Leaf springs for 1980
 

Hey guys,

I am looking to take advantage of the sale from Corvette America.

I need to replace the leaf spring on my vette. However, the descriptions on the site are not making complete sense. The title of the page below says 1963-82 Corvette leaf springs, but the leaf springs listed don't included 1980, its stops at 1979.

Also, I wanted to check to make sure I wasn't missing something.
This is what I have in my cart. Am I buying the wrong things?

27611 57 - 81 Exhaust Heater Riser Gasket. 2 Inch
1844 63 - 82 Rear Spring Hanger Kit.
1847 78 - 79 Rear Spring. Steel Standard 9 Leaf 2.5 Inch
23059 76 - 81 Air Duct Hose. Front
23049 76 - 81 Air Duct Hose. Side

http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ord%3A%2029827

Thanks.

if I remember correctly the 80-82 spring was a composite one and not like the early steal leaf design. and I do not think any thing will interchange

The spring on the car looks like the one pictured. The leafs are spread on my car. I just don't know how many leafs. And since the years don't match up I won't want to buy something and it not fit.

the composite spring was only fitted to 81 autos with standard suspension and all 82s. All 80s vette were fitted with a steel leaf spring.

not 100% sure if this was the same as the spring for the 79 or not. Ecklers list it as being the same.

Correct.
:thumbs:

I'm not sure whether all 1979's came with the same rear spring, or if there was the optional "gymkhana" suspension that year.

If you want a steel spring replacement, you need to get under yours and measure the width of the rear spring leaves, and count the leaves. Some steel springs were 2.25" and some were 2.5". The early ones (2.25") were either 9 leaves (thinner, softer spring, standard suspension) or 7 leaves (thicker, stiffer spring, "gymkhana" or "heavy duty" suspension, RPO Code FE7 if memory serves me).

If I were replacing one, I'd go with a composite replacement. Your source has that upgrade shown http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...0rear%20spring Those are a full kit that includes all necessary hardware to mount it. Those composite springs are 40 to 50 pounds lighter, they don't fatigue, and they don't rust.

Also, count the exposed threads on the spring end link bolts when you start. Those bolts set ride height. If you're installing an exact replacement (steel spring, same # of leaves, same width), you need to put the nuts back on the same amount (same number of exposed threads) and secure them with new cotter pins. If you put the nuts all the way on, snug, you'll jack the back of the car way up. Don't ask me how I know this.

If you change to the composite spring, you'll probably have to measure your current ride height before you start, and make some adjustments to get the new (different) spring set to the same ride height.

Thanks for the help. I will post what I find and get back to you. It might be a day or two.

What is the difference between these two?
4857 1980-1982 Rear Spring. Composite 340#
4858 1980-1982 Rear Spring. Composite 355#

Stiffness.

The "4857" is 340 #'s (lbs.) per inch of deflection. The 4858 is 355 lbs per inch.

BIG CORRECTION:

I think that 4857 is about equivalent (or close to) the 9 leaf x 2.25" spring from the "Standard suspension" up to 1978.That's about equivalent to the 7 leaf "gymkhana suspension" (AKA "heavy duty suspension", RPO Code "FE7").

If you have the 9 leaf x 2.5" spring, I think that one is stiffer than the earlier "standard suspension," and close to (maybe stiffer than) the earlier "gymkhana suspension."
According to this DuntovCorvets.com:
Honestly, I'm not sure I trust that math.

The reason is that the formula for stiffness of a leaf spring has a factor in it for "semi elliptical" or "quarter elliptical" (or full elliptical, but those are from horse and wagon days). The corvette arrangement is basically two "quarter elliptical" springs manufactured as a single "semi elliptical." If you calculate the rate for the spring as a "semi elliptical" spring, that's the total rate for both wheels. The rate for one wheel is half that. If he's comparing the quarter elliptical (one wheel) rate of the stock springs to the semi-elliptical rating of the composite spring, there's a factor of 2 he's ignoring in that comparison. It's even a little more if he's comparing the "wheel rate" of the stock spring to the full rating of the semi-elliptical composite spring, because the "wheel rate" is slightly lower than the full spring rate because the end of the spring usually isn't directly above the center line of the tire contact patch.

One more thing, I said this:
based solely on the claims on that web site. Usually that's true, but I haven't bought from that specific source. You want to double check (click the "ask us a question" or "contact us" link and get an email response to verify that claim.

If you do make the change to a composite you should replace the shocks too.
It is a good upgrade from the steel Spring. I've never seen anyone say after they changed that they wished they hadn't done it.

Get the stiff composite, it should come with the right
length bolts and a thread shown value.

When i first replaced the rear spring and shocks in my 80, i ended up with a 180 soft ride composite spring. I swapped it out for the factory 9 leaf steel spring. Steel spring made a night and day difference. Stay with what GM designed, you will be far happier in the long run.

#330 spring with Koni 5 way adjustable shocks on my '81.

Handles great with a terrific ride.

The current spring is 2.5" wide and has 9 leafs.

I will get to the shocks eventually. I need to get it drive-able as I may be moving soon and will need to drive it to its new home.

Before you pay for the spring from your Corvette America site, you should definitely tell them that's what you have and make sure you're getting the kit that fits your car.

From looking at the composite springs on the page I posted the link to, I think your Corvette will use 4855 (340#) or 4856 (355#). I think the "1980-1982" listings (4858 and 4859) are for the Corvettes that were factory equipped with a composite rear spring. I'm also pretty sure the spring itself is the same for 4855/4857, and for 4856/4858, and the difference is the mounting hardware kit. If you end up with the wrong parts, shipping will be much less if you just exchange the hardware.

all 80-82 corvettes will use the same kit regardless of weather they had a factory composite spring or not.

Contacted Corvette America....

They said the 1847 will work as a leaf spring replacement.
The ride quality will be comparable to the 40600 which is a composite spring.

If I want a better ride, I need to call vansteel in florida and pay for their $515 spring.

They also told me that only 99 corvettes in 1980 came with a steel leaf spring, so my car is really rare to have that. Didn't even know that was a thing.

What did they mean by a "better ride". Smoother, more responsive? Which is the $515 spring? Thanks

Smoother, less stiff. The $515 is for the best ride (Smoothest).

He also said that regardless of what you get, the car will sit high while the spring breaks in. And its the motion of being being driving and bouncing that does it. Putting it on at the beginning of winter and letting it sit under load won't do it.