C-5 front spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: port jefferson station ny
C-5 front spring
anyone ever see a front leaf spring with a break on the left side just past the spring to chassis bracket.?? I'm thinking of changing it myself. how much distance do you need under the lower control arm for the spring to completely unload?? can it be done on jackstands without much of a problem. I used to work on older vetts with the rear leaf and I used to jack them up under the leaf end and then install the link bolt without much of a problem. How is the C-5 leaf to do??. GM warantee will pay me for the part but not the labor which is ok by me. thanks Jeff wcj
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, Colorado
Re: C-5 front spring (wcj)
anyone ever see a front leaf spring with a break on the left side just past the spring to chassis bracket.??
I'm thinking of changing it myself. how much distance do you need under the lower control arm for the spring to completely unload?? can it be done on jackstands without much of a problem. I used to work on older vetts with the rear leaf and I used to jack them up under the leaf end and then install the link bolt without much of a problem. How is the C-5 leaf to do??.
I'll email you the instructions I used. I got them here, but don't remember who from.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From: Rye Brook, NY
Re: C-5 front spring (wcj)
My 1998 had a broken front spring. I did not fix it myself, but I did have Z06 front and rear higher rate springs installed with Hotchkis bars and Bilstein shocks. You may want to replace front and rear springs at the same time depending on mileage. The car is now more responsive.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
Re: C-5 front spring (Miles in Michigan)
I changed my springs out with jackstands. The front one is a pain, but doable. I think you need to unbolt the upper A-arm where it connects to the car. Then you have to slide the spring to one side, so the other will drop out through the lower A-arm. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours to just do the front spring.
I'll email you the instructions I used. I got them here, but don't remember who from.
I'll email you the instructions I used. I got them here, but don't remember who from.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,976
Likes: 527
From: Clouds Over California
Re: C-5 front spring (Wicked C5)
Reid,
Which ball joint...I have done this about 4 times....
Jack the car, put it on stands.
Place jack under lower control arm and jack to relieve tension.
Take out (4) 13mm bolts holding upper control arm in place (watch for spacers behind control arm bolts on fender well side. Carefully lower jack, make sure rotor and caliper don't just fall down (it pulls on the brake lines hard too). Take out height adjuster/bump stop on front spring.
Repeat for the other side.
Now carefully take out (4) bolts that hold spring in place. (This is where the GM manual calls out for a spring compressor...be careful and use some common sense.)
Once the spring is undone it will have a natural arch and will be free to take out of the car,,,,you may have to play with it a little to make it work (no pun intended).
Disclaimer,
This example is just the way I have done spring removals and replacements. Time is between 1-2 hours. I am not responsible for any injury or damage.
Good luck dude!
Which ball joint...I have done this about 4 times....
Jack the car, put it on stands.
Place jack under lower control arm and jack to relieve tension.
Take out (4) 13mm bolts holding upper control arm in place (watch for spacers behind control arm bolts on fender well side. Carefully lower jack, make sure rotor and caliper don't just fall down (it pulls on the brake lines hard too). Take out height adjuster/bump stop on front spring.
Repeat for the other side.
Now carefully take out (4) bolts that hold spring in place. (This is where the GM manual calls out for a spring compressor...be careful and use some common sense.)
Once the spring is undone it will have a natural arch and will be free to take out of the car,,,,you may have to play with it a little to make it work (no pun intended).
Disclaimer,
This example is just the way I have done spring removals and replacements. Time is between 1-2 hours. I am not responsible for any injury or damage.
Good luck dude!
