62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

[David R.]

Would like to get some feedback on rebuilding my rear suspension. The prior owner installed a 5th leaf (beefy 3/8"leaf) to raise the rear end, plus I just found out they added traction bars (welded to spring/shock plate) and hence removed the stabilizer/sway bar (see pic). My plan is to have a solid driver with the following clarifications:

1. Create the most comfortable ride possible (reduce the rear stiffness)- wanted to go back to 4 leaf pack.
2. Don't plan on beating the car (e.g. smoking the rear tires)
3. No plans on racing the car.

With the above criteria in mind would it be best to 1)remove the traction bars, 2) replace the leaf spring/shock plate so I can reinstall the stabilizer/sway bar,

OR

Just add the 4 leaf spring pack and leave the traction bars on the rear with no stabilizer bar?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

David

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

I went bone stock on my '61 (except for the crimps on my rebound clips) with no complaints...I'm a fairly aggressive driver and took the car around Sebring at triple digit speeds. A bit of a handful but not unacceptable.

[Jim D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Removing the added on traction bars will soften the ride a great deal. Mine is all stock and I have no complaints in the 40+ years of driving it.

[Al E.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Frank did you rebuild the original leaf springs. .. did you take step by step photo instructions ...i don't want mine to bow back and pop me in the mouth..

[David R.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

All,

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to respond. I think I will return it to 62 stock. Frank nice job on your leaf springs. Is it okay to PM you for more details?

David

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

I did rebuild a set of original springs that I bought at a swap meet. I don't know what the '61 had on it when I bought it..one of the long springs was not even for a Corvette!

I have pretty much step-by-step photos and I'll post a few. I used Paragons muslin liners and rebound clips. The crimper I used was not set up for the correct crimp but there are some that will loan you the correct tool. That was my only deviation from original. They won't uncompress and smack you around... The worst was threading the DS assembled spring to the shackle at the rear of the car. I didn't disassemble ANYTHING to do this but it was a royal test of patience ! The only other issue was getting the big knurled-knobbed pin into the front 'cage' that holds the front of the long spring.....took some creative work with a BFH...

I started off with complete, but rusty set of old spring from a swap meet... I managed to find and save all of the little "buttons" that came out of the original springs! Each leaf was examined scrupulously for excessive pitting or cracks.. Free arch was then checked.

Treated with OSPHO for rust, primed, then painted (longest leaf silver with the yellow end marking). Then buttons, spacer strips and muslin sheets applied.

The springs were assembled, the rebound clips and their rubber insulators installed and crimped and the center bolt positioned, the end cut off and then peened over. The crimps are incorrect as I had no access to the correct banding tool at the time.

The old vs new springs are compared in one photo. The old mis-matched, saggy springs couldn't be identified in some cases so they became scrap...

I did this on jack stands when I was younger - I have a lift now (shoulda got one years ago)! The ride height wound up perfect IMO. I should say my axle rebound straps were in excellent shape so I never touched them. BTW the jack stands on the cinder blocks are JUST to hold the rear axle up a bit, the big beefy blue SUV jack stands in FRONT of those are holding the car up at the frame. (I'm not crazy.)

Then it was on to the strut rods....and rear sway bar. (Think somebody did some hard launches judging by the rear sway bar bolt?)
I made some all thread and used appropriately sized sockets to R&R the strut rod metal/rubber bushings (I have no press) a royal PITA but it worked! The repro rear sway bar rubber bushings are THICK...it required some hind end to get them in and on the car but I didn't trim anything off of them (as I've read others have done).

Pic of new springs and strut rod installed shown.

Next the front shock mounting tabs were both cracked - had to do those while under there !

Then a four corner brake job and done.... BTW - I used rubber EVERYWHERE - no poly anything!

Drove the car many 10s of thousands of miles after this work and it rode beautifully (for what it is).

Some say I don't do any of my own work though (* Ha! *)

[Al E.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Thanks Frank. You really done a great job with this. She is sitting pretty nice with new support. How is the paint holding up. Did you use regular auto base coat paint..or the rusto spray paint from Home Depot. Each time I use the Rusto its rust a few months later?

How many days it take you to rebuild these... i thought about doing it on the 60 but it look like something that was going to end up in a new purchase from CC and tossing the original springs. ..

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Pretty sure I used Krylon - I've always had good luck it and try to find cans marked "INDUSTRIAL" when possible... You have to decide on whether or not your springs are good enough to restore.....as stated, free arch is important as is cracking/corrosion. If its just normal wear/tear then they are usable. Repros springs won't have the classic C1 "groove" if that affects you. I think I paid $125 7 years back for the used spring set (original C1) at a swap meet, they could have gone up since then...

IIRC the springs themselves took a couple of days (maybe three) but much of that time was letting paint dry. Assembly is easy but the crimping took two people...one to hold the spring leaves together with the band and another one to operate the long-handled crimper.

Now, the strut rods took a couple of days only because my hands got so sore working those bushings into place with all-thread and sockets/washers...if you have (or know somebody that has) a press then its a breeze...

[Al E.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it on my 54. It took me 30 minutes with the struts. I used WD40 or cooking oil.. not sure. Then i used a socket to fit the inside diameter of the strut eye and wacked it once. It came out. I did the same thing to get the new one back in once I sprayed them with PAM.
I will use your pictures and detailed information to rebuild my springs. Although I'm a bit afraid of springs.

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

I understand the concern with front coil springs but with rear springs you can let any pressure off pretty gradually as you disconnect the rear axle and rear shackles; once removed the spring are in a quiescent state and no danger. Some have a mis-conception about the rebound clips...they aren't primarily for holding the springs together under tension; they keep the leaves from separating as the car's weight lifts off of them during rebound hence: rebound clips... So they aren't a danger when removing them from the old springs...

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Someone asked about assembling the rear sway bar hardware, refer to the AIM, as some parts CAN be assembled backwards (I've seen it). This pic is from the 61 AIM. Also, I don't know the best place to buy the rubber suspension bits for a C1 (its been a while), I had to replace two strut rod bushings within a short time; what I used didn't last too long.. Maybe others have some ideas...

[David R.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Thanks Frank for all your assistance! I saw in your initial pic with the leaf springs a bag of polygraphite bushings. Did you use those for your leaf springs? If so, how are they working (any squeaking/noise) when the rear moves?


Thanks,
David

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 rear suspension rebuild suggestions

Thanks Frank for all your assistance! I saw in your initial pic with the leaf springs a bag of polygraphite bushings. Did you use those for your leaf springs? If so, how are they working (any squeaking/noise) when the rear moves?


Thanks,
David

Those poly bushings were a recommendation from a C1 friend -- they were from PST and did not come CLOSE to fitting; particularly the critical front eye on the leaf springs.....didn't use 'em and don't recommend 'em. Stick with rubber...

Those poly bushings went into the recycle bin and are probably in somebody's floor mats now..