I've been reading about everyone putting on the mono springs.  Is there an advantage with these over a standard spring like this one: http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=A7090&dept_id=1826 ?  I'd like to stay as stock as possible, but have been told that I need a new one.  Also, how hard is it to replace?  Do I need any special tools? 1976VetteGuy2008-04-07 13:49:48

Oh yah, and do I need to get the longer bolts?

Brought the Monoleaf, Ecklers Part #35265, for my 80 and it bolted right in. Got rid of the squeek also. Real nice ride. I would suggest it. Obviously it's not origanal but technologies change for a reason.

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Live to Cruise

The glass springs ride nicer, and usually handle better.  They should be a direct fit, so you should use the standard bolt with new rubber.  All you need is a few sockets and a jack.  People sometimes then find the rear a little higher than the front, because they have raised the rear back to it's original height, and the front has sagged a little over the years.  The correct fix is new front springs, but people do lower the back instead.

Larry

My 81 had a mono from the factory.  I changed to a 340lb mono. I did this 60 months after I changed the shocks to KYB's. The new mono by far is the best thing i've done to the car. 100% improvement over a 26 yr old spring..

I bought the TRW rear spring and love it. Not hard to install but you do need to be careful.

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

vetteguy... I went to Ecklers and bought that spring,before I removed my 30 yr.old spring.It is not as shown in the catalogue.Our original springs look like that but those sold by Ecklers is darn near flat!and made in India.I returned it because everything else about it was cheap.At the time of purchase they had 75 on hand,that should tell you just how cheap they were to buy from the wholesaler/importer.

Thanks guys for all your responses. Should I worry about the originality factor? If I put on a mono spring, won't that b frowned upon as far as originality goes?

Mikeee - where did you end up getting a spring from?

As far as getting the car judged, if that is your plan, you will lose points for a monospring. It is what it is, but it will be an improvement to the car. I lowered my rear with longer bolts (front height was in spec). If you don't get good shocks, the new spring will feel a bit "bouncy". Bilstien makes shocks for a monospring suspension, I just bought a set. Good luck!

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I highly recommend getting a Heavy Duty RearEnd Cover if you get a new spring.  The original covers have a habit of breaking when installing a new spring.   I'm speaking from experience

We have sold a LOT of heavy duty covers to people replacing their springs.  They do have a lot more webbing in them.  We have been recommending KYB Gas A Just shocks, especially when you change to mono leaf spring.  You should always replace shocks four at a time.

There are two companies making mono leaf springs.  The TRW style hasn't been made by TRW for a long time, but are still made to their high quality specs.  We have had one come back in ten years, and he was a drag racer.

Larry

Be careful when you do it. DON'T just start taking nuts off. Even the old spring is under tension.
                                                  Corvette Fever article

Since I am incompetent to make a link work, perhaps someone who can will fix this one, if not, copy and paste it into your browser. Corvette fever article on how to remove the spring complete with pix of how to block up for the jack to keep it from slipping.We used this method to put an original back in mine and it worked well. DON'T take the nut off the little bolt in the middle without having a clamp on the spring assembly! It makes a hell of a racket!!!Keep your fingers out of the way as well. Definitely replace the rubber bushings when you pull the spring down.



(inserted link to article)Adams' Apple2008-04-30 10:50:08

I PURCHASED MINE FROM VAN STEELE( OR VETTE BRAKES AND PRODUCTS, THE SAME SPRING) MUCH LIGHTER AND BETTER RIDE. UNLESS SOMEONE CRAWLS UNDER THE CAR , ONLY YOU WILL KNOW IT`S THERE. NOT DIFFICULT TO INSTALLED JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.

   I'm a purist, so I went with the original replacement steel spring. Was not a big job to install. I would recommend that you replace shocks at the same time - front and rear. I also replaced the plate, bushings and mounting hardware. I have no regrets. I got all my stuff from MAM. Very good quality. I hear that mono's are better, but to me, if it ain't broke - don't fix it.

http://www.corvettefever.com/projectbuild/138_0412_1979_chevy_corvette_rear_suspension/index.html

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Monte...I chose to sandblast and restore the original spring using new rubber liners between each spring. Mikeee

From my member name you can see that this is my first Corvette...been waiting 25 years to get one.  I'm trying to get a plan together to fix things up.  The previous owner had the car for 25 years and for the last 10 years only drove it occasionaly.  I think it still has the original springs and shocks.  I know that the suppension is one area I want to improve and from reading through the forums (C3VR is a great place by the way!) this is what I think I'm going to upgrade to:

KBY Gas Shocks (Front & Rear)
Gymkhana Front Coil Springs
Composite Rear Mono Spring (with new rubber)

I've seen packages that come with anti-sway bars but I don't know if I need/want these...any suggestions?

I also need to know what other misc. parts I should replace at this time.  I see where a heavy duty rear end cover is talked about..I don't believe I need this for my 80 model...or do I.

Appreciate any help and comments...I'm really looking forward to working on my car.

[QUOTE=FirstCorvette!]

