C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

[RON SANNA]

INSTALLED NEW SPRING.NOTICED LEAFS ARE THICKER.INSTALL LONGER SPRING BOLTS TO LOWER CAR,BECAUSE CAR SEATS TOO HIGH.HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR SUSPENSION TO SETTLE?

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Sorry to tell you it is unlikely to ever settle enough to make up for the increased ride height. The new spring is NOT made to the proper specifications.

Gary Beaupre, who occasionally posts here, wrote a series of articles for the NCRS publication "The Corvette Restorer" explaining the original specifications, mentioning the lack of proper specifications for the most common reproductions, and a method of masking the defect.
Hint -- use the new main leaf and the old secondary leaves.

BTW: Please turn off your Caps Lock. Writing in all capitals is considered shouting, and makes your message difficult to read.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Ron------

After you install the spring and get everything back together, roll the car 15 feet or, better yet, take it out for a short drive. This will assure that the suspension is normalized. The car will then be as low as it's going to go.

[Charles K.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

I just installed a new rear leaf that I got from Muskegon. I havnt lowered it yet but will let you know. I am going to install new shocks first. Any suggestions as to what brand to use?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Charles-----

I think that I'd go with the current Delco offerings. Delco #530-315, front, and 530-4, rear.

[Charles K.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Thanks Joe,
Is a Chevy dealershp the best place to buy them?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Charles----

A Delco dealer is probably the best place to get them if you want the best price. A GM dealer that sells at discount would be ok, too. You should be able to get a car set of these shocks for $120, or less.

[Charles K.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

I thought that only Gm dealers sold Delco. what other parts stores would carry them

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Check the Delco web site.

Or, my local non-chain store can usually order Delco if I provide the part number.

Or, I know they will be for sale at Carlisle this weekend.

Patrick

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

In my phone book yellow pages there is a auto parts store that advertises AC Delco parts in his business add. If he does not have the part on his shelves he has ordered it for me.

[Charles K.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Thanks guys. will try to pick some up tomorrow

[Charles P.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING

Charles, if you are unhappy with your ride height try using slightly longer trailing arm to leaf spring bolts. This should relax your spring and give you the OEM ride height back you are looking for.

[Jeremy D.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING-Eaton

I'm about to buy new coils for the front, and a new leaf spring for the rear of my '71 Convertible. I was going to order them straight from Eaton. Has anyone had better luck with the ride height with those springs? I bought a rear spring from Zip once, and I swear I coulda put drag slicks under the rear, it sat so high in the back.

[Charles P.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING-Eaton

I put an Eaton spring on a C3 recently. The ride height put the rear fender lip at about 7 inches above the tire. I then switched out the bolts (van steel)and the ride height became about 4 fingers on each side and real nice. This spring is not a dead on match in looks to the original but it is close. In fact it received no deductions at a regional. It came via UPS with an address label which proves you can mail just about anything. Dont be afraid to cut the banding on each side. I see alot of cars where the banding is left on. If you get one ask for them to blast it clean for you. They come from them with a coating of ashphalt/plastic like material that is a real pain to remove. When I went through this a board member clued me in about that and it saved me some time. Even if they blast it there will still be alot of residue on the spring when you disassemble it which is what I did and reblast. I then bought the leaf spring gray paint from quantas and new leaf liners although I might have been able to salvage the ones from Eaton but they had been damaged when they blasted it. My original spring had a broken leaf so it was a must to redo. As a bonus the Eaton spring corrected a slight uneveness from starboard to port the car had.

[Rob C.]

Re: C3 REAR LEAF SPRING-Eaton

I also put an Eaton spring in my 72 and it road a little high. What I did was take it out and took it to a place that dose car and truck springs (mostly truck) and had them take some of the arch out. it took a couple of trys but it is only off a 1/2" from factory spec. It looks great.
Rob