[Z06] Valve Spring Failures

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 6, 2011 | 06:17 PM

halp

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 1999

Posts: 346

Likes: 10

From: Easton MA

Valve Spring Failures

Just curious, has anyone had a valve spring break with mileage under 20,000 miles.

Nov 6, 2011 | 06:53 PM

02EBzEE

Racer

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 259

Likes: 7

From: Bucks county PA

I am currently at 20,826 I'm keeping my fingers crossed

She's a couple weeks from being stored for the winter. Hoping to just do them in the late spring with the cam swap.

Nov 6, 2011 | 06:59 PM

MTPZ06

Team Owner

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 35,874

Likes: 1,600

From: Honolulu HI

'03 with 29K and still on stock springs.

Nov 6, 2011 | 10:33 PM

ZeeOSix

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 5,955

Likes: 161

From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by halp

Just curious, has anyone had a valve spring break with mileage under 20,000 miles.

I think there have been a few guys who did have spring failure right around the 20K mark. Spring failures happen more than most are comfortable with. There have dozens reported on this chat board over the last few years. Do a search, and you should find many, many threads of reported valve spring failures.

Driving it with OEM springs is basically a game of Russian Roulette IMO.

Nov 6, 2011 | 11:40 PM

dagon138

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 1,201

Likes: 14

From: Honolulu, HI

Meh, 60k and everything is fine...

Nov 7, 2011 | 12:54 AM

ZeeOSix

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 5,955

Likes: 161

From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagon138

Meh, 60k and everything is fine...

Meh could bite your a$$ down the road. Good luck on that.

Nov 7, 2011 | 10:46 AM

diddiyo

Racer

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 349

Likes: 0

From: central NJ

i had one break on my 2003 z06 about a month ago at around 38,000 miles and i got lucky the valve didn't drop into the cylinder...

just replace them.

Nov 7, 2011 | 12:52 PM

heavymetals

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 1,484

Likes: 27

From: Torrance Calif

My Z06 has 8k mi and is almost 8 years old.

I just got done this weekend doing springs and trunion upgrade.

Call it PM.

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Michael S. Palmer

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Joe Kucinski

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Joe Kucinski

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

Nov 7, 2011 | 05:37 PM

Cruncher

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,202

Likes: 5

I have over 50K miles on a 2003 Z06 w/original springs.

Nov 7, 2011 | 06:34 PM

#10

ZeeOSix

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 5,955

Likes: 161

From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruncher

I have over 50K miles on a 2003 Z06 w/original springs.

OEM valve spring failure is much less prevalent than in the 2002 Z06s ... but it can happen in a '03.

Nov 9, 2011 | 04:49 PM

#11

2K3Z06

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 1,184

Likes: 3

From: KADS- If it has wings or an engine, I can break it. Dallas TX

had my car 8 years and at 39,000 miles, exhaust valve spring let go. I was lucky and was at a stop light when it broke.

I figured after 8 years, it was good.............. wrong.

cheap insurance to change them all.

best of luck, Robert