Coil Spring Re-use

[Philip Z.]

I am currently rebuilding the front suspension on my 1967 roadster and had intended to reuse the original coil springs. A buddy advised against this and recommended replacing them due to their age. Do the coil springs wear out?

[Harry S.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Philip, I guess anything can wear out or rust out but....

I had aftermarket front springs in my 63 when I got it. I located an original set (used), restored them and installed them when I redid the frame and suspension. Everything is fine, car hight and ride.

[Philip Z.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Thanks Harry. Visually, the springs appear to be in excellent condition and I would prefer to use original parts whenever possible.

[Dick W.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

I would not have any problems reusing your springs if were not sagging before you took the car apart, or they are not pitted from corrosion. Of all the restorations we did over the years, we replaced, maybe 10% of either front or rear springs.

[Duke W.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Springs don't wear out from use, but what can kill them is corrosion. If all they show is surface rust they are okay to use.

Correct replacement springs that yield proper rate and ride height are getting difficult to find.

Duke

[Stan G.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

My 58 is older than yours , I reused my old coil springs and at first they were ok but after a few years they have settled so that now where I used to be able to get a floor jack under the front it won't fit . It has sagged about 2 inches or so , now am faced with replacing them .

[Ronald L.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

The early big block cars 'may' have a higher propensity for sag, you did not mention that option nor if its a F41 suspension...

[Dick W.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

My 58 is older than yours , I reused my old coil springs and at first they were ok but after a few years they have settled so that now where I used to be able to get a floor jack under the front it won't fit . It has sagged about 2 inches or so , now am faced with replacing them .

When you park it for the winter, block it up to remove the weight on the front wheels, you will be amazed next spring when you sit it back down on the ground.

[Duke W.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Letting the suspension hang over the winter by putting the frame on jackstands is not good for the suspension bushings.

When you take a car down from stands or a jack it will always be high due to tire scrub from camber. The car has to be moved at least 10-20 feet for the height to reach equilibrium.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Letting the suspension hang over the winter by putting the frame on jackstands is not good for the suspension bushings.

When you take a car down from stands or a jack it will always be high due to tire scrub from camber. The car has to be moved at least 10-20 feet for the height to reach equilibrium.

Duke

The ones I have done that with take several months to settle completely down, having been driven several miles.

[Bill M.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

The ones I have done that with take several months to settle completely down, having been driven several miles.

Suspensions do "settle", but it is the rubber bushings, not the coil springs.

[Terry M.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

I would suggest one has to look at the entire suspension system when dealing with ride height changes over time. I am with Duke that the coil springs if not corroded will retain their design specifications for most of our lifetimes. The bushings and even the frame not so much. I can absolutely tell you from experience that the old A-body (Chevelle, Skylark, and Cutlass) as well as the old B-body (Caprice/Impala) body-on-frame vehicles had frame sag between the front suspension towers over time -- even with small blocks. There is no reason Corvette would not do the same. GM did not make these vehicles to last as long as we are keeping them, but it is a testamony to their construction that they have lasted this long. To really determine why ride height has changed one needs to carefully check all these parameters. You may be opening up a can of worms better left alone, but knowledge is power.

[Russ S.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

I used to autocross my 73 many years ago for a short time. It probably was only ten times total but the front springs couldn't take the hard cornering even with the car being new and they lost their height. It is a small block.
What I would often do in the winter season is raise the body up only enough to take some weight off of the springs and block it at that point. That should reduce the stress on the bushing vs lifting it up till most or all weight is off the springs.

[Stan G.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

Thanks for the help with this . I wasn't the original poster but my 58 sits way to low in the front ,gives it nice stance but I hate not being able to get a jack under the front . I'll try taking some of the weight off of the front for a period of time and see what that does . I was dreading putting new springs under the front end , its worth a try .

Stan

[Russ S.]

Re: Coil Spring Re-use

[quote=Stan Gunkel (27138);572643]Thanks for the help with this . I wasn't the original poster but my 58 sits way to low in the front ,gives it nice stance but I hate not being able to get a jack under the front . I'll try taking some of the weight off of the front for a period of time and see what that does . I was dreading putting new springs under the front end , its worth a try .

Stan[/quote Once they have sagged, taking the weight off of them for a period of time won't bring them back. I take the weight off during storage just to hopefully prolong their life.