Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

[Bill E.]

The previous owner of my '74 installed a composite rear spring. I resently heard that either the spring or the exhaust should be wrapped with an insulating material where they are close to each other because the heat will damage the spring. There is about 3/4 inch of space between them and I can't see any damage to the spring. I'm not sure when the spring was installed but it was a number of years ago. This car is a driver so I have no plans of replacing the spring with a stock part. Any advice? Thanks, Bill

[Jim T.]

Re: Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

Do you know how long the spring has been on your 74? I have had a composite rear spring on my 70 for about 16-17 years. Installed it per directions reference air space from exhaust. The instructions with my spring from Vette Brakes did not mention using a insulating material like someone told you. For clarification recommend you contact the supplier of your rear spring. I know of two types, the TRW wide thinner composite and the one like I have from Vette Brakes which is thicker and not as wide as the TRW.

[Bill E.]

Re: Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

Jim, I have the TRW spring. The car was restored about 12 years ago but I don't know if the spring was installed then or at a later date. Good idea about contacting TRW, should of thought about that myself. Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

Bill-----

TRW does not make these springs anymore. In fact, I think they "shed" this business quite a few years ago. Someone else may have purchased the product line from them as I vaguely recall. I don't recall who, though.

My other recollection is that there were one or two heat shields that were supplied with the spring and these were to be installed on the exhaust pipes. This may have been unique to the TRW spring since it is much wider than the Vette Brakes spring.

[kelly theaker]

Re: Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

the heat shield that was originally supplied by the manufacturer was a piece of aluminum that was held by the 4 bolts securing the shamrock marked base for the diff, it was aprox 5'' wide by 8'' long and shielde4d the spring TRW from the exhaust.

[Bill E.]

Re: Composite Rear Spring and Exhaust

Thanks Joe and Kelly. I tried to contact TRW via their web site and was denied access. I then called them and got an answering machine and no call back.

Given the placememt of my exhaust pipes the original heat shield would be too short to protect the spring. I did find find some info on the web about wrapping the spring which I will try. Thanks, Bill