Who has had a valve spring failure?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 21
From: Placitas New Mexico
Who has had a valve spring failure?
One of our forum vendors mentioned in a post that they use Comp springs because they have seen other springs fail sooner. I'm curious just how many have experienced spring failures, especially Patriots, since that is what I was going to use. I have not decided between Golds or Extremes yet. Anyone have a stock spring fail?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
The good folks at Comp Cams should be well versed on valve spring failure. I've had exactly one valve spring failure on a performance engine. Comp 918 springs and I'm not the only one. I used the Comp springs with Comp p'rods on top of a .581 lift Comp Cam. The valve dropped causing damage to the head and piston. I used that "opportunity" to upgrade to a 6.0L. Didn't cost a huge amount more than replacing the head and piston/rings. Comp was kind enough to give me a new set of their "improved" 918 springs. I've had three sets of Patriot Golds and no failures on them. I've already had my last set of Comp Cams springs. They may be better now, but I won't reward the manufacturer of a bad product.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I've had a stock spring fail to return the valve quickly enough to avoid an intimate relationship with a piston. After a couple of kisses they broke up, but I was the one who was screwed. However that was a result of too much RPM. 
Someone else recently reported a stock spring broke and killed the motor while at normal highway speeds.
Someone else recently reported a stock spring broke and killed the motor while at normal highway speeds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 5
From: louisville "derby city" kentucky
PATRIOT GOLD. change every 25000 miles. or two years. no problems ever with mine or any on my friends vettes i have done. street drive it and race at the strip on the weekends.....................
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm very happy with them.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
I wonder that too. It's time for mine to be changed. If 20 bucks will buy you a little more time between spring changes, it would be worth it. I wonder if the extra seat pressure could be problematic (if you don't need it). Lift on mine is .607/.617 using LSL lobes.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 563
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
I have 20k on my golds and no problems yet... Is there a time when it will be obvious ots time to change em? Like it starts to float at high rpm? What's a good rev limit for em? I wanted to raise my limiter from 6950 to 7450...
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,227
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From: Dearborn Heights MI
-Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
In all of the years we've been using these springs, we've never had or heard of a single failure. We have even testing springs that came out of cars after as much as 60,000 miles with full bolt-on's and a large camshaft and they were still within spec.
-Rick
-Rick
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
In all of the years we've been using these springs, we've never had or heard of a single failure. We have even testing springs that came out of cars after as much as 60,000 miles with full bolt-on's and a large camshaft and they were still within spec.
-Rick
-Rick
What mileage life do you recommend? How do you test them? I'm guessing you need a spring tester which is expensive but thought I'd ask.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Woodlands TX
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 28
From: Dearborn Heights MI
Depends on how long ago the heads were purchased. If it is a chrome dual spring, then yes it would be the same spring.
This would depend on the application. If it was strictly a road race car, I'm sure the life would be shorter than a street car or drag race car.
We do have a valve spring tester to check the pressures.
Thank you,
Rick
We do have a valve spring tester to check the pressures.
Thank you,
Rick