From my member name you can see that this is my first Corvette...been waiting 25 years to get one.  I'm trying to get a plan together to fix things up.  The previous owner had the car for 25 years and for the last 10 years only drove it occasionaly.  I think it still has the original springs and shocks.  I know that the suppension is one area I want to improve and from reading through the forums (C3VR is a great place by the way!) this is what I think I'm going to upgrade to:

KBY Gas Shocks (Front & Rear)
Gymkhana Front Coil Springs
Composite Rear Mono Spring (with new rubber)

I've seen packages that come with anti-sway bars but I don't know if I need/want these...any suggestions?

I also need to know what other misc. parts I should replace at this time.  I see where a heavy duty rear end cover is talked about..I don't believe I need this for my 80 model...or do I.

Appreciate any help and comments...I'm really looking forward to working on my car.

[/QUOTE]  WELCOME TO THE SITE, THE CHOICES YOU ARE LOOKING AT ARE GREAT. YOU WILL INDEED FEEL THE IMPRIOVED HANDLING RESULTS. THE REAR ANTI ROLL BAR IS A GOOD ADDITION TO HELP REDUCTION OF ROLL WHEN CORNERING. HOWEVER, IT WILL GIVE YOU A STIFFER RIDE. IT IS A MATTER OF PREFERENCE TO ADD THIS FEATURE OR NOT. GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU MADE OUT

I went with the KYB Gas Adjusts and the 340lb mono spring. It is outstanding. I was STONGLY advised not to put the Gym spring on the car by both my mechanic and my club guys. There is so much premium aftermarket stuff out there right now..

Well...I went ahead with the original style spring and with "a little" help from mkapp7879, my new best friend, we got it put on in no time. He has a lift which makes thing so much easier. All I did was pull it onto the lift and he did the rest. I can't say enough about this site and the members on here. Top notch bunch of people!!! Thanks again Mike for all your help. Oh, and the car rides real nice. Between the new spring, back shocks, and new tires, I have no more vibration at "top" speeds. Maybe someday I will try the new monospring, but this one seems to work just fine.

Monte, had a good time. Working on Vettes is a blast for me! When are we gonna cross some more items off that list?

Went with the TRW 340 and would have done it sooner if I had known how much better the ride would be.

Real soon!!! I had the new tires installed and need to get that idler arm and bushing fixed before I chew up my new tires. Whenever you're ready.

I put in the TRW spring from Muskeagen and ordered a complete set of 4 KYB Gas Adjust.  Once installed the ride is like night and day.

What kind of ride does the TRW 340 rear spring give?  I'm looking more for comfort than performance.  I want a smooth ride.

When ever I rode with the top up the latches in back would always unlatch every time I'd hit a bump. After changing the spring we went to cruisin the coast and they stayed latched the whole way. 180 miles. It rides great and still using Delco shocks.

  A 1980 with the Gymkahana Suspension is not all that common. I am the Original Owner of one to. Are You sure that You have it? The Rear Spring should have 7 Leafs instead of 9 if I remember corectly. It will also have larger Sway Bars. About 15/16' up Front and a 9/16" out back. Putting a Fiberglass Spring in will make a Big Diffrence on a Gymkahana Car. The Original Springs were 300, Stock,330 Gym,and a 360 sold at the Parts Counter also known as the Daytona Spring. GM's Idea to make it Corner was Stiff Springs. Back in the day Car and Driver Proved the Stock Vette cornerd better than the Gym Car!  Once the Aftermarket got going it was Quikly figured out that Softer Springs and Larger Sway Bars was the way to go. The biggest Diffrence in Ride You can make would be to Change the Spring. If You want to make it Corner better install Larger Sway Bars. If You have any Plans to Install low Profile Modern tires and Wheels the Sway Bars are Manditory. The Heavy Duty Rear end Cover dosn't apply to 80-82's. When You say new and Old Spring keep in mind the New one is 28 Years old! 

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My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

Your right..I don't have the Gymkahana supension.  I know my shocks are bad and I wanted to replace the front and rear springs at the same time I replaced the shocks.  After a lot of reading on this subject it seems that if I just want a good ride...not really concerned with better corning at this time...I could go back with the stock parts.   Would you say that is a fair statement?

Martin -- You got a deal!  I'm looking for a TRW-style 340# spring myself and Muskeagon's price is now $299. Consider yourself lucky!

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  Its hard to exspain but a 300ib Plastic Spring will ride better than a 300lb Steel one. It might not be Night and Day but it will. Wether one Brand is better than an nother is beyond me. My original VB&P was Purchased  in 1984 or so. Be sure to Use a Heat Sheild of some sort where the Exhaust passes under it.  

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My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

I was lucky to get it at that price.  I had been thinking about getting one for a while but when it came time to order it was at $299.00.  There was a mix up in the shipping so they took $20.00 off which was back down to their original price.  A few weeks after I received the spring I received a magazine with the $279.00 price in it.  I am not sure what is going on but I think that if you tell them you saw it in a magazine at $279.00 they might honour that price.  Even with a price of $299.00 it is still better than other places of $320.00 or so.