C2 Rear Leaf Spring

[William B.]

Gentlemen,

Could anyone tell me the best place to purchase a reporduction rear leaf spring for a 66 convt. I've tried Eatin and their spring was too long. The washers that are underneath the rubber cushions on each end make solid contact with the steel wheels (both). A friend of mine who tried Eaton also and ran into the same issue.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ken Bryant #42259

[Donald T.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

William,

Eaton does make the closest reproduction spring, as it has the curled ends. I recently installed one on my 65 and had no problems with the length. You may want to contact Eaton and see if they sent you the correct application.

[Donald T.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Here's a pic of the Eaton spring with the curled ends. The length was identical to the original. It's not an exact reproduction, but very close. The leaves have to be taken apart and repainted the correct gray color with no overspray on the liners. The cup pictured is the correct thinner version which is now available from Long Island Corvette. I think this is as close as you will get with a new spring.

[William B.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Gentlemen,

Could anyone tell me the best place to purchase a reporduction rear leaf spring for a 66 convt. I've tried Eatin and their spring was too long. The washers that are underneath the rubber cushions on each end make solid contact with the steel wheels (both). A friend of mine who tried Eaton also and ran into the same issue.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ken Bryant #42259

Thanks Don,

Picture looks like mine. When measuring along the curve, the longest leaf is 48 3/4 inches - end to end. I know this is not an eye-to eye measuement, but it's all I have at this point. Additionally, the connector bolts protrude significantly outwards at the point of entering the eye of the spring. Actually, they bind as they enter the eye.

Thanks again

Ken

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

testing 1 2 3

[Donald T.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Ken,

I measured my Eaton spring and an original and they were approximately 48 3/4". I would take a look at your trailing arms. Are they the stock configuration?

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Ken,

I measured my Eaton spring and an original and they were approximately 48 3/4". I

William -- I get 48_7/8" end-to-end on a stock '65 factory spring lower leaf; like Donald and Ken. Also, from the center of the bolt hole to the end is 1_3/16".

What wheels do you have ? too much internal off-set could be the culprit if not stock.

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

William -- I get 48_7/8" end-to-end on a stock '65 factory spring lower leaf; like Donald and Ken. Also, from the center of the bolt hole to the end is 1_3/16".

What wheels do you have ? too much internal off-set could be the culprit if not stock.

Agree. The original print shows a dimension of 48.60", or roughly 48 5/8" end to end, measured along the surface. Often, the actual measured length is slightly longer.
The dim between the C/L's of the hole at the end is shown as 46.36", or about 46 3/8".

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Test post...were the springs painted the same gray as the shocks?

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Thanks Don,

Picture looks like mine. When measuring along the curve, the longest leaf is 48 3/4 inches - end to end. I know this is not an eye-to eye measuement, but it's all I have at this point. Additionally, the connector bolts protrude significantly outwards at the point of entering the eye of the spring. Actually, they bind as they enter the eye.

Thanks again

Ken

Ken-----


When you say the bolts "bind" are you talking about the condition when the car is lifted up off the suspension, the spring highly arched, and the wheels are "hanging"? If so, the bolts will always "bind" under these conditions. When the suspension is on the ground and normalized things will "correct themselves".

[William B.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Joe & et. al.

Thanks for the replys. Yes, the car is off the ground and the wheels are hanging. I was concerned about the closeness of the spring ends to the wheels and what appears to be an excessive amount of outward angle of the connecting bolts as they enter the spring eyes.

I'll put her on the ground and do a little rolling and see how it looks.

Thanks again,

Ken

[Chuck S.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Test post...were the springs painted the same gray as the shocks?

No, not the same gray.

[Harry S.]

Re: C2 Rear Leaf Spring

Ken, take a look at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/C2-Corvette-Suspension-Leaf-Spring-63-64-65-66-67_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33584QQihZ002QQitemZ120234855968QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW