Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Coilover and Leaf Spring question ???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 05:44 PM
  #1  
meflyfrc's Avatar
meflyfrc
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 403
From: Bmore Maryland
Default Coilover and Leaf Spring question ???

I am seriously considering coilovers. I noticed in some writeups that some remove their leafs springs and some don't. What are the pros and cons of removing or not removing the leaf springs?

Also what is a good spring rate for primarily street use?

Thanks

Last edited by meflyfrc; Jun 18, 2012 at 06:29 PM. Reason: sp
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 06:11 PM
  #2  
bumble-z's Avatar
bumble-z
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Default

Unless I'm misunderstanding your statement?

I haven't heard of any one keeping their leafs & also adding c/overs.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 06:15 PM
  #3  
Silverback51's Avatar
Silverback51
Race Director
10 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,733
Likes: 41
From: Prescott Arizona
Default

Only if you wanted it to ride like a buckboard.

I don't know the specifics on the stock springs, but with the addition of coil overs it would give you a spring rate in the 1300 to 1500 pound per inch.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 06:19 PM
  #4  
meflyfrc's Avatar
meflyfrc
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 403
From: Bmore Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by bumble-z
Unless I'm misunderstanding your statement?

I haven't heard of any one keeping their leafs & also adding c/overs.
Originally Posted by Silverback51
Only if you wanted it to ride like a buckboard.

I don't know the specifics on the stock springs, but with the addition of coil overs it would give you a spring rate in the 1300 to 1500 pound per inch.
That's what I thought. Maybe a couple of the writeups just omitted the part about removing the springs and assumed you know to remove them. Thanks again
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 06:24 PM
  #5  
bumble-z's Avatar
bumble-z
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Default

Originally Posted by meflyfrc
That's what I thought. Maybe a couple of the writeups just omitted the part about removing the springs and assumed you know to remove them. Thanks again
To be sure.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:33 PM
  #6  
robert miller's Avatar
robert miller
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by Silverback51
Only if you wanted it to ride like a buckboard.

I don't know the specifics on the stock springs, but with the addition of coil overs it would give you a spring rate in the 1300 to 1500 pound per inch.
To the OP you remove the springs on all known coilovers except for ONE set and for the moment I cant remember the name of that one brand now. But you will get paper work on all coilovers from the 1st step to the last on what to do and what you do and dont remove. Robert
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:56 PM
  #7  
Grim Reaper's Avatar
Grim Reaper
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,926
Likes: 30
From: Not where I want to be!!
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19
Default

I just installed a set of the Pfadt Featherlites on mine 2 weeks ago. The springs come off per the instructions that came with the coil overs. I believe they come off regardless of brand but I could be wrong.

Couple pics of mine after the install, also added C6Z06 sways with poly bushings.




Last edited by Grim Reaper; Jun 19, 2012 at 12:03 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #8  
Pfadt Racing's Avatar
Pfadt Racing
Safety Car
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
Default

As mentioned by the posters above, most coilover manufacturers eliminate the factory leaf springs. Removing the leafs is one of the main advantages of running a coilover setup. There is one variant of the Callaway/Eibach coilovers which ran a really light coil spring and was designed to be used in conjunction with the factory leaf, but the system is tricky to tune properly.

You can take a look at our instruction sheet to see what's invoved with a FeatherLight Generation Single installation. You do remove the leaf springs, but it's very straight forward. There is no other fabrication, grilling or cutting necessary. Unplug your factory shocks and leaf springs, plug in the new FeatherLights, set your ride height, get the car aligned and away you go!

Pfadt Race Engineering FeatherLight Generation Single Adjustable Coilover Installation Instructions.

Last edited by Pfadt Racing; Jun 19, 2012 at 11:44 AM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 11:53 AM
  #9  
bumble-z's Avatar
bumble-z
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Default

I have to admit Pfadt's newly designed inverted, Feather lights are of great design & are so much heavier duty than their older design.

The ease of setting the ride height & shock adjustments are now so simple.

No more knuckle busting, (2) spanner wrenches & shock adjustments are now at the bottom of the shocks instead of the top.

Here is a picture of a front Featherlight, prior of install.

Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 12:11 PM
  #10  
TXGS507's Avatar
TXGS507
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 1,716
From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Default

I am running the older PFADT Coilovers and LOVE EM!! Pitch the leaf springs brother... Slam that already sweet looking C5Z!
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 05:06 PM
  #11  
meflyfrc's Avatar
meflyfrc
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 403
From: Bmore Maryland
Default

Karma is good, the Pfadt featherlights is what I've been checking out.

Thanks
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 07:32 PM
  #12  
02HREBlue's Avatar
02HREBlue
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 820
Likes: 5
From: Iowa
Default

The Pfadts are the number one mod I have EVER made to my C5. Just do it. Absolutely no regrets
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 11:18 PM
  #13  
robert miller's Avatar
robert miller
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by Pfadt Racing
As mentioned by the posters above, most coilover manufacturers eliminate the factory leaf springs. Removing the leafs is one of the main advantages of running a coilover setup. There is one variant of the Callaway/Eibach coilovers which ran a really light coil spring and was designed to be used in conjunction with the factory leaf, but the system is tricky to tune properly.

You can take a look at our instruction sheet to see what's invoved with a FeatherLight Generation Single installation. You do remove the leaf springs, but it's very straight forward. There is no other fabrication, grilling or cutting necessary. Unplug your factory shocks and leaf springs, plug in the new FeatherLights, set your ride height, get the car aligned and away you go!

Pfadt Race Engineering FeatherLight Generation Single Adjustable Coilover Installation Instructions.
Best coilovers that I have had on my car for sure. PFADT all the way have a ton of the parts under my car. Robert
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2012 | 02:58 AM
  #14  
SoDiezl350's Avatar
SoDiezl350
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 835
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

I think the Eibach Callaway kit retains the stock leaf spring.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 03:08 PM
  #15  
meflyfrc's Avatar
meflyfrc
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 403
From: Bmore Maryland
Default

Picked these up today

Gonna be a couple weeks before I put them on.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 04:19 PM
  #16  
Pfadt Racing's Avatar
Pfadt Racing
Safety Car
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
Default

Originally Posted by meflyfrc
Picked these up today

Gonna be a couple weeks before I put them on.
Looking good!

You're going to love them!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Coilover and Leaf Spring question ???





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:25 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE