Mar 6, 2015, 12:37 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: Steering and Suspension How-Tos
- How to Replace Rear Leaf Spring
Step by step instructions for do-it-yourselfers.
Browse all: Steering and Suspension How-Tos
Replace Rear Leaf Spring
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 3
From: CA
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.
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.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
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
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
Last edited by timd38; Jun 21, 2010 at 08:57 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: San Joaquin Valley CA
Remove Leaf Sprg
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
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
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I used a pickle fork, just be carful not to damage the ball joint boot.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
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.
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.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 11
From: Kennewick WA
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!
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!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?
Brett Foote
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)
Joe Kucinski
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)
Joe Kucinski
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made
Brett Foote
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: San Joaquin Valley CA
R Leaf Sprng
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
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
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.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
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
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
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 11
From: Kennewick WA
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.
CorvetteForum Editor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 85
Likes: 6
How-To Tuesday
Great topic for this week's How-To article...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/how-to...-spring-368652
https://www.corvetteforum.com/how-to...-spring-368652
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 184
Likes: 19
From: Phoenix, AZ
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?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
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?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 184
Likes: 19
From: Phoenix, AZ
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.
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.
Last edited by DAMCars; Nov 22, 2017 at 06:20 PM.
