to make sure. How could I have jacked it improperly, just out of curiosity? I only jacked up the control arm, never the spring itself. I posted in the for sale section, haven't gotten any responses yet. I'll have to look some more.
81c3, Didn't think so, just wanted to make sure. How could I have jacked it improperly, just out of curiosity? I only jacked up the control arm, never the spring itself. I posted in the for sale section, haven't gotten any responses yet. I'll have to look some more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,553
Likes: 936
From: Communist Colorado
belairbrain, Do you have a link you could share? How much are they? Needs to be an 84-87 spring.
81c3, Didn't think so, just wanted to make sure. How could I have jacked it improperly, just out of curiosity? I only jacked up the control arm, never the spring itself. I posted in the for sale section, haven't gotten any responses yet. I'll have to look some more.
81c3, Didn't think so, just wanted to make sure. How could I have jacked it improperly, just out of curiosity? I only jacked up the control arm, never the spring itself. I posted in the for sale section, haven't gotten any responses yet. I'll have to look some more.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
It appears that for the front springs are no longer made by HyperCo anymore and the only option would be used.
Are there any lower cost options for coil-overs. it seems $2500 is steep price is there a ?995 option anywhere for all 4
Are there any lower cost options for coil-overs. it seems $2500 is steep price is there a ?995 option anywhere for all 4
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
People gonna cringe when they read this but
When I lowered my car my spring looked just like yours. I put it back in, have driven 10,000 miles since then with more than a few trips into triple digits.
My daddy always told me living life on the edge was the fastest way to being a country boy
When I lowered my car my spring looked just like yours. I put it back in, have driven 10,000 miles since then with more than a few trips into triple digits.
My daddy always told me living life on the edge was the fastest way to being a country boy
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 55
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
My question would be is the damage in an area that is easy to see?
If so, I would really continue to drive as normal and just look at it every so often. As small as that damage is, and considering the matrix of how the springs are laid up during manufacturing, chances are slim to none that you would suffer a sudden catastrophic failure based on that small patch of de-lam.
If you track the car..... then I would be more inclined to replace it.
My car is a driver, so I would run it and monitor it. If it makes you nervous.... replace it. Peace of mind is priceless.
Jared
If so, I would really continue to drive as normal and just look at it every so often. As small as that damage is, and considering the matrix of how the springs are laid up during manufacturing, chances are slim to none that you would suffer a sudden catastrophic failure based on that small patch of de-lam.
If you track the car..... then I would be more inclined to replace it.
My car is a driver, so I would run it and monitor it. If it makes you nervous.... replace it. Peace of mind is priceless.
Jared