Could anyone tell me how common leaf spring failure is?

What are the symptoms? What should I be looking for?

After I get some responses, I'll post what I have found and see if they are similar.

Thanks,
Rad

 

You car is sitting on the ground.

Leaf spring failure isn't too common without some help. I had run open exhaust and fatigued mine causing it to split.

Trust me, you can't miss it, the car is sitting on the jounce bumpers and will have zero travel if you try to push down on it.

 

I had to have the front leafspring on my C5 replaced days after I got it (only 15,000 miles on it). When I looked under the car, I saw what I thought was a twig; however, under closer inspection, it was a thin piece of the polycarbonate that split off the right tie. Evidently, it is not uncommon for the front leafspring to wear over time—the rear is somewhat uncommon. The mechanic who replaced mine told me that the front of my car was actually sitting 3/4" lower than stock, so check your ride height. Also, if you can get under the car, look and see if the spring appears to be cracking or splitting.

 

Here is what I pulled off of the leaf spring. Be careful, this fiberglass-ish material will splinter and stick in your fingers for a week...and you can't get it out. I found out the hard way.

 

Damn...that's what I thought people would say.

Here's what's happening with my car.

I have only had it since the end of March, but since I have put over 10,000 miles on it since I got it, I am pretty familiar with how it drives.

I started hearing a clunking noise from the front (there's one from the rear but I am pretty sure that is the rear splines...they will be getting attention next week.)

I hear the front most often when in turns and when going over bumps. The left side seems to make the noise.

I got underneath the car and saw some fibers on the very surface of the spring starting to peel from the surface of the spring. I am sure if I pulled them off they would look like the picture that was posted.

I teach auto shop but did not spend years in the trenches to get the job so I am still gathering experience to make up for my youth. I did the first alignment of my life on that car using the state-of-the-art Hunter alignment system at a local JC. I had help while I was doing it and honestly, the Corvette was SUPER simple to adjust into spec. The only problem that I had, and what made me thing it was alignment was that the wheel is turning more and more to the left. The interesting part is that I drove the car around the block to make sure that the suspension was not sitting funny due to turning corners and then stopped and measured. The front is level by my measurement. I am thinking now that the load is distributed across the front and since the spring has not completely broken, it is sagging evenly. It does not look lower than when I got the car, but I didn't actually measure it either.

Thanks for the info, now I have to get the warranty company to pay up. Hopefully there will be some Pfadt coilovers going in and not another leaf.

Rad

 

Good luck with whatever route you take. Obviously, as you know, it's a crucial part in the car's suspension so get it fixed as soon as you can.

-Matt

 

I have a friend who has an 04 z06, and the front leaf spring failed. According to my friend, the dealer Pine Belt chevrolet in Lakewood NJ and the GM rep would not cover it, and would not pay for the tow to the dealer. Their excuse was something about spray on tire cleaner causind the leaf spring to de-laminate. This is just what he told me, sounds

 

My rear spring broke on me due to cutouts.... too much heat...

 

Spray on wheel and tire cleaners have been known to be unfriendly to carbon fiber springs. Probably can tell from observing the damage whether or not the failure was caused by a chemical.

Bill

 

Heat is an issue, but there are several warning in the service manual about chemicals on the springs. I am very careful about this, especially if working on the motor, to keep all chemicals off the spring and if there is a spill to clean it up quickly.