Changing front fibreglass spring
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: NEW ZEALAND
Changing front fibreglass spring
Any tips on replacing the front fibreglass spring in a 1998 C5 Coupe?
Mine has started to delaminate, and I will be receiving a replacement spring shortly (second hand), so any info on installation would be great.
Thanks, Toni.
Mine has started to delaminate, and I will be receiving a replacement spring shortly (second hand), so any info on installation would be great.
Thanks, Toni.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
You're talking about the leaf spring?
If so, I would upgrade to the ZO6 springs which will also make the installation easier (the ZO6 springs are more flat than the base springs, making them easier to slide into position when installing/removing).
There is a site somewhere that shows exactly what you need to do. It's not hard to take the stuff apart, but sliding that spring out was a real pain for me...and I'm pretty athletic.
Found the link:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=20
Good luck!
If so, I would upgrade to the ZO6 springs which will also make the installation easier (the ZO6 springs are more flat than the base springs, making them easier to slide into position when installing/removing).
There is a site somewhere that shows exactly what you need to do. It's not hard to take the stuff apart, but sliding that spring out was a real pain for me...and I'm pretty athletic.
Found the link:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=20
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: NEW ZEALAND
FASST LN .............
Thanks so much for the info and link, it is exactly what I was looking for, I appreciate your help. A busy morning ahead for me, as the part has just arrived. :-)
Thanks so much for the info and link, it is exactly what I was looking for, I appreciate your help. A busy morning ahead for me, as the part has just arrived. :-)
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I wouldn't follow those instructions unless you like punishing yourself.
Put car on jackstands.
Put jack under spring in the Y of the lower control arm and take the spring pressure off arm.
Mark the 2 lower control arms to subframe bolts or rather their washers.
Remove those bolts.
Pull suspension out and lower jack at same time to get spring below the control arm.
Remove the 4 spring bolts and remove the spring.
Do the opposite to re-install. Use the marks on the control arm bolts to get them back in the same position because they do change the alignment.
It's pretty simple. You should be able to easily understand what I mean once you get the car in the air. You don't even have to take the tires off but it's easier taking off the side you work on. All-in-all, you remove 6 bolts to change it.
Peter
Put car on jackstands.
Put jack under spring in the Y of the lower control arm and take the spring pressure off arm.
Mark the 2 lower control arms to subframe bolts or rather their washers.
Remove those bolts.
Pull suspension out and lower jack at same time to get spring below the control arm.
Remove the 4 spring bolts and remove the spring.
Do the opposite to re-install. Use the marks on the control arm bolts to get them back in the same position because they do change the alignment.
It's pretty simple. You should be able to easily understand what I mean once you get the car in the air. You don't even have to take the tires off but it's easier taking off the side you work on. All-in-all, you remove 6 bolts to change it.
Peter
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: NEW ZEALAND
Thanks Peter, but I went ahead and got most of the job done before noticing your post. LOL. Relieved the job is done though. Oh - and the bonus was that we received a ZO6 leaf spring too.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Have you got a jack of some sort that will reach the spring when the car is in the air? If so, then you should be able to basically do as I posted but use the taller jack. If you have a tall jackstand or screw type jack then you might have to lift the car instead of lowering the jack.
Peter
Peter
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