-Is change to plastic/leaf-spring recomended ?(pros/cons please)...

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

-Presently running my '80-vette with original 9-leaf steel rear/leaf-spring, and wondering if the Fiberglass-resin Mono/leaf-spring is regarded as a viable update for the C3, and for normal road use are they known to ever break? Can a C5/mono-spring be simply shaved to fit a C3? Is the '81-'82 Mono-spring the same in spring-rate as a reputed hard-riding C4 version? What Mono-spring will net the most comfortable ride? {noting that the front&rear Anti-roll Bars should be relied upon for proper cornering quality I believe].... Thankx ;help

 

[69MyWay]

You will not regret the swap. Mine actually broke/fractured but VB&P was wonderful about jumping right on it, sending me another one, and giving me a credit for the defective one. They are lighter, have a better bounce reaction, and just plain COOOOOOOL. Remember the C4 and C5 have run nothing but fiberglass springs now since 84, and it continues to be a dependable long lasting solution for steel.

I bought mine straight from VB&P. I have the performance plus option that is a little more expensive, but is way awesome. Either way you can't go wrong.

Welcome to CAC!


Chris

 

[sscam69]

I can vouch for it to. I purchased a V&B spring as well.

I have not had any problems up to this point and I have had it on for about over a year.

I purchased the "330lb" spring rate which is suited more for daily driving. I really enjoy the ride and its not as harsh as it used to be.

The only thing that I did was put header wrap around the exhaust where the spring was located. I put it there as recommened by V&B. You can also make a heat shield which I will do in the future. The header wrap was a quick solution. This is to protect the spring from the extreme heat from the exhuast.

I posted a pic.


Frank

 

[mmvette80]

I also got the VBP 330lb composit spring. It rides perfect. Ive had no problems. It shaves of like 35lbs.

 

[KANE]

I have had great luck with the plastic springs too.

It was about 1996 some time and I was driving down the road.... and all of the sudden.... BAM!!!

My old metal leaf spring just "sprung" itself left and right into the individual peices of the spring.

Well, I originally bought the carbon fiber spring because it WEIGHED less and would be easier to install. I have the 360lb spring. Is it harsh? I dunno. I can't tell over the 16' wheels with Z rated tires and the beefy tie rods.

I will say this- I have a 1998 Mustang GT (my daily driver!!!) and at 90mph the Vette is A LOT BETTER, even if my 78's bushings ARE TOTALLY SHOT!

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

Berlina Bob here: --appreciate these lucid comments, and was surprisec by the one stating his 9-leaf/steel-spring(main long-leaf) snaped like a twig, -which I was fearing with the plastic-version! So apparently it comes down to perhaps driving with a gone-shock, whereby potholes thereby take their toll doing physical-trama to the thus over-flexed leafspring(steel or plastic), and then eventually ----C-R-A-C-K!!! So the apparent great benefit of the plastic-leafspring resides in eliminating the inter-leaf friction, so as to net a significantly smoother-ride? Plus I take it, the greatly reduced "unsprung-weight" results in significantly improved ability to keep the rubber on the road (not in the air), particularly when navigating bumpy surfaces in a fast curve!!! And I will no also remember to install a heat-shield, to deflict heat from the spring-perch region! Have tried to insert two pertinent photos here, one being a picture of the heavy C3/multi-leaf steel-spring assy., the other being that of a fiberglas-resin C5/Monoleaf-spring for comparison. Others please do add your thoughts and experiences to this topic, as we can thus all see further by standing upon the shoulders of other Corvette'iers... Thankx, -Berlina Bob :TALK

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

B.-Bob again: -here's the mentioned C3/spring that didn't take with the preceeding C5/spring iteration, for ez-comparison... -B.Bob :crazy

 

[Nut]

Bob.... go with the VBP 330lb spring. I put mine in over 15 years ago and she rides just as good today as the day I put her in.

.............. Nut