[Stingin' 76]

As you read this, keep in mind that in 28 hours I am supposed to be pulling in the parking area at Bloomington Gold.

On my way home from my weekly Thursday night softball leauge, where one of my team mates shattered his ankle tonight, I shattered my rear spring................

I was on an empty road, radio blastin', coming up to the entry ramp for I90. There was nobody anywhere so I got on it, thinking I am going to blast around the ramp. As I come over the top of the overpass, there is a HUGE dip in the road. I felt my suspension bottom out first, then there was the loudest noise I have heard in a long time. It sounded like I got rear ended. I panicked, looked in the rear view mirror and saw nothing but a huge wall of sparks. The driver side tire was rubbing on the wheel well.

I pulled over, checked it out, and the leaf spring broke, literally right between the driver's side wheel and the diff. The spring carved a huge gouge in the road, twisted to ****, and somehow managed to not damage anything under the car. At least as far as I can tell.

I am so lucky to have a friend that owns a towing company. He had a truck there within a half an hour. My bent spring carved up the aluminum bed of his tow. I got the car home at 1:45, woke up all of the neighbors with the tow truck, and now it sits all lopsided in the driveway.

I am seriously considering calling in tomorrow to try and hunt down a spring locally (I bet there will be one at Bloomington), get the repair done, and be ready for Saturday..............

The worst part is that it is 2:15 in the morning and I am all wound up........

 

[69MyWay]

Wow!

Was that spring original?

How many leaf spring was it?

Did it pull through the mounting bolt, or just crack?

Holy Cow!

 

[mrvette]

Could replace with a VBP spring, they are reliable...and a set of Billy Stein shocks...rides much better....

:cheers:

 

[The Torch]

That sucks Bro. Get word to up at BG and we'll help. You got a lot of DC friends in town this weekend

 

[The Punisher]

That Blows, I glad you were alright.Hopefully it didn't f-up the spring mounts on the diff.Good luck finding a spring.Keep us posted

 

[redvetracr]

well that sux.....I have a like new VB&P #360 rear spring sitting here, unfortunately by the time you read this I will already be at Phesant Run......
...redvetracr


although I could bring it with (just in case) and meet you there.....call this number if your interested (I will throw it in the trunk just in case).....262-455-5690 ...$175 and I will throw in a set of long spring bolts.....

 

[BASSIST]

Jason, Jim is already at BG. Maybe he could find a spring there for you

 

[Bullshark]

The spring carved a huge gouge in the road, twisted to ****, and somehow managed to not damage anything under the car. At least as far as I can tell.
........

Stingin, Yep, been there too! I had one let go just like you describe. I hope you are correct about the additional damage, but be sure to check the differential housing cover. They typically crack one of the spring mounting ears when this happens.

Bullshark

 

[bojvette]

oh man sorry !!!!!!! come down today im sure many springs are at the show vette brakes is there !! thy make and sell them call me I have a extra ticket if you want !! its a job and 1/2 to do in your drive way !!
jim

also

CHICAGO CORVETTE
7322 S ARCHER
JUSTICE
708-458-2500

 

[Double_Take]

I hope you can get everything back together! You have a PM about meeting up tomorrow morning when you car is all fixed and ready to go.

 

[big2bird]

Glad you are okay. The spring can be changed. The smell/stain in the driver's seat may take longer.:laughing:

 

[Stingin' 76]

THanks guys.

I have in fact decided to call in today. I am going to check D&M Corvette first, if they do not have one, I will be hitting the swap meet or booths at BG looking for one. Luckily, I am about 20 minutes from the show.

 

[iburke]

Could have been disastrous Glad you drove thru it ok...:thumbsup:

 

[jmaal13]

No

NOOOOOO "The Flesh"

Any updates on locating the part? I am happy to hear that you are safe and managed not to tear the body apart from dragging on the ground. Also check that tire and see how bad it is.

 

[rjent]

Man Jason that is too bad. You will get it fixed, I know you!

If you need anything let me know bro!

Glad you and your car is alright :thumbsup:

 

[DJ Dep]

Wow!

Was that spring original?

How many leaf spring was it?

Did it pull through the mounting bolt, or just crack?

Holy Cow!

X2. Was it an original metal spring or a replacement composite one???
And like others said, check for damage to other components in the surrounding area. Good luck with getting it fixed. Why the heck does stuff like this happen whenever you have something planned??? :crazy:

Dep

 

[Stingin' 76]

Update

As far as I can tell, the spring was original. Last year I replaced the diff cover with a heavy duty. I also replaced all of the bolts and bushings. However, the srpring, although original, looked to be in good shape, with enough arch............I guess not.


I just got back from an impromtu trip to Bloomington Gold were I managed to pick up a new 9 leaf for a reasonable price. I stopped to chat with Patrick a bit at the Adams tent. It seems everyone else is having a great time.

Huge thanks to Jim (Bojvette) for having an extra ticket that he was wiling to use to get me in. Paying admission for 5 minutes to buy a part would have sucked.

I also want to thank Justin Cutler at Muskegon Brake for having the part avaiable, and going over a quick rundown of what else I should look for while I am under the car.

I am taking pics and such and will keep everyone updated...........

Now I will go out to the garage were it is 95 degree and crawl under the car.

 

[SinisterC6]

if you need help gimme a call

 

[Steve J]

Sorry for your trouble. Just so you don't feel like karma is taking it out on you, I'll tell you that i have seen the same thing before - twice. One was going over a railroad track and it cracked the guys diff housing, the other was less dramatic as it happened on a residential street near home.

Good luck with repairs.

steve

 

[jones]

I'm into 4 wheeling as well as Corvettes and my friends and I break leaf springs all the time from the extra stresses we put on them.

Just for future reference, if you have a spring shop in your area you should be able to take a broken leaf into them and they can build a new one pretty fast. This is handy if you only break one or two leaves in a pack, but it may not be cost effective if you break them all. It may be better than missing an important event though.

Good luck with the repair.