rear spring advice

[pttsls5]

I removed my rear spring on my 72 to detail it. I replaced the liners with a cheap aftermarket set .I reinstalled and drove it for 1 summer and now the metal spring leaves don't seem to line up.I realigned them but they returned to the same cockeyed stance.The new liners don't have the little edge like the originals and there isn't a clamp like I have seen on later springs.Should I replace liners with original style or go to a shop and get the clamps installed ( really want to keep factory original ).Or is there another problem like trailing arms shifting that is causing this to happen?:confused Thanks for any help, I love this C.A.C. site.

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

The spring clamps should fix the problem and is the easiest thing to do. I have seen where people have used rad, hose clamps on the spring to hold them in place. Does the job, but looks tacky to me. Without the little edges like on the factory ones there is nothing to keep the leafs from twisting. It doesn't take much to hold things in place. Good luck.

Gary

 

[JohnZ]

The edges on the liners are to keep the liners in position on each leaf, not to keep the leaves from twisting; if the spring was properly clamped together when the center bolt was installed, and the four retaining plate bolts were torqued properly with the full weight of the car on the wheels so the spring was nearly flat at the time the bolts were torqued, there should be no "twisting" of the leaves. The clamps you sometimes see on reproduction springs are only there to hold the leaves in alignment during shipping - they're supposed to be removed after installation.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

You may be having this problem due to a mismatched rear cover/spring combination. Somewhere in the late 70's (I think) a different design cover came out that accomodated a wider spring. If you have one of these wider covers and the earlier 'narrow' spring, the leaves can splay as you describe.

Check to see if you have a gap between the sides of the leaf spring and the slot on the coverthat it fits into. If so, the gap should can be filled with shims.

 

[pttsls5]

Thanks guys!! ;worship . I believe I have both problems. I didn't torque the 4 bolts with full weight on it and there seems to be a little play in the cover to spring area. I will try both and then pray for some nice weather sooooooon to try her out.

 

[GTR1999]

John you bring up a good point about the straps on the aftermarket springs. I have run them on without any problems and have seen a lot of cars with them. Do you think there is any disadvantage running with them on? I've used several so far and there was never any paperwork or mention from the suppliers the straps should be removed?

 

[JohnZ]

Functionally, probably makes little difference if you leave them on. When I was at Eaton-Detroit Spring several months ago doing research for the article I wrote that's in the March issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine on leaf springs, the owner (Mike Eaton) asked me, "Why do the people who install our reproduction Corvette rear springs leave the clamps on them? We only put them on to hold the leaves in alignment during shipping."

No instructions come with them, so I suppose many folks assume they're supposed to stay on, but they're not necessary; the rear cover, retaining plate, and bolts keep the leaves in alignment, just as they did from the factory.

 

[GTR1999]

Thanks John appreciate the response. I guess I'll remove the straps the next time I have the cars up in the air.