GHWelles

Can you replace the rear leaf spring without the spring compression tool shown in the shop manual?

Sparo2

Yes sir...absolutely!

All you need to do it put the rear on jack stands. Remove both rear tires. Remove the nut where the spindles and upper control arms meet. Once nut is removed now it's time to seperate the spindles from the upper control arms. You can do this by placing a jack under the control arm and jack it up a few inches and remove the bolt and nut for the lower part of the shock. Make sure you keep an eye on the jack stands. You don't want to upset the jack stands. Now use a mallot and beat the edge of the control arm where you removed the run. That'll knock it lose. Some guys use a pry bar and that works fine. Once you have the spindle "unhooked" just lower the jack down and proceed to the other side. After you finish the other side just remove the four bolts for the leaf spring and whiggle it out through the driver or psgr side.

TIP: removing of screwing in the lowering bolts helps to get it out.

Sounds like a lot of work but it's not. I swap out rear leaf springs in less than 45mins.

timd38

Took a look at the Pfadt coilover install sheet and it tells you how to get the spring out. Like Sparo2 said, it took me 1/2 hour to take the spring out, but I installed coilovers, so I never put a new spring in.

http://www.pfadtracing.com/blog/wp-c...structions.pdf

1. Jack up rear of car and support with jack stands. Remove rear wheels.
2. Remove the bolts that hold the leaf spring retaining brackets to subframe .
3. Place a jack under the lower control arm. Remove the bolt that retains the spring to the control
arm. CAUTION: There may be tension on the spring. Lower jack to release tension. Repeat on
other side.
4. Remove the rear leaf spring

GHWelles

great, thanks!

Z06Pops

Questions
Aren't you supposed to use a pickle fork to separate the two?

Isn't the arm cast aluminum?

Don't think I want to be beating on my cast aluminum! But then again it's done all the time - WRONG.

Cliff

timd38

I used a pickle fork, just be carful not to damage the ball joint boot.

GHWelles

DONE!

Got it to the point where I could disconnect the lower control arm and swing it to the side, then pulled the old spring out and slid the new one in. Only have to take apart one side. Huge improvement, the old spring was cracked, and did not provide support.

Lexicon

So what am I missing? I haved a 07 F55 and did the front years ago. I have the car up to put on the rear Z06 spring. If you have the F55, remeber to take off the sensor or it will get broken. I have the rear sway off, the lower shock bolt out, and the control rod off.

From the posts and out of Pfadt, I cannot tell if I need to knock out the lower ball joint or the upper ball joint or ???. The steps that say "knock it out with a hammer and block of wood" don't make sense to me. There is not a lot of room and I cannot see where to put a block and where to hit it.


Who can spell it out for me? I cannot find any how-to with pictures.

Thanks all!

Z06Pops

Lex, I think you should go back and re-read Timid and Sparo's posts to figure out which control arm. AND before you replace the spring smooth out the surface where the "lowering" bolt plastic cap contacts the lower control arm. The cap needs to slide smoothly on the arm surface. If it does not it will effect the cars handling. Small point. But it is the accumulation of small points that make a difference. Cliff

Lexicon

I think i need to remove the upper control arm where it attaches to the frame. I did this on the front and if I do it on the rear then it should work.

TMyers

100% correct. In fact it is easier IMO to remove the upper control arm from the frame than deal with the ball joint. Disconnect tie rod, upper control arm. Lower jack an remove.

TMyers

There is no bolt that retains the spring to the control arm.

Lexicon

Got it done. On a car with F55; Remove the sensors. You have to do both sides to get the spring out; tie rod, lower shock bolt, two bolts that hold the upper "A" arm. Got that done and the Z06 mufflers on. I need 12 nuts and the new gaskets to get here to finish the job.

NVaughn

Great topic for this week's How-To article...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/how-to...-spring-368652

DAMCars

I have the upper control arm unbolted, the shock unbolted, the leaf spring brackets unbolted (both sides), and the stock lowering bolt turned all the way up so its flush with the spring and I still can't pop the leaf spring loose on the passenger side. So frustruated. Thought i could just undo the leaf spring on passenger side and swing it out of the way of the rear diff drain plug. Yes the final goal here is to change the diff fluid. I am determined - no turning back. Any thoughts on why the leaf spring won't break loose? Do I really have to unbolt everything on the driver's side too?

irok

all you need to do is remove fill and drain plug to change diff fluid

DAMCars

Wish it was that easy on the 2009. The drain plug is completely obstructed by the leaf spring.

It's all good, I finally managed to get the spring out of the way to drain the fluid. It looks like baby diarrhea so glad I'n changing. Going to do lowering bolts while I'm in there.