62 Leaf Springs

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

None other than John Hinckley in this old CF thread where I worked my way through the restoration process; here is what he said:

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/2889342-c1-leaf-springs-for-the-61-a.html#post1578354296

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

None other than John Hinckley in this old CF thread where I worked my way through the restoration process; here is what he said:
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...post1578354296

Thanks Frank, that's another bookmarked page in my collection!
On a quick glance I think I have one that specs about right and one that is flatter. The only visible mark on the good one is E2 but there is a lot of cleaning to do. After I take them apart I will have a better clue what I have. Eric

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Look the springs over carefully Eric....one of my long springs had a hairline crack at the center bolt hole that I almost missed. A very fine hairline break and I was likely to catch it before I stuck it back on the car...

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Look the springs over carefully Eric....one of my long springs had a hairline crack at the center bolt hole that I almost missed. A very fine hairline break and I was likely to catch it before I stuck it back on the car...

I will have to examine them closely. It will be interesting to see what the individual springs look like when they are separated. I am not sure how available pieces like that are but I am sure I will need a few. I am sure they have never been apart since they have the original "Chicago - Signode" bands on them. Funny thing is that I worked for them about 25 years ago.

[Ian G.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Mine were shot. rusted almost half way through at the bolt hole. I got a good pair of 62's and salvaged my bottom spring which had minimal pitting. Hopefully yours are better.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Mine were shot. rusted almost half way through at the bolt hole. I got a good pair of 62's and salvaged my bottom spring which had minimal pitting. Hopefully yours are better.

Tomorrow is tear down day.... I will know what I have soon. And I know I will be shopping for something.

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Tomorrow is tear down day.... I will know what I have soon. And I know I will be shopping for something.

Eric-------


Once-upon-a-time, individual leaves for many leaf springs were available from GM. Unfortunately, they're long-since discontinued. I don't know if individual leaves are available in the aftermarket today. If anyone has them, though, I would expect it would be Eaton Detroit Spring.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Unfortunately the result was not the best.

The one spring that still had decent arch measured 5 1/4" and while the main spring and fourth leaf didn't look too bad, both the second and third leaf had considerable pitting and rust erosion. The other spring asst measured 3 1/2" arch and had slight corrosion but all four pieces are lacking arch.

Thanks for all your help but it looks like its its time to start searching for replacements.

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Unfortunately the result was not the best.

The one spring that still had decent arch measured 5 1/4" and while the main spring and fourth leaf didn't look too bad, both the second and third leaf had considerable pitting and rust erosion. The other spring asst measured 3 1/2" arch and had slight corrosion but all four pieces are lacking arch.

Thanks for all your help but it looks like its its time to start searching for replacements.

Eric-------


The corrosion on the 2 leaves pictured is too severe for continued use. It may even be the root cause of the leaf arch recession.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Eric-------


The corrosion on the 2 leaves pictured is too severe for continued use. It may even be the root cause of the leaf arch recession.

Joe, I will be looking for a pair of spring assemblies or at least a suitable pair of new springs until I can find an original set.
I agree, these are too far gone. Eric

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Yes - you are right in not trying to resurrect those -- too far gone...
Fuelie Dave has 3-4 pair of later C1 leaf springs all priced around $1,000 and date coded:

http://www.fueliedave.com/1953-67PartsPage.html

Look all the way down near the bottom of the page on the left....they look to be restored but you'll have to
decide how 'correct' you want to be vis a vis date codes, rebound clip crimp, etc..

I would do one of these sets before I paid 'double' for a repro set to run with followed by laying out cash for an original pair...

[Bill M.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

A few comments on C1 leaf spring corrosion:

The most important surface is the top surface of the main leaf.

The top surface is the tension side (bottom is compression) and is where a fatigue crack is most likely to start, so major corrosion damage on this surface is not good. Other surfaces are not as critical.

The main leaf controls rear axle position on a C1 and a broken main leaf can be a major safety issue.

The springs are designed so that the main leaf is the strongest. You want secondary leaves to fail first and be a warning. So you want the main leaf to have the least corrosion to maintain that designed-in failure mode progression for safety reasons.

[Loren S.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Fuelie Dave has some nice stuff and that price is fair market value; nonetheless that is a lot of extra coin just to get grooved springs and a code/date that might be obscured when installed, when new springs are $300 for a pair. But if the new springs end up sitting too high, then I guess that is a consideration, given how important stance is to the look of a car. If you don't care about loosing a few points, another option would be the composite monosprings from Vette Brakes & Products.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

A few comments on C1 leaf spring corrosion:

The most important surface is the top surface of the main leaf.

The top surface is the tension side (bottom is compression) and is where a fatigue crack is most likely to start, so major corrosion damage on this surface is not good. Other surfaces are not as critical.

The main leaf controls rear axle position on a C1 and a broken main leaf can be a major safety issue.

The springs are designed so that the main leaf is the strongest. You want secondary leaves to fail first and be a warning. So you want the main leaf to have the least corrosion to maintain that designed-in failure mode progression for safety reasons.

The majority of the corrosion was on the 2nd and 3rd leaves rather han the main leaves and that would explain the breakdown on the most fatigued set to the 2nd leaf which was broken.

It might be conceivable to continue to clean and examine both main leaves and if they are satisfactory, get them re-arched. However to make the pair usable I would have to find replacements for at least three, if not four minor leaves.

I have looked at the ones from Fuelie Dave and others listed in the Driveline but it seams that it would be a premium to pay for springs that do not match the date range of my car. While it would be nice to have the date range, often it is hidden.

still considering options. Thanks....

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Well my friend -- Carlisle is not that far off