60 springs

[Peter K.]

I want to replace the front and rear springs on my 60. Does anybody have any recommendations on what to buy and where. Thanks.

[Jack H.]

Re: 60 springs

Rear leaf springs bear originality marks (date wacks). They can be repaired by removal, separation, clean up, and re-arching service. Then, put back together "good as new" so long as they're not rusted into oblivion.

Why toss out what might be perfectly good, factory original parts, when you can save 'em for the same/less money of replacement parts? Pick up the Yellow Pages in your hometown and find/talk to major suspension shops.

[Peter K.]

Re: 60 springs

Jack: Thanks for your response, I appreciate it. However, my rear springs don't appear to be very original anyway. One is a replacement, the other seems to have had some leafs replaced. Also, both springs have 5 leafs, which I don't think is original for a 60. I was just wondering if anybody had purchased aftermarket springs currently available from the various corvette parts suppliers, and if they were satisfied. Thanks, Pete.

[Joe L.]

Re: 60 springs

The "GM-licensed" reproduction source for most springs, coil and leaf, is Eaton Detroit Spring located in Detroit, Michigan. About 3 years ago, I ordered a reproduction leaf spring from them for my '69. The first spring that I received from them was absolutely awful in virtually every respect. I eventually returned it without ever having installed it. By this time, they had changed their manufacturing methods and/or had the springs manufactured by a sub-contractor. This spring was much better than the first one, but certainly not an exact reproduction in every detail. By that time, though, I had painstakingly rebuilt the original spring from my car and being VERY satisfied with it, I stored away the Eaton spring for possible future use. Consequently, I can't tell you from direct experience if the "reproduction" springs produce the correct ride height.

However, I can tell you this: I carefully examined a '65 coupe that was being displayed at Bloomington Gold a few years back by GM Restoration Parts(Equity Management, Inc.). This car was supposed to have been restored with many GM-licensed restoration parts, including Eaton Springs. I checked out the leaf spring and I am sure that it was an Eaton reproduction inasmuch as it had all the non-original "features" of my Eaton spring. This car appeared to have stock ride height, so I suspect that the Eaton springs would be acceptable in this regard.

I might also add that, although not completely original in every feature, the Eaton spring is the closest to original configuration of any replacement/"reproduction" spring that I've seen. And I've looked at a LOT of different offerings. I must caution, though, that all of my experience relates to 63-80 type transverse leaf springs. If this experience extends to Eaton's 53-62 products, it may be useful to you.