Tech Question - Corvette Rear

Q -Mike,

Hope you can give me some direction here.

I have an '81 Corvette that has one side lower than the other in the rear. The local shop replaced the rear tie bolts, but it still is tilting to one side. They think it is the leaf spring and recommends I replace it with a fiberglass one.

Can this spring I have be fixed for less than the cost of purchasing a new fiberglass one, or should I go with a new metal or fiberglass spring?

Thanks, Jim

Jim,

Unless one of the bolts were broken changing them was a BS way of attempting to solve your problem.

Visually inspect the spring. Is there anything broken? If not then a quick fix for a Vette with a transverse spring which is normally driven with just one passenger is to turn the spring around. Put the left side to the right side and right to the left. This may buy you a bit of time before the spring will have to be replaced.

If there are broken leaves or you normally have a passenger, then a new spring is in your future.

When replacing the spring do so with the same style it has now, fiberglass with a fiberglass or steel with steel.

A steel spring, if in good condition, can be bought back to OE specs. However the cost will greatly exceed that of a new spring.

Nothing can be done to salvage a fiberglass spring.

Mike