cracked rear leaf spring...help...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
cracked rear leaf spring...help...
I was under my '99FRC yesterday to top off the trans fluid (I have a slow leak/drip) and I noticed that on the drivers side I have a pretty significant crack and seperation coming from where the spring is mounted to the frame and heading outwords to the wheel. It's probably 3 or 4 inches long and about 1/2 inch in from the outter edge.
What are my options? C5 or C6 replacement spring? Repair the spring? I know that the spring is a composite material of some type.
I'm planning to do the C6 Z51 sways at the same time. The car is a DD/weekend toy but I'd like to stiffen it up for cornering and handling purposes.
Any help is much appreciated.
What are my options? C5 or C6 replacement spring? Repair the spring? I know that the spring is a composite material of some type.
I'm planning to do the C6 Z51 sways at the same time. The car is a DD/weekend toy but I'd like to stiffen it up for cornering and handling purposes.
Any help is much appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Spring is toast - do not drive car till it's replaced. Catastrophic failure will be very messy and costly. There are many options available to stiffen up the car depending on your budget and expected usage. Stock Z06 springs and sways are available used from folks at very reasonable prices in the forum parts section and new at good prices from forum vendors. A set of the Z06 sways, springs and Bilstein HD shocks or similar will greatly improve handling without making the car so stiff that it beats the fillings out of your teeth.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
" I'm planning to do the C6 Z51 sways at the same time. The car is a DD/weekend toy but I'd like to stiffen it up for cornering and handling purposes. "That isn't possible.. Your either going to replace it with the same BASE spring (which will give you the same ride & handling) or up grade to a higher rate spring (which will allow you to drive the curves FLATTER) It will give you a little more firmer ride! Nothing bad!
My recommendations would be to:
Find a used C5 ZO6 spring, sway-bar and metal end link set up for front and rear OR call Gene Culley www.gmparthouse.com and get his C6 handling package with the C6 ZO6 Shocks! For the investment, you cant beat the significant improvement in handling!!
Your going to firm up the ride but the improvement in handling and surefootness of the car will put a smile on your face!!
Trust me,, I had a base suspension F-45 98 coupe. Got rid of that and got a ZO6!!
All I can say is,,,, Why the hell did I wait so long!!!!!!
With those up-grades, you will handle better than a stock C5 ZO6!
I added the C6 ZO6 shocks to my 02 ZO6 and the improvement in handling was significant!
I hated the ride of the 98!
BC
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
Thanks for the suggestions guys. The spring looks like it's been that way for quite sometime...there was a pretty good coating of dirt and grime on it and up into the crack. I'll have to post over in the parts forum and see if I can find a set of springs and then call gene and see what he can do. If it's not one thing with this car it's another...the previous owner didn't take the best care of it I'm finding out more and more...
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Jasper, GA
St. Jude Donor '10
My autox springs and C6Z06 shocks are coming off next week when my Pfadt coilovers go on. PM me if interested, they all have around 13 to 14K on them with zero racing or autocrosses. I'm only hoping I see a little bit of difference. It was a huge improvement on each step I went with my suspension, from 2 different sways, to shocks, and to the springs. Others are right with the crack, don't drive it. Of course, Bill's right on with C6Z06 shocks, great buy for the money.
Mike C sends
Mike C sends
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
My autox springs and C6Z06 shocks are coming off next week when my Pfadt coilovers go on. PM me if interested, they all have around 13 to 14K on them with zero racing or autocrosses. I'm only hoping I see a little bit of difference. It was a huge improvement on each step I went with my suspension, from 2 different sways, to shocks, and to the springs. Others are right with the crack, don't drive it. Of course, Bill's right on with C6Z06 shocks, great buy for the money.
Mike C sends
Mike C sends
I'm sure that you will be extremely happy with the improvement!! I'm sure,, you will say to your self,, WOW,,Why did I wait so long to do this???
BC
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Your car has the Z51 suspension, not the "base" suspension and as such, the front spring is already the same one the C5 Z06 uses. Buy a C5 Z06 rear spring and you will then have the Z06 spring setup. Add your upgraded anti-roll bars that you are planning and you're good to go.
Btw, changing the rear spring is a pretty easy job. Hand tools and a couple 6" C-clamps are all you need. The front spring is much more involved.
BTDT
Btw, changing the rear spring is a pretty easy job. Hand tools and a couple 6" C-clamps are all you need. The front spring is much more involved.
