'69 rear spring

[Marc R.]

Eaton Springs carries two 9 leaf springs. One has 6 curved leafs and 3 flat. The other has all 9 curved. Which is the correct replacement for a '69 L46 roadster? My current spring is an incorrect 7 leaf replacement so no help there.

[Greg L.]

Re: '69 rear spring

Marc, I just went and checked my original L36 and I have 8 that are curved with the main leaf being not curved.

Please let me know how the Eaton spring looks once you get it because I am thinking of using them also for my replacement.

Greg

[Marc R.]

Re: '69 rear spring

Greg, I'm assuming from what you say that the all curved Eaton would be correct. I did locate the correct paint from Quanta. It's part #28-02 called "rear leaf spring gray."

[Greg L.]

Re: '69 rear spring

If all curved means all of them except for the main leaf then yes, you are correct. I'm interested to see how close they are to the originals and if they come with spring liners or not too.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 rear spring

Marc-----

All 1969 Corvettes, except the 116 L-88s and 2 ZL-1s which had F-41 suspension, originally used a 9 leaf spring with 6 curved leaves and 3 flat leaves. This description applies in the "free" (i.e. off-car) condition. On the car with the weight of the car on the spring all the leaves will appear "flat", or nearly so.

The original spring was 2-1/4" wide, had reduced-width spring leaf ends (except bottom leaf), upward curved leaf ends (except bottom leaf), and spring liners with ridges on the sides which prevented lateral leaf movement. NO original springs ever had end bands.

Eaton has the best reproduction spring on the market. However, it's not exactly like the originals in every respect. The spring leaf end configuration, both with respect to upturned ends and width reduction configuration, is not exactly like the originals. Also, the Eaton springs that I have seen do have the end bands. Like I say, no original Corvette spring had these.

[Marc R.]

Re: '69 rear spring

Thanks Joe and others. Is there an answer? No one makes the correct spring now, and I've never seen a spring for sale in the Driveline. My spring was replaced with an incorrect 7 leaf so I can't do anything with that. All considered is Eaton the way to go?

[Mark #28455]

1661 F41 cars in 1969 *NM*

[Marc R.]

Re: '69 rear spring

A final follow up. Eaton Springs has the 6 curved/3 flat spring. It does have the liners. Though it has end bands, they advise these can be removed. Their spring comes painted black, but they will strip it at no additional charge. Quanta Products has the correct gray spring paint (part # 28-02.) I have decided to go this route. I greatly appreciate everyone's input and interest.

[Gary B.]

Bands on springs; maybe 1 exception to rule

Joe,

I can't track down the photo I have somewhere that proves it, but I think somewhere in the 80-82 time frame one of the GM HD Corvette springs came with bands.

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: Bands on springs; maybe 1 exception to rule

Gary-----

Yes, that's very possible. I was referring mainly to 63-74 models.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1661 F41 cars in 1969

Matk-----

Yes, I was incorrect on this point. F-41 was also available with L-71 for 1969. In any event, only cars equipped with F-41 used the 7 leaf spring.

[Greg L.]

Re: Bands on springs; maybe 1 exception to rule

I just went and doubled checked my spring assy and they are ALL "tapered and curled" at the tips except for the main leaf. They are also 2.25" wide. So now I am wondering if I have an odd configuration or if it was replaced at one time. If it has been replaced then I wonder what all years would have all the leaves of this style.

[John H.]

Re: '69 rear spring

Joe -

The bands on the Eaton spring are strictly to maintain leaf alignment during shipping; to quote Mike Eaton when I was there a year or so ago researching for my article on their processes (March '04 issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine), "How come I see my springs on Corvettes with the bands still on them - don't folks know they're just for shipping and should be removed when the spring is installed?".

Marc -

The 9-leaf spring with all nine leaves cambered is the reproduction of the one-year-only '63 spring; '64 and up into the early 70's used the six-cambered/three-flat spring, except F40/41.