Results 1 to 20 of 27
Thread: Flat leaf springs?
-
08-17-2013 #1Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- San Diego, CA
- Posts
- 226
Flat leaf springs?
I run my '67 Camaro (http://www.rhoadescamaro.com/build) in SCCA autocross in a class that mandates I keep leaf springs.
The car is fairly light by Pro-Touring standards - under 3000 pounds, with about 625 pounds rear corner weight (under 500lbs. sprung corner weight).
To date I've been running composite leaf springs from Flex-A-Form - the lowest ones they could make, at a rate about what I want (250lb./in). I'm happy with the handling balance.
The problem is, even with the lowest springs they can make, the rear of my car sits much higher that I'd like. To combat this I've resorted to spacer blocks, 1.5"! Too much. Have already seen it causing some problems (axle moving around in relation to the leafs).
I'd like a leaf spring that allows me to run the ride height I want (which is actually even lower than the car is now) without any spacer block. To do this, will require a spring that is basically flat at ride height (so ~2" "free arch"), but allows for about 2" of bump and droop from there.
The Flex-A-Form guy (Mark?) said he couldn't do it, because of how the layers of his composite leafs are designed only to work in tension or compression, and as the spring passes zero/flat, it starts to get worked the other way. Makes sense but is unfortunate, as I really like the weight savings.
I'm not sure that steel would have the same problems though? I ordered a set of Global West's lowest multi-leaf steel pack, but they refused to do any de-arching of the springs before shipping them to me, saying it would cause safety problems? And that the springs would be low enough?
Is there another solution (that fits my rules) that I'm missing? A provider of lower or custom-arch'd steel leafs? When I inevitably have to have my Global West springs de-arched 2" or more, what real safety issues may arise as a result of the flat to negative-arch spring?
Thanks for the assistance!
--Jason Rhoades
http://www.rhoadescamaro.com/build