71 leaf spring from Eaton

[Robert P.]

I need a little help. Called Eaton about purchasing a 9 leaf spring for my 71. They asked me if I wanted one with 3 flat springs and 6 curved or 9 curved springs. Can any tell me which one is correct. Thanks Bob

[Jim M.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Robert:

The upper 3 leafs have little or no curvature when the spring is off the car and completely disassembled. That's what Eaton is referring to. Go with the 6 plus 3 setup. Good luck with your project.

[Robert E.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Robert, You may also want to ask Eaton to strip off the black coating (for a fee of course) and in turn will be ready for a proper grey primer finish or buy the correct grey from Quanta to finish it off. Remove that black coating will be a huge pain and is well worth the added expense.

Robert

I need a little help. Called Eaton about purchasing a 9 leaf spring for my 71. They asked me if I wanted one with 3 flat springs and 6 curved or 9 curved springs. Can any tell me which one is correct. Thanks Bob

[John H.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Robert -

When the Eaton spring arrives, it may have clips on each end - remove them - they're only there to maintain alignment of the leaves during shipping.

[Tom L.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

I have the three flat, six curved eaton spring and my car is jacked up in the back like it ought to have Craigers, traction bars and a CB radio. The car's still in the body shop, body was recently dropped on, so I haven't had a chance to tinker with the height yet. Has anyone else had the same experience with this spring?

[Michael F.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

should settle down after body on and driven a few miles

[Jack H.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Seems strange Eaton would have asked you if you wanted a 63-only (all 9 leafs arched) vs. a later era spring when you'd already told them you wanted a spring for your '71 application...

[Robert P.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

I called Eaton $ 75.00 to remove paint. They said it would be hard for me to do. The gentlemen I just talked too said the 71 uses the 6 and 3 spring. Thanks for the help. Bob

[Michael G.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Of course they indicated it'd be hard to remove the paint. There looking to capitilize on one's fear of "can I do this"? For $65.00 send it to me and I'll remove the paint.....LOL . You pocket $10.00! Isn't that hard to remove the bolt, separate the springs, strip off the black paint (messy maybe ), repaint with gray, bolt back together. Badda boom...badda bing. There you go....done! Bolt 'er on the car.

[Richard T.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

The spring for your car is six and three. The spring will arrive on your door step with no box and a thick coating of black tar like paint. You can clamp the spring on each side and remove the center bolt and also take the shipping clamps off. The leaves and rubber inserts can than be stripped with paint striper. Wash the bare metal leaves with paint thiner before painting the leaves with gray primer. You can spend more money from the Corvette parts suppliers for this primer or go down to your local hardware store an buy two cans of Rust-oleum gray primer it is the same. Eaton will sand blast your spring and ruin the black rubber inserts during this process which will require you to take the spring apart anyway. The body should be at factory specks if you replace the rubber bushings. Your repair book will show you how to install and make sure the head of the spring bolt goes in to your carrier before you reassemble your painted spring. Mine fit with no problem on my 1970. The Eaton spring is the best one on the market for your car. The black coating they apply seals the spring and is a lot better than gray primer but if you are going for GM correct apply gray primer with black inserts.

[Michael G.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Rust-oleum primer color may be the best hue for the spring but will not stand the test of time regarding resiliency. Primer is designed to be top coated, not be the top coat.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

buy two cans of Rust-oleum gray primer it is the same.

Not the same as original, nor the same as what Quanta sells.
Quanta sells the exact same stuff as was used back in the day, and it's much different than Rustoleum gray.

[Jim T.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

On reinstallation of your spring it has been recommended to torque/tighten the four bolts to the mounting case only after the weight of the car is resting on the spring.

[Richard T.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

Jim your correct. The primer will not last under normal use. That is why any rear Corvette leaf spring 40 years old shows little sign of ever being primed. The Eaton spring is the closest to the GM original that I know of.
Good luck on your replacement.

[James B.]

Re: 71 leaf spring from Eaton

I keep seeing references to the "gray" spring coating from Quanta. However, in recent discussions with Mike at America's Finest Corvettes, he indicated the leaf spring coating (for 1964 models and later) was actually a "grey-bluish" color. His recent 7-leaf spring repro (which is advertised in the Driveline), also has this "grey-bluish" color.