C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Front Leaf Spring Problem! Help!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 10:05 PM
  #1  
PatriotVette's Avatar
PatriotVette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Default Front Leaf Spring Problem! Help!

I noticed a week ago that my front leaf spring seems to be damaged on both sides near the cradles. It doesnt look damaged all the way (depth wise). The best way i can describe the damage is that it is splintered near the cradles like a piece of wood would be splintered. I have not noticed any driving problems and i dont know how long it has been like this. I was wondering how long i can ride with it like this. There is a vette cruise going on tomorrow and i am very anxious to go. What would i need to do to fix or replace this leaf spring. If i replaced it with an upgrade would i need to do the rear as well or replace anything else?

Thank you!
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 10:14 PM
  #2  
Dirty Howie's Avatar
Dirty Howie
Team Owner
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by PatriotVette
I noticed a week ago that my front leaf spring seems to be damaged on both sides near the cradles. It doesnt look damaged all the way (depth wise). The best way i can describe the damage is that it is splintered near the cradles like a piece of wood would be splintered. I have not noticed any driving problems and i dont know how long it has been like this. I was wondering how long i can ride with it like this. There is a vette cruise going on tomorrow and i am very anxious to go. What would i need to do to fix or replace this leaf spring. If i replaced it with an upgrade would i need to do the rear as well or replace anything else?

Thank you!
Not sure where the cradle is....but my front is splintered at the leading edge at the end near the adjuster bolt hole. I monitor it from time to time and it doesn't seem to be getting worse. It also does not affect drivablility.


DH
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 10:24 PM
  #3  
Ducati749's Avatar
Ducati749
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: los altos ca
Default

well if the leaf spring is splintering there is definately something wrong...best bet is to replace asap..if it happend to snap the car may bottom out, that would be ugly at any speed...and if it were me id replace both since it sounds as if you have a faulty leafspring and chances are the rear may have been under the same conditions...probably fall under warranty, but a great excuse to go Z51 front and rear........not what i know just what i think.........
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 10:27 PM
  #4  
PatriotVette's Avatar
PatriotVette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Default

I am not sure if it is called the cradle but it is the area more towards the center of the car. It looks like two brackets. The splinters start where each bracket is and then splinters about three inches in the direction towards the tires. I hope this description helps.
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2006 | 11:00 PM
  #5  
Rex99Coupe's Avatar
Rex99Coupe
Racer
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 8
From: Northwest Washington
Default

My front spring was splintered too. I wasn't comfortable with a performance car that had a faulty spring. Replaced front and rear with Z06 springs, swaybars, polyurethane bushings and Bilstein Sport shocks. Figured I might as well do it all at once. Expensive but well worth it.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2006 | 12:35 AM
  #6  
Ducati749's Avatar
Ducati749
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: los altos ca
Default

Originally Posted by Rex99Coupe
My front spring was splintered too. I wasn't comfortable with a performance car that had a faulty spring. Replaced front and rear with Z06 springs, swaybars, polyurethane bushings and Bilstein Sport shocks. Figured I might as well do it all at once. Expensive but well worth it.
how do you like the polyurethane bushings, do they squeek at all...did you install them yourself..
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2006 | 01:01 AM
  #7  
460HP-YLO-JAKT's Avatar
460HP-YLO-JAKT
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 84
From: Lilliwaup Washington
Default

Any pics available?????????????????????
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2006 | 01:49 AM
  #8  
jrc27's Avatar
jrc27
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 25,238
Likes: 5
From: Oswego NY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default

I think all leaf springs on the c5 splinter....i replaced mine last summer
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 Apr 2, 2006 | 11:09 AM
  #9  
Rex99Coupe's Avatar
Rex99Coupe
Racer
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 8
From: Northwest Washington
Default

Originally Posted by Ducati749
how do you like the polyurethane bushings, do they squeek at all...did you install them yourself..
No squeeks, I used the lube supplied with the bushings. I installed eveything myself, LS1howto.com instructions are excellent. Ecklers carries the poly bushings. For Z06 swaybars front: 30mm part no. 44872
rear: 23.6mm use 24.5mm part no.45707
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2006 | 12:49 PM
  #10  
Ducati749's Avatar
Ducati749
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: los altos ca
Default

thanks for your info, i just ordered the new bushings....sorry to the writer, for heading off topic
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2006 | 10:29 PM
  #11  
PatriotVette's Avatar
PatriotVette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Default

Originally Posted by Ducati749
thanks for your info, i just ordered the new bushings....sorry to the writer, for heading off topic
No apologies needed, I wanted to know the same thing, we all are learning here.

Where can someone get a suspension upgrade package at low cost, besides ecklers?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2006 | 07:28 AM
  #12  
Rex99Coupe's Avatar
Rex99Coupe
Racer
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 8
From: Northwest Washington
Default

Bought Z06 springs and swaybars from GMpartsdirect (Forum vendor) I bought Bilsteins from Shox.com and Poly bushings from Ecklers.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2006 | 11:08 PM
  #13  
Ducati749's Avatar
Ducati749
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: los altos ca
Default

Ive had good experiences with westcoast corvettes, as well as corvette garage........
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Front Leaf Spring Problem! Help!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:32 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