BTDT
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
Your car has the Z51 suspension, not the "base" suspension and as such, the front spring is already the same one the C5 Z06 uses. Buy a C5 Z06 rear spring and you will then have the Z06 spring setup. Add your upgraded anti-roll bars that you are planning and you're good to go.
Btw, changing the rear spring is a pretty easy job. Hand tools and a couple 6" C-clamps are all you need. The front spring is much more involved.
BTDT
Btw, changing the rear spring is a pretty easy job. Hand tools and a couple 6" C-clamps are all you need. The front spring is much more involved.
BTDT
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I know that the FRCs had the Z51 suspension but I thought that the springs front and rear were different on the earlier C5s than on the C5Zs. Or do I have that wrong and the front spring is the same on them both and the only difference is the rear spring and the front and reat sway bars? That would make life MUCH easier from what I can tell.
You are correct on the anti-roll bars. The Z51 bars are better (stiffer) than the "base" bars, but not as big as the C5 Z06 bars. For several years, most everyone upgrading was using the C5 Z06 bars and they are indeed better for cornering, etc and bolt right in. After the C6 was introduced, it became known that the C6 Z51 bars (not to be confused with C5 Z51) are actually bigger than C5 Z06 bars (though not by much), and also would bolt right up.
Btw, make sure to measure your ride height carefully before changing the rear spring. You can also mark your adjuster bolts as well to help get it back to where it was before you started. I would do both.
P.S. The reason I recommend 6" C-clamps, is that they are big enough to allow you to use wooden blocks to protect the new spring from damage when installing.
Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Jun 6, 2011 at 11:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
The FRC existed for only 2 years and "became" the Z06 when it was introduced in '01. You have the exact same front spring as the C5 Z06 already. Like I said, just change the rear.
You are correct on the anti-roll bars. The Z51 bars are better (stiffer) than the "base" bars, but not as big as the C5 Z06 bars. For several years, most everyone upgrading was using the C5 Z06 bars and they are indeed better for cornering, etc and bolt right in. After the C6 was introduced, it became known that the C6 Z51 bars (not to be confused with C5 Z51) are actually bigger than C5 Z06 bars (though not by much), and also would bolt right up.
Btw, make sure to measure your ride height carefully before changing the rear spring. You can also mark your adjuster bolts as well to help get it back to where it was before you started. I would do both.
P.S. The reason I recommend 6" C-clamps, is that they are big enough to allow you to use wooden blocks to protect the new spring from damage when installing.
You are correct on the anti-roll bars. The Z51 bars are better (stiffer) than the "base" bars, but not as big as the C5 Z06 bars. For several years, most everyone upgrading was using the C5 Z06 bars and they are indeed better for cornering, etc and bolt right in. After the C6 was introduced, it became known that the C6 Z51 bars (not to be confused with C5 Z51) are actually bigger than C5 Z06 bars (though not by much), and also would bolt right up.
Btw, make sure to measure your ride height carefully before changing the rear spring. You can also mark your adjuster bolts as well to help get it back to where it was before you started. I would do both.
P.S. The reason I recommend 6" C-clamps, is that they are big enough to allow you to use wooden blocks to protect the new spring from damage when installing.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Jasper, GA
St. Jude Donor '10
Gene Culley has the C6 Z51 sways on sale w/ Pfadt pillows and no extra charge for a little over $200. They will fit, I've not heard any issues fm others. That's a great price.
Mike C sends
Mike C sends
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
Now I'm just waiting on verification of the spring(s) and a set of C6 Z06 shocks and I'll be set to go once I have them all here. Should be a fun afternoon.
I wonder how difficult the front sway bar will be to change out? It looks like it should be pretty easy from what I can see.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30,317
Likes: 165
From: Reading PA
I just realized how close GM Parts is to where I work and called them today. I'll be picking up a C6 Z51 front sway bar, metal endlinks and the pfadt bushings. It's about a 20-25 minute drive from work...
Now I'm just waiting on verification of the spring(s) and a set of C6 Z06 shocks and I'll be set to go once I have them all here. Should be a fun afternoon.
I wonder how difficult the front sway bar will be to change out? It looks like it should be pretty easy from what I can see.
Now I'm just waiting on verification of the spring(s) and a set of C6 Z06 shocks and I'll be set to go once I have them all here. Should be a fun afternoon.
I wonder how difficult the front sway bar will be to change out? It looks like it should be pretty easy from what I can see.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
I think if I found out that my rear spring was toast, I would eliminate it and go with coil overs. Question: how does one adjust the rear ride height when the spring is eliminated?
