Cracked Leaf spring--C4C5Specialist--any ideas

[69MyWay]

I just noticed while dropping my diff that the rear fiberglass spring has a nasty little cracked splintered area in it, and what appears to be other cracks running in line with the grain of the fiberglass strands on the spring.

Here is a pic.

Do you think this needs replacement, or is it normal?

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Replace it.. It is just going to get worse.. I know first hand.. my 89 rear spring did the same thing. Now I need to replace the front for the same reason. I have a new front I just need to install it

 

[Ken]

I'm surprised Chris, I thought you knew everything! :L

That's from the '90? Man, that car is certainly going to be worth what you are asking for it when you are done, but then maybe that is what people are waiting for--for you to go through it completely from top to bottom. :L

_ken

 

[69MyWay]

I'm surprised Chris, I thought you knew everything! :L

That's from the '90? Man, that car is certainly going to be worth what you are asking for it when you are done, but then maybe that is what people are waiting for--for you to go through it completely from top to bottom. :L

_ken

I have pretty much decided that I won't be selling the car. Eventhough it broke at the track, I now know that it has 12 second 1/4 mile passes just waiting to be untapped. I have never officially burned off a timed quarter mile in any of my cars and been given a 12 second time slip. It does not mean I have never had a 12 second car, it just means it has never been in paper.

Plus, this car is a great autocross car. I am thinking spending a few bucks on her now to get the bottom end tighten up will simply match the extra revs and power on the upper end.

If I have to replace this rear spring, I am thinking of getting a new front as well, going to the Z51 composition and getting the lowering kit to slam her on the ground. My 85 (which ran basically a 13 flat) was lowered and looked SOOOOOOO HOT.

I am thinking the 69 will be the bad boy show piece, the 2000 is the daily driver blah, blah, car, and the 90 will be the bad boy of the crowd. My final thoughts on the 90 will be at least 100 shot of NOS. It is honestly already a slicker, nicer, neater, package than even Killer when it comes to the zoom, zoom factor.

Alright, I am rambling now. No, I don't know everything. C4C5specialist has forgotten more than I will ever know about Corvettes, and Jeff has ripped his C4 down to the lowest common denominator and put it back together in a more aggressive fashion than I could imagine doing. You my friend have researched, pondered, purchased, trial and errored more C4 stuff than I have even been exposed to over my lifetime. So, with all this great wealth of information I don't know squat!

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Is there any other points where you are seeing the same issue on the spring?????????
You are correct that the graining of the spring will sometimes hold cracks, seen as faults.
I would say only if you want to, replace it.
Per GM guidelines on fibreglass leaf springs, some splintering of the top coat is classified as normal, unless there is a gap of more than 1/4 inch from the fracture to the spring body.
A suggestion if you would like to replace, as part number 42842, from Vette brake and products in Fla, is an excellent handling system, with compliance for some street driving.
Utilizing Bilstein, and spring composition, it yields excellent handling, and cornering, without being overly harsh, and will really move against Z51 on the track.
If set up correctly, it will outhandle stock c5 coupe and convertible.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[69MyWay]

Thanks Paul.


Looks like I am headed that way. I just got the Bilsteins, and the same rear spring you mentioned and I am going to slam it in as sooon as I get the differential back with my new schweet 3.75 gears!

VB&P told me that we can make this car rock with a set of Z51 sway bars and the softer ride sport springs.