Original Rear Leaf Spring?

[Jeff B.]

I have been comparing my 9-Leaf rear spring for my 1964 convertible to the description in the Tech Information Manual (NCRS) and its close but there are a few things that make me think it's a replacement. (1) It's black and there are no signs of gray under the black paint. (2) The last three leafs are flat and the TIM says just the last two are flat. (3) The 45 deg angle cuts on the ends of the main leaf are different on one end than the other. One end looks correct but the othere has a small arc to the cut almost like the shear had a radius to it. I would guess it;s not original but I need some backup from the wealth of experience at NCRS.

Assuming it is not original I would like to replace it during the frame off I'm currently doing. Who makes the best reproduction?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

... The last three leafs are flat and the TIM says just the last two are flat. (3) The 45 deg angle cuts on the ends of the main leaf are different on one end than the other. One end looks correct but the othere has a small arc to the cut almost like the shear had a radius to it. I would guess it;s not original but I need some backup from the wealth of experience at NCRS.....

Jeff -- not sure about the '63/4 manual, but I have an original '64 spring assy and the top 3 are flat (ie. no arc). counting from bottom, there is no plastic liner between the 6th leaf (arced) and the 7th (flat). can you post a pic of those 45 deg. cuts on bottom leaf ? I could post close-ups of mine.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Jeff,

On my 63 spring, one end is wore like you state and I believe it's because the rubber cushion wore and the spring end rode on something. I guess it could have been wide rims that wore it like that.

Sounds like you spring may be original.

[John H.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

(2) The last three leafs are flat and the TIM says just the last two are flat. Who makes the best reproduction?

The JG description is incorrect - the top three leaves on the '64-up 9-leaf standard rear spring were flat. The 9-leaf reproduction spring from Eaton Detroit Spring (www.eatonsprings.com) is the closest you'll find.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

I know realize that the ends of the springs don't flare upward like the original. Turns out to be aftermarket. Oh well, now the search begins!

[Jeff B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Thanks, I sent an email to Eaton today but they were closed do to weather. Do you know if the Eaton 9-leaf has the flare upward on the end of the leafs like the original? I've never seen an original up close but I have seen a picture showing this feature.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Thanks for the info but it is now clear that mine is aftermarket. Another member suggested Eaton as the manufacturer that makes the closest reproduction. Think I'll try that.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Here are a few pix.

Original on RT. Eaton repro on LT. in one pic.

Other pic is the Eaton as delivered.

Ends of the Eaton are "thicker" in the curled up area. Also, the taper is slightly different.

I cheated. I bought the Eaton, took off the bottom leaf only and used it on my original 63 spring. Also, took the top 3 leaves and used them too.

Chuck

[Joe R.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Chuck,

This guy is asking a question about a 1964 spring and you are answering it with a pic of a 1963 spring. Not even close to being the same.

1963 Springs were a different breed as were most of the other things on a 1963. The 1964 thru 1967 spring was the same configuration as described in Hinkley's response.

As you described the Eaton is very close to the 1963 spring in my opinion because the top three are curved and the tips of each spring have that curled tip similar to the 63 and up. The top three on the 1964 thru 1967 are straight and the lower spring has 45 degree cuts on the end.

JR

Here are a few pix.

Original on RT. Eaton repro on LT. in one pic.

Other pic is the Eaton as delivered.

Ends of the Eaton are "thicker" in the curled up area. Also, the taper is slightly different.

I cheated. I bought the Eaton, took off the bottom leaf only and used it on my original 63 spring. Also, took the top 3 leaves and used them too.

Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

You're right, JR about the 3 top leaves being flat on the 64-7 spring, but I believe that the thicker curls on the ends and the taper differences on the remaining leaves would be the same on the 64-7 spring too.

I agree that the Eaton is the closest you'll find. I don't have a picture showing the difference in the thickness of the "curl".

Chuck

[Jeff B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

This is my first Corvette frame-off so it's really nice to have such a dept of knowledge to draw from here. Even though they are of the wrong year, the pictures Chuck sent are helpful to show the general quality of the Eaton reproduction. I assume that when I order the 1964 they will use a different (correct) design for that year with the top three leafs flat. Given the poor quality of the replacement spring I have now, and the difficulty with finding a NOS spring, I'll probably go with the Eaton Product. Any idea what points that will cost in Flight Judging? Thanks Chuck and JR for your posts.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Just to add a little spice, here's the 'GLS' forging (Great Lakes Steel ?) on the edge of the leaf, seen on some originals at random locations .

[Jeff B.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Yeah, you're right, that is spicy!

[Gary B.]

Rear Leaf Spring? Eaton vs. GM upward flare on ends

Jeff,

The Eaton spring has an upward flare on the ends of leaves 2-9, but the Eaton flare is cosmetically different from the original GM tapered rolled ends. There is no repro spring that has a 100% correct flare. In my opinion, Eaton is the best option available in a repro spring.

Gary

[Chuck G.]

Re: Original Rear Leaf Spring?

Here's the best pic of the EATON flare I could find. IMHO, the flares are thicker overall, as is the entire end of the spring leaf.

Forgetting that this is a 63 spring for a moment, look at the ends of the upper, shorter leaves, then look at the lower ones.

This is a "63" spring that I made up, using the shorter EATON top leaves and bottom-most leaf. The other 5 are original leaves. You can see that the original "flares" are much thinner.

Chuck