C1 Corvette Rear Leaf Spring R&R
EATON DETROIT SPRING CAN MAKE THESE UNAVAILABLE FIRST-GEN SPRINGS LIKE NEW AGAIN
DETROIT, MICHIGAN: If your first-generation Corvette rear springs are looking a little worn out, it might be time for some R&R, courtesy of EATON Detroit Spring.
Original C1 Corvette rear springs were made with spring steel with a groove in the bottom side of each spring leaf. This grooved steel has not been produced since the mid-’60s, so the original-style springs with the groove can no longer be made. This predicament could bring many restorations to a standstill. However, for springs that are not fatigued, EATON offers an R&R process that can make them as close to new as possible. R&R stands for Re-temper & Re-arch
- The re-temper process removes temper from each leaf, then puts it back in;
- To re-arch, while red-hot and before they are re-tempered, each leaf is formed back to its original shape.
- They then go into an oil bath after being annealed and reshaped. The next step is to go through the second heat-treat furnace that finalizes the re-tempering process. Once through the second heat-treat furnace, the leaves are shot peened to relieve the inherited stresses caused by the heat-treating process before being assembled.
Does it work? Mike Eaton points to a successful job for a prominent client. One customer who happens to be the designer of the original Corvette suspension said. “He brought in a couple of sets of C1 rear springs to be reconditioned. Even though Eaton does a lot of these, there are still ’Vette owners who don’t know we offer it.”
SOURCE
EATON Detroit Spring:
Founded in 1937, Eaton Detroit Spring has over 24,000 OEM Spring Blueprints and more than 166,000 stock spring applications. With an expert design staff available for custom applications, EATON Detroit Spring helps maintain American automotive icons by manufacturing leaf and coil springs in Detroit, Michigan.
or call (313) 963-3839.
