[Z06] Valve Springs Preventive Replacement?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Colorado
GM itself even acknowledged the fact that it was a problem. They just chose to do nothing about it.
A dropped valve will cause a ton of damage if it hits the top of a piston. I have seen this first hand on a buddies LS1 F-Body. This was when Comp was putting out bad springs back in the day.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I'll be doing the CompCams spring/pushrod/rocker bearings kit this winter...and doing plugs and wires "while I'm in there". No issues, but the car has 70K miles and sees 6500 RPM regularly...so I figure it just makes sense. 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 10
From: Morrisville PA
I just don't understand why people even debate the valve spring issue on the 02-03 ZO6's. I mean...why would you even take a chance when it's so easy and cheap to replace them?
GM itself even acknowledged the fact that it was a problem. They just chose to do nothing about it.
A dropped valve will cause a ton of damage if it hits the top of a piston. I have seen this first hand on a buddies LS1 F-Body. This was when Comp was putting out bad springs back in the day.
GM itself even acknowledged the fact that it was a problem. They just chose to do nothing about it.
A dropped valve will cause a ton of damage if it hits the top of a piston. I have seen this first hand on a buddies LS1 F-Body. This was when Comp was putting out bad springs back in the day.
$250 for psi max life springs. Work with stock retainers, seals, seats, and locks. Cheap insurance.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
Then perhaps its not the car for you.
By far, a Z06 offers the best performance / reliability per dollar bar none.
Viper? Expensive, hard to find parts.
Porsche? No room to work on anything yourself and parts that cost a fortune.
Ferrari? LOL
Lambo? Double LOL.
While vettes may have some nagging issues, the cost to correct them is a pittance compared to anything else. Even if you spend the money to make it "bulletproof" you'll be into the car for THOUSANDS less than anything that comes close to matching it in terms of performance and reliability.
By far, a Z06 offers the best performance / reliability per dollar bar none.
Viper? Expensive, hard to find parts.
Porsche? No room to work on anything yourself and parts that cost a fortune.
Ferrari? LOL
Lambo? Double LOL.
While vettes may have some nagging issues, the cost to correct them is a pittance compared to anything else. Even if you spend the money to make it "bulletproof" you'll be into the car for THOUSANDS less than anything that comes close to matching it in terms of performance and reliability.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
I'm starting to doubt the over all quality of GM's halo car. Trans and clutch are crap and apparently the springs should be changed to prevent your engine from going out.
I hope the C6 gen was built a lot better than our cars where.
I guess it's time to budget in a spring change as well now.
I hope the C6 gen was built a lot better than our cars where.
I guess it's time to budget in a spring change as well now.
I did the valve springs on my car myself, materials cost was, what, a couple hundred bucks. What will that cost on, say, a 911 Turbo? And I can guarantee it will need it by 50k miles.
Go out and price headers for an M5 or 911. If the number is under $5k I'll be shocked.
Not sure where the trans and clutch comments came from. My stock clutch looked very clean when it came out at 50K+ miles. It came out because I needed to hold over 550whp. I suspect you'd be in the same boat with anything exotic as well.
Move on, nothing to see here...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
So every few weeks I read about a C5Z that breaks a valve spring. I know a few guys are replacing theirs as preventive maintenance. I am curious how common these fail, and is this something that really needs to be replaced in advance on a stock car? How commonly do these fail?
What are people's stance on this?
What are people's stance on this?
My take - I guess I feel better, but I really think this issue is way overblown and there are RISKS involved in performing this "simple" job. This would be an "easy" job that could be easily screwed up with $$$ consequences.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I ended up ordering a set of the springs. I am getting some other work done on the car next week and I am going to have them swap them out while the car is at the shop. I am hoping after this last trip, the Corvette gods will be happy and keep me from spending any more cash for maybe 2K miles?!? I think I will be at over $4K in maintenance in my first 2 months of owning the darn thing. Granted about $600 of that is due to me royally screwing something up when trying to do the work myself. That is why the professionals will be doing the springs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Price the engine/clutch/trans work you'd need to do on any other car with comparable performance and get back to us.
I did the valve springs on my car myself, materials cost was, what, a couple hundred bucks. What will that cost on, say, a 911 Turbo? And I can guarantee it will need it by 50k miles.
Go out and price headers for an M5 or 911. If the number is under $5k I'll be shocked.
Not sure where the trans and clutch comments came from. My stock clutch looked very clean when it came out at 50K+ miles. It came out because I needed to hold over 550whp. I suspect you'd be in the same boat with anything exotic as well.
Move on, nothing to see here...
I did the valve springs on my car myself, materials cost was, what, a couple hundred bucks. What will that cost on, say, a 911 Turbo? And I can guarantee it will need it by 50k miles.
Go out and price headers for an M5 or 911. If the number is under $5k I'll be shocked.
Not sure where the trans and clutch comments came from. My stock clutch looked very clean when it came out at 50K+ miles. It came out because I needed to hold over 550whp. I suspect you'd be in the same boat with anything exotic as well.
Move on, nothing to see here...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 48,557
Likes: 3
From: Mid-Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09
I'll be doing mine before next Spring (2003 Z06). I have >60K miles on the stock springs now. They're toast but they did outlast 2 clutches... Wouldn't have broke my heart to drop a larger motor in if I had a good excuse.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
I just asked this question of Rich ( richierichz06 on the forums ) who works at Able Chevrolet which is a shop that specializes in Corvettes. I drive 200 miles to get my car serviced by them. He is also a prior owner of a C5 Z06 and current owner of a C6 Z06. He said that in all of his years of working at Able and at another Chevrolet dealer, he has seen a single valve spring failure ever. He said he works on countless race cars, etc...and only one failed ever. He said he didn't want to tell me not to swap them out just in case they did fail, but his attitude is that the failure rate is maybe 1 on 2,500 cars.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 4
From: Agoura Hills CA
I ended up ordering a set of the springs. I am getting some other work done on the car next week and I am going to have them swap them out while the car is at the shop. I am hoping after this last trip, the Corvette gods will be happy and keep me from spending any more cash for maybe 2K miles?!? I think I will be at over $4K in maintenance in my first 2 months of owning the darn thing. Granted about $600 of that is due to me royally screwing something up when trying to do the work myself. That is why the professionals will be doing the springs.
Ed
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
I just replaced my OEM yellow springs (2002 Z06). I looked at them with 10X magnification and didn't see any signs of cracking, etc. When they go, it's probably pretty quick, and doubt you'd ever see anything unless dye penetrate or similar process was used to investigate.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I just replaced my OEM yellow springs (2002 Z06). I looked at them with 10X magnification and didn't see any signs of cracking, etc. When they go, it's probably pretty quick, and doubt you'd ever see anything unless dye penetrate or similar process was used to investigate.
Yeah that's my assumption as well. I bet they go almost instantly.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: central NJ
GOOD NEWS! the dacia sandero... nevermind.
got a call from the shop. looks like I got lucky and it's just the valve spring that's broken. i should have the car back just in time for next week's trackday!