OK in an effort to get a jump on my rear spring project, tonight I went down and put the Rook-mobile up on jackstands and crawled under to have a peek.

If your current springs are sagging, that could be a big part of the problem.

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Ya'll write this date down in yer books....it may never happen again, 'cause Imma gonna agree wid BlueBarry!! 

The rear spring may indeed be saggin a little, as we all do with age. Longer spring bolts give you more adjustment for raising/lowering the rear ride height. Stock, factory style bolts have a shoulder on them that will not allow much adjustment. Aftermarket, longer bolts will allow adjusting the height up/down some.If you have the original bolts, and the rear sits too low, your spring itself is likely sagging. Using a shorter bolt, or one that allows more adjustment will only cover up the problem, but not correct it.
btw...the cars usually have a little reverse "wedge" to begin with...the front sits a little higher than the rear, even when new.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Yep, more than likely time for some new rebounding energy in the back end. Composite monoleaf is the way to go!! 

Hey, Joel, I can be right every once in a while! (write it down, though, it doesn't happen often).

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Actually on all the rear springs I've changed out, the stock springs were 6 1/2" in length and the aftermarket bolts were 8", supposedly allowing you a little adjustment. Like Joel Says , your sittin low in the back. My cars average 27-28" in front and 29-30" in the rear. Sounds like time to change springs.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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Dan, A pertinent question I need to ask: Did ebo ride in your car before the suspension started sagging?................or what?

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He did indeed ride in it, but the sag was already there.........

Darn...............I kind-a thought ebo had something to do with it? Maybe it's sagging more post ebo than pre ebo. And you would let ebo ride in it.............That's like bad karma......... You, really never know..............could have been even good karma..........(now I'm confusing myself.........I can easily do that to myself.............)

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Update and Questions

afaik, the only ones that had the heat shield from the factory were the ones with the composite springs. It sounds like your spring has been replaced somewhere down the line, from the description. There should be no extra washers on the 4 bolts on the center mount. What color is your spring? If it is anything other than a primer grey looking color, it has either been painted, or it is an aftermarket replacement....imo.

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

The spring isnt primer grey....more black than anything and the letters are white. i'll try to post a pic of it tonight.... The heat shield appers to be aluminum, it had about 1/8 of grease and gunk on it. have it soaking in simple green. It has all the holes and even a retainer clip that attached to the bracket at the spring, Ill post that as well....

|UPDATED|11/3/2011 4:15:55 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Definitely NOT a factory rear spring. Original springs will NOT have the bands around them to lock the leaves together.
Looks like there may be fewer leaves in the stack than original, too. The center bolt that holds the leaves together should not be sticking thru the bottom that far....should only be aboot 3/8" of thread showing on that bolt. There ealso does not appear to be any plastic/poly liners between the individual leaves, which would help keep them from rubbing together, and making the ride harsher than it should be.

Can't see the shield....Here's a hint/tip...RESIZE the pics smaller before uploading them.... Those lifesized pics are murder!

As far as the washer deal, I think that goes back tot he spring being a smaller stack than original, so someone improvised. Either that, or they lost the bolts, and this is all they had to replace them. I'd look very carefully at the diff housing where those bolts go....the housing can be cracked easily if the wrong bolts are forced into the threaded holes.
hth


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

|UPDATED|11/3/2011 4:16:15 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

It's soitainly possible. Standard suspensions used a 9 leaf stack, while the F41/HD suspensions used a 7 leaf stack. What you have may be a replacement spring that is just too firm, or mis-represented from the vendor...that happens a lot. I haven't been able to reference any springs with the numbers that are on yours, so I ain't sure who made/sells it.
Yer replacing it anyway, so it's kinda a moot point, eh? You'll like the composite spring mooch mo betta.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

As an FYI, my 79 has the heat shield with the standard steel leaf spring. It has not been replaced.

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C3: 1979 Corvette Coupe, Auto, L-48, Red/Doeskin (my wife's fave);

Could you snap me a pic or confirm your heat shield looks like the one in my picture above.

Ok the spring is finally out and the composite spring is here.

As I had the buggy out today for a quick leg strech and bath I thought Id share the pic showing how the rear suspension looks all done...

Looking good, Dan! I always thought your car looked like it was siiting pretty low in the back! So it looks great, but how does it ride and handle?

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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It rides and handles like a completely different car......

You gotta get it ready for the new season (You know we're gonna pay for the current weather)!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

(Click image to see a larger version}

Hey Rook-man, have ya checked the universal joints on yer half shafts? Also, the differential mount bushing is a good thing to check - when they go bad, you'll hear a "clunk" when you step on the gas.