Rear leaf spring bolt snapped.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,301
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Well, I just made it back to the house with the car. Didn't wind up getting a tow. Instead I jacked the car up in the dealership's lot just enough to chain the spring to the control arm. Had no issues along the way, didn't make any friends on the road though since I drove 10mph tops. As it turns out, the bolt that snapped was a factory bolt, original to the car. Not anything aftermarket.
I did wind up having to pay the dealership's "standard diagnosis fee". I'm sure they had to work real hard to figure our what was wrong with it, after I already told them what it was. Not real happy about that considering an oil change takes more work and costs less. But whatever, I'm just glad its back home.
I'll let you guys know how the fix goes...
I did wind up having to pay the dealership's "standard diagnosis fee". I'm sure they had to work real hard to figure our what was wrong with it, after I already told them what it was. Not real happy about that considering an oil change takes more work and costs less. But whatever, I'm just glad its back home.
I'll let you guys know how the fix goes...
Not to rain on your parade, but since the spring is made of a composite material, I sincerely hope that you didn't damage it with the "chain"....
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Worcester MA
Took my Vett out yesterday for a nice Saturday drive and the same thing happen to me fortunately I was only 1/2 mile from the house.
I know the bolt is a grade 8 but does anybody know what the overall length,thread and thread length of the stock bolt is. I was able to find the bushings so I am just going to order the bolts and washers from MC Master Carr.
I know the bolt is a grade 8 but does anybody know what the overall length,thread and thread length of the stock bolt is. I was able to find the bushings so I am just going to order the bolts and washers from MC Master Carr.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: McAlester OK
The spring has steel around it top and bottom where the bolt goes through. That's where the chain is wrapped around so I think it's fine. Didn't have to keep it on too long either way, my house isn't far from the dealership.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,301
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Took my Vett out yesterday for a nice Saturday drive and the same thing happen to me fortunately I was only 1/2 mile from the house.
I know the bolt is a grade 8 but does anybody know what the overall length,thread and thread length of the stock bolt is. I was able to find the bushings so I am just going to order the bolts and washers from MC Master Carr.
I know the bolt is a grade 8 but does anybody know what the overall length,thread and thread length of the stock bolt is. I was able to find the bushings so I am just going to order the bolts and washers from MC Master Carr.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: McAlester OK
If you're replacing both bolts (which I think you probably should), take a measurement of the bolt that isn't broken and go from there. The OE bolts, I believe, are metric, but I think 7/16" is close to the OD you'll need, and about 7-7.5" in length. Fine thread or coarse thread really shouldn't matter too much, just get the appropriate NyLock nuts to go with the bolts.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,301
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: McAlester OK
Well guys, I came home and found meflyfrc's bolts waiting for me on the door step. Its about an hour and a half later now, and I'm done. That counts the time it took to get out tools and put them back up once I was finished.
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
The new bolts are definitely longer than the stock ones, and it sits about an inch lower in the back now. At least I have excuse to drop the front now right?
Thanks for talking me out of letting the dealership work on it!
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
The new bolts are definitely longer than the stock ones, and it sits about an inch lower in the back now. At least I have excuse to drop the front now right?
Thanks for talking me out of letting the dealership work on it!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Worcester MA
I replaced mine as well today. I ended up getting the stock bolts from the local dealer. Only took about an hour and I replaced both sides. Makes me wish I replace entire spring probably would have only took a half hour more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,229
Likes: 395
From: Bmore Maryland
Well guys, I came home and found meflyfrc's bolts waiting for me on the door step. Its about an hour and a half later now, and I'm done. That counts the time it took to get out tools and put them back up once I was finished.
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
The new bolts are definitely longer than the stock ones, and it sits about an inch lower in the back now. At least I have excuse to drop the front now right?
Thanks for talking me out of letting the dealership work on it!
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
The new bolts are definitely longer than the stock ones, and it sits about an inch lower in the back now. At least I have excuse to drop the front now right?
Thanks for talking me out of letting the dealership work on it!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,301
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Well guys, I came home and found meflyfrc's bolts waiting for me on the door step. Its about an hour and a half later now, and I'm done. That counts the time it took to get out tools and put them back up once I was finished.
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
Here's a pic of the old snapped bolt. You can see how half of it is shiny and half is rusted. Looks like it snapped about 1/2 way through a long while back, right where the nut would sit. Then just finally decided to let go on me last Monday.
Now I better go check the condition of my bolts.............