Author Topic: Rear leaf springs, new or rebuild old ones?  (Read 16338 times)

69Z28-RS

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Re: Rear leaf springs, new or rebuild old ones?
« Reply #30 on: January 30, 2016, 04:13:21 AM »
Yes, one clamp holding 2 leafs and the other end holding 3. In thinking about this, the holes in the short leafs are 1-1/2" off-center (the leafs are the same length as each other). If one leaf is opposite and the spring packs laid side-by-side, as mine are, then you see a difference of 3". The wear marks in the adjacent leaf (the ones above) shows a distinct wear pattern, there's no mistaking the original location. Now I'm just wondering if the significance is so small, the assembly line workers may not have cared or been able to tell if they flipped one during the build

Dale, I *think* you are saying that there is 1.5" longer portion of the spring to the rear of the 'hole' than to the front??  which means the hole is drilled 3/4" off center, so yes, if it's rotated 180 deg, then the position of each end will change by 1.5"... ?   correct?   I think on my spring the rearward portion of the small leaf might be 3/4" longer than the front (just from 'observing'), I don't want to take it out and measure it.  I'm potentially thinking that someone rotated that leaf on one of your springs, possibly thinking that it might help them get more even force for the two tires in an acceleration contest?  :)   Mine have not been apart, and I suspect that will be the consensus as more people report.  I've never read anything about the springs being assembled differently from the factory.
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

69Z28-RS

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Re: Rear leaf springs, new or rebuild old ones?
« Reply #31 on: January 30, 2016, 04:13:53 AM »
Check for inter granular rust. My 70Z springs were almost fused.
Buddy

Are you in the rustbelt, Buddy???
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

dale_z28

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Re: Rear leaf springs, new or rebuild old ones?
« Reply #32 on: January 30, 2016, 04:35:25 PM »

You're right, Gary. My bad. The holes are off center 3/4". We've rotated the spring to make them alike, with the slightly longer ends towards the front of the car.
'69 X33 02D   Since 11-29-'77

Details are trifles, but trifles make perfection. And perfection is no trifle.
~Ben Franklin