Composite Rear Spring - Split!

[Dave Z]

Interesting issue, seems my composite rear spring which was new from Corvette America in Aug 04 and installed the same month has actually split. I called C/A and they told me they have never heard of this happening. The Corvette shop I use also said that they have sold and installed many of this type of spring and have never heard of this happening either. I'm not sure when this happened, but the last time I drove it, I went over a small dip in the road at about 35MPH and she bottomed out. Stopped, took a look and noticed it was sitting way low in the rear. The attached pictures were taken at the shop. Looks like it has actually splintered. C/A provides a two year warranty, so I'm in good shape. Just thought I'd pass this along. Anyone else ever had this happen?

 

[vett boy]

I had one on my 69 and loved it.Glad that the warranty had not expired.The Chinese have poor quality control.

 

[Bill75]

You know..this is the second post I've read in the last couple of months about a broken composite spring. Sorry to hear about your troubles, not fun changing a rear spring. Thanks for the info.

 

[GTR1999]

They break and it's not uncommon. Get a new steel spring and a new shop.

The best spring for your car is the GM one. When that goes bad the aftermarket steel and glass springs fall in one catagory- crap.

I haven't used one new steel spring that was arched correctly and had to use 8" bolts with all of them,7 or 9 leaf. The glass ones: weight less, cost double, crack when exposed to heat, and do break. I know a lot of guys love them, but I won't use or install them.

Good luck.

Gary

 

[00fxd]

Jeez, thats nice. I just ordered a 'glass front spring for the front of my '65. Anyone heard of these breaking?

 

[Lucy64]

When I rebuilt the suspension on my 64 last winter I went all steel. I had heard of other people having problems with the glass springs. They say that you will have a smoother less harsh ride with the glass but it is a mid-year Vette so I am not looking for smoother ride. My original spring was very tired after 40 years so I replaced it, but I never have to worry about it splitting. It came with steel so I stayed with steel.

 

[Dave Z]

It's been almost 2 weeks since I sent the spring back to Corvette America. Called them this morning to check the status. You're not going to believe what they told me..."The warranty is void if it is determined by the manufacturer that heat from the exhaust was the cause of failure"...What!?!? The exhaust runs right there above the spring. The thing didn't melt, it splintered! I am beginning to have a bad feeling about this, as it's taken too long for C/A to honor the warranty and replace the part and now they tell me they should know by next Tuesday if the warranty will be honored. Evidently, C/A has to send it back to the manufacturer for them to make the determination. That makes almost 3 weeks trying to get an item replaced. I've spent a lot of money with C/A, and have had no trouble in the past returning / replacing items. I have my fingers crossed that they'll do the right thing here. Otherwise, they've lost a customer for life.

 

[00fxd]

Plus I guess your supposted to walk everywhere which is b.s.

 

[Tifton81]

I had the same problem with my spring. I posted a situation on CAC about a month ago and I have been in contact with ZIP Corvette Products where I purchased my spring just 3 years ago. We have gone back and forth about it and the warranty, only not to be able to locate my receipt. However, I have been told that they will honor the warranty if they can go back and locate my purchase order and receipt. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping I will get it replaced. I called the manufacturer and they said that it had to be caused by heat or by someone jacking up the spring...."What?" They need to get serious. Just currious, who is the manufacturer of your spring? I'll check the manufacturer on my spring, could be the same and wouldn't that be just great...

 

["UNSAFE"]

Broken Spring !!!

Yeah, I had the same problem a few weeks ago and mentioned it in another thread. Mine was a TRW brand that was purchased new on ebay and worked great for about six months. Then I noticed the car sitting low and saw that the spring was broken into two pieces. Apparently this happened as the car was just sitting parked in the driveway. No heat damage, chips or other reasoning for it. looks kinda like the resin just didn't set-off right. It's a clean break with only a few very short fibers sticking out. I can E-mail photos if interested. In the photos above, it looks like the exhaust heat shield has been trimmed or removed. Mine was in place but I am switching to sidepipes anyway.
I received my new 355# composite spring a few days ago along with a set of Koni shocks but have not installed them yet.The new spring is TRW design by Muskogeen Brake.
I should also have my new GM performance ZZ 383 crate motor and TCI streetfighter 350 trans installed in it in the next week or so. I can't wait, 425hp and 460 torque for less than $5K, delivered to Alaska. Running 3.70 gears.

 

[Chas]

Thanks for this post..

Im tossing the idea of new front and rear springs...Im for sure positive now that Im sticking with the steel spring for the rear leaf.
Chas

 

[Tifton81]

Everyone keeps saying that they are going to stay with the steel springs and I understand that but the 1981 came with the composite spring and not steel. Has anyone replaced the composite spring with steel and is there any modifications that need to be completed to do this? How does it effect the ride....just curious.
Thanks
tifton 81

 

[Dave Z]

Corvette America did the right thing, they honored the warranty. Called them to protest that it's taken too long for the manufacturer to determine whether they were going to honor the warranty and C/A agreed. They decided they would ship one out that day and sure enough, I received the FDX tracking e-mail later that evening and the replacement spring arrived within two days. I'm a happy man.

 

[KANE]

Interesting issue, seems my composite rear spring which was new from Corvette America in Aug 04 and installed the same month has actually split.

:ugh

No- I've never seen that before! I had a spring from VB under my '78 from 1997 until I sold it in 2004. I never had an issue with the rear composite spring.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

My original 18 year old spring on my 82 was split when I got it. It was cracked about halfway across in the center of one side and split lengthwise to the end. Not a total failure. I have the TRW 355 Lb. spring on for 5 years now and it's been good for the duration. I understand that storage in certain conditions such as the presence of solvets in the air will adversely affect the longevity of Fiberglass springs. Maybe it was something that happened before you got your new spring that caused the failure.
Good luck with the new one.

 

[Tifton81]

Just an update....I received a phone call late this afternoon from Zip Corvettes and they located my original invoice from December of 2002. They said they will honor the 5 year warranty and get a new one off to me today to replace the split spring. I have to say I was not expecting the replacement but these guys at Zip have restored my faith in honest business practices. Thanks Zip Corvette Products...

Tifton 81