[65sohc]

Has anyone run fiberglass leafsprings? They are substantially lighter (I hate weight) and am wondering if anyone has any experience with them.

[wilit]

http://flex-a-form.com/products.asp

Wow, I never knew anyone made fiberglass leaf springs. Looks like a neat idea. I wonder how long they would last before developing stress cracks.

[Acooljt]

Let me tell you somethin dude, weight may be a bad thing, but you gotta be smart about things. I would not trust those fiberglass springs for a second. No matter what, fiberglass will start cracking. It's not a property of fiberglass to last. And I don't think it's very smart that they make fiberglass springs to hold that much stress. You'll replace those fiberglass springs within 5 years of having them on the car, guaranteed. Not to much, I'm bettin those don't weigh that much less than a regular set of leaf springs. People think fiberglass body cars weigh so much less than a metal car. WRONG. In order for a company to produce a fiberglass molding to be as rigid as steel would be, they are forced to put in lots of fiberglass which in the end, leaves you with a heavy-*ss product.

[krankieone]

They use fiberglass springs on heavy haulage Rigs if made with the corect resin they should last for ages and will weigh considerably less than steel.

[65sohc]

Corvettes have used transverse fiberglass leafsprings in the front suspension for years.

[X1Lightning]

I really dont think you want to be cutting weight in the back... i need to start moving stuff to the back of mine... i dont have enough... my tires just spin...

[Hefty]

*Bump*
So, anyone with any experience of fiberglass leaf springs?

[andrewmp6]

65sohc you mean rear corvettes have always been a ifs.Why lose weight most early mustangs are around 2500lbs which is the weight of a miata or civic.

[systronic]

i think he means a transverse leaf spring that runs between the lower control arms. the new cadillac XLR has a transverse leaf spring front suspension made out of carbon fiber. it's very cool.

[andrewmp6]

I don't keep up with the newer corvettes i know the older ones have coil springs in the front.

[systronic]

the carbon fiber leaf up front is very cool, but it has very limited adjustability. you can't lower the car at all because it would create MASSIVE bump steer i'd imagine. i guess those cars are already low enough.

[andrewmp6]

I only like the c1-earlyc4 i hate the c5 and c6 there not a corvette anymore.

[etype65]

The Corvette has used fiberglass springs on the front and rear of the car since 1984. Other than the weight savings, a fiberglass spring weighs only 10lbs as compared to a 40 to 50lb steel spring, fiberglass springs last much much longer. A steel spring on average lasts for about 70,000 to 80,000 full rebounds a fiberglass spring has an average life in the millions of full rebounds.
For those wanting more information you can go to Vette Brake Products, the make aftermarket spring for all the generations of Corvettes as well as Firebirds and Camaros. Do not know if they will make a custum spring for Mustangs.
Also fiberglass is always lighter than steel, in the past what made the cars equal in weight was the need to have a stronger frame not thicker fiberglass. The newer cars are made from a mixture of materials including balsa wood similar to a snow board. Lighter and stronger than steel in many respects.
If someone does make a quality fiberglass spring in line with the Corvette's then that would be a huge benefit to the Mustang in leaps and bounds.

[yellowtonka2]

well i dont know about fiberglass springs on a stang but my dad has a 93 pontiac grand prix with over 200,000 miles on it and that has fiberglass spring in the rear and still rides like a cadillac id try them