Chevy Corvette springs

[Rani]

Could someone please explain why the Corvette still uses leaf springs instead of good (less) old fashioned coils?
I know they're transverse and made out of thermoplastic but why go against the current with not a single sports car using these?
Is the reason simply tradition (like the 911 having a rear engine) ?

[jim mcglinchey]

composite leaf springs weigh less than steel coils so they reduce unsprung weight, plus they are mounted lower than coils can be, and that lowers the C of G.

[trumperZ06]

;) Do a "Google" search on the Corvette leaf spring suspension.

Regardless of what Clarkson has to say about the..
Charlton Heston/Ben Hur suspension,

GM's set-up on the Corvette is quite effective.

Many racing teams do substitute coil springs over shocks... for the composite leaf springs... but that is mostly for adjustability from track to track.

The C6 Z06, with it's stock suspension, is more than competitive with Porsche's GT3 and Ferrari's 430 when all three use a track set-up.

[Rani]

;) Do a "Google" search on the Corvette leaf spring suspension.

Regardless of what Clarkson has to say about the..
Charlton Heston/Ben Hur suspension,

GM's set-up on the Corvette is quite effective.

Many racing teams do substitute coil springs over shocks... for the composite leaf springs... but that is mostly for adjustability from track to track.

The C6 Z06, with it's stock suspension, is more than competitive with Porsche's GT3 and Ferrari's 430 when all three use a track set-up.
I quite agree with it being effective, but if it were so great, wouldn't you be seeing more cars with this setup?

[trumperZ06]

;) Hhmmm... much easier for the other Mfg'rs to develop a Sports Car suspension using known methods. GM has spent a ton of Engineering hours since 1963 to get this right.

Kinda like Porsche 911's... with the engine stuck out behind the rear axle, which should make the car a " PIG".

Given enough time & money, those clever German Engineers have managed to make...

A Very Fast PIG !!!

Early Corvettes had their "Teething Problems" with this leaf spring set-up. I drive a C-3 (1968) Corvette in Historic car racing. We have swapped out the stock set-up (which did use normal leaf springs) with one piece after-market composite springs, solid bushings & rear roll links, stiffer shocks & much bigger roll bars. It now handles much better than "stock".

Even so, That car's handling is still treacherous... you can only put it where IT wants to go, when you're driving in the corners.

Current Corvette's handle SO MUCH BETTER, they can be driven almost anywhere in the corners.