Why do vettes have leaf springs?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
From: KC, MO Missouri
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Poolman)
My guess is simple, reliable, cost effective simplicity. If it rides well and capable of 1g skidpad it is good enough right? Corvette has used the monoleaf for a long time. I would love coil overs stock but am sure it would raise the price..
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Mike Mercury)
Look at it this way. The Z06 is a world-class supercar, and it uses fiberglass transverse leaf springs. The Z06 is a world class supercar, and it uses two-valves-per-cylinder, cam-in-block technology.
It works. It's 2/3 the cost of the next best car out there.
Besides, if they made it perfect, modders wouldn't like them. :lol:
It works. It's 2/3 the cost of the next best car out there.
Besides, if they made it perfect, modders wouldn't like them. :lol:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Matt Black)
Well, if it had to do with cost you'd think the camaro platform would use it too, but instead the camaro has coil overs stock, just like lots of CHEAP cars.
I personally dont think its an issue of cost, I think its how they designed the suspension and I think it works great.
I personally dont think its an issue of cost, I think its how they designed the suspension and I think it works great.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (SHOWTIME!)
I'm not too knowledgable on 'vette history, but I figured it was a historical thing. Don't All Corvettes use leaf springs?
Guess the new composite material in our springs is pretty badass too, but I've not done any reading on that.
Cheers (crawling back off this limb I'm on...)
-J
Guess the new composite material in our springs is pretty badass too, but I've not done any reading on that.
Cheers (crawling back off this limb I'm on...)
-J
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Poolman)
I don't know why Vettes still do have leaf springs, though I admit they work, they can be a source of bump steer on curves. Hopefully they will have optional coil overs someday in the future, particularly since composite coils are slowly becoming available saving weight and giving the ultimate in adjustability.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
From: KC, MO Missouri
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (jmX)
Camaro's use struts and coils in the rear not 1/2 as good as true coil overs. The leaf does keep spring weight down, CG and other smart people handling thingys :crazy: KISS engineering eh' :lol:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (JakeL)
I'm not too knowledgable on 'vette history, but I figured it was a historical thing. Don't All Corvettes use leaf springs?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 1
From: Torrance Ca.
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Poolman)
In his book "Corvette From The Inside", Dave McClellan states that the fiberglass leafspring introduced in 1981 provided the greatest single weight savings design change during his career at Chevy (7lbs. vs. 48lbs.). The fiberglass spring was immune to corrosion and provided 10 times the design life over steel springs. The steel springs were designed to pass a life cycle test of 200,000 full deflection cycles. The fiberglass springs could pass 2 million test cycles. For the C4 the front leafspring was also used because of weight considerations.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 56,381
Likes: 79
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Mike Mercury)
If it rides well and capable of 1g skidpad it is good enough right?
I'm sorry; that's not good enough.
:)
I'm sorry; that's not good enough.
:)
[Modified by CPT Z06, 10:11 AM 6/16/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis, MD USA
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Poolman)
why do vettes still use front leaf springs instead of coil springs?
1) less unsprung mass than coil-overs
2) more rigid construction (bolts directly to the frame)
3) probably (can't prove it) less overall weight
and - certainly:
4) works great
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (rbeckham)
Well said CPT Z06 :yesnod: . When I had the cobra the ricer crowd still didn't like it, but they "respected" it because it was faster, and becuase it was a DOHC w/ 32 valves. Thus, it was "high-tech" like their four bangers. Because of modern vehicle marketing, most people don't know that multiple overhead cams and superchargers etc. are old-school also. Car manufacturers market certain things as high-tech to differentiate their product. Ever read a comparo between a boxter S and a vette (the local porshe dealer gave it to me when they were trying to get me buy one, I never even considered it, but got a sweet test drive) their all over how high-tech thier engine is, and how the vette engine is low low tech, something a Neandertal would drive :lol: .
From what I've heard the leaf springs are much lighter, and reduce unsprung weight; they're just not adjustable, but neigher are the systems that come on mustangs and camaros, they're not true coil-overs, you have to change springs with them too. :cheers:
From what I've heard the leaf springs are much lighter, and reduce unsprung weight; they're just not adjustable, but neigher are the systems that come on mustangs and camaros, they're not true coil-overs, you have to change springs with them too. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 56,381
Likes: 79
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Cobra4B)
And most people when they go to coil overs and then rave about how well the car handles, is because they went up in spring rate, you can do the same thing by getting stiffer leaf springs. Not sure which one is cheaper though?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,725
Likes: 5
From: Colesville MD
Re: Why do vettes have leaf springs? (Poolman)
I don't know, but I hate them, cause they are rubbing the insides of my wheels!!! :mad :mad :mad I guess I have to raise mine back up, and grind on the ends of the springs alittle till the rubbing goes away.
Greg
:steering:
Greg
:steering:
