unless you are going for originality why dont you go with a composite spring ? easier to handle and install alot lighter too !

Sarge81 said: Good question Contrail, I dunno....BUT I sent an e-mail off to Mike at Eaton Spring with your question. Hopefully I will get a reply back. Soon as I get an answer I will be sure to post it. Sarge

Sarge,

I assumed that I had a 9 leaf, but I don't. I've got a 7 leaf (I should never assume!). There are spacers for the 7 leaf springs for 78-82 vettes to allow use of the 2 1/4" springs on the 2 1/2" spring mounting area, but I don't need them. Since I have the Gymkhana suspension already, I'm gonna stick with it, at least until I decide to redo all of it with front and rear composites anyway. I can't afford that yet, so I've got my steel spring ordered and on the way with new kits for the inner and outer mounting bolts and bushings and a new s-spring for the driver's door.

Glenns,

I guess your spring replacement issue sorta depends a little on what you are comfortable with. If you're concerned that you may need to replace the spring, you might as well go ahead and replace it or it will nag at the back of your mind until you do. Are you running stock length bolts on the rear ends or are they 8"? If you use longer bolts, you can lower the rear of the car to stock height. I'm curious to see where my height ends up after I install the new spring.

Thanks to all for all the help and info!

Sarge, was your Eaton spring equivalent to what you would find at Ecklers or Mid America? Did your ride height change after changing the spring? I have the original Gymkahana spring and plan to change out in the springtime and I am looking at availible options. I want to keep it close to the original. See still seems firm, just old.

Sarge81 said: Good question Contrail, I dunno....BUT I sent an e-mail off to Mike at Eaton Spring with your question. Hopefully I will get a reply back. Soon as I get an answer I will be sure to post it. Sarge

Hey guys! This is the reply I got back from Mike at Eaton Spring. Hope this answers some tech questions about rear springs. This kind of explains why some springs are more arched than others.

Darryl,

There are 2 versions of the 9 leaf springs. First is where all 9 leaves are touching each other, a single stage spring. This spring has a designed load of 1360 lbs and a rate of 196 lbs.

The second version is a 2 stage spring. The 1st 6 leaves touch each other and the last 3 are straight and come into contact with load. This spring also has a designed load of 1360 lbs and a rate of 140 for the 1st stage and 196 lbs at full engagement.

The 7 leaf spring is the Heavy Duty Vette spring and it has a design load of 1325 lbs and a rate of 305 lbs.

I hope this answers your questions.

FLAVETTE- The ride height is 28.25" at the center of each wheelwell. The car has a nice "stance" to it. Eaton makes springs for most of the big aftermarket suppliers. I had these springs in my car for almost 4 yrs. now with no problems.
Sarge

Got my spring installed today. WOW! What a difference! Way better handling and nowhere near as mushy on the bumps. Ride height rose about 1 1/2" in the rear. The arch is not as great as I thought it would be. I havn't measured yet, but when I do, I'll post to give glenns a reference point.

Glenns,

I had a look today, and I'd estimate the new spring has an arch of from 3 to 4 inches.

Yup, I kinda thought mine was a bit flat.
Thanks

Mr rear end was about 4 inches higher after I replaced the spring after about 100 miles it has dropped atleast 11/2 inches so far.

Hey Glenn... Have you changed your spring yet? If not I have a personal anacdote for you. My first Vette was a 74 roadster, loaded including the gymkana suspension. After many other Vettes, I now have a 73 T-top with nearly the same options except it has a standard suspension. I hated the gymkana suspension. Too rough, and did not handle remarkably better. Earlier in the thread a two stage spring was discussed that sounds pretty good. Try getting a ride with someone that has a 7 leaf spring recently installed. If handling is a primary concern try new larger diameter sway bars front and rear. If your roadster is an original BB you should have a sway bar in the rear already. Flat turns but softer ride. You can go to KYB or the Edelbrock shock for better suspension damping than stock shocks.

Alex Nelsen

P.S. Working on the suggested sound system design! I will keep you posted. (pun intended!)