Re: Some questions on springs
Posted by:
SSsssteamer (IP Logged)
Date: August 08, 2011 12:18AM
It is safe to mix good used leaf springs and new leaf springs as long as they all have the same arch.
To re-arch springs, a spring business is the best person to have it done at. The Model A Ford springs can be re-arched in a vise using a large hammer but their spring quality must be a lot different than a Stanley's. If you were to reheat leaf springs, you would remove the temper and they could become very brittle. I have found that air cooling is too fast and that will make leaf spring steel brittle. It is a real science to set the temper in leaf springs.
The center bolt hole should be retained in the center of the spring. To have one located elsewhere in the spring stack is inviting a broken leaf at that bolt hole.
To weld on the ends of the spring, it would be prudent to present the washers to the spring shop and let them weld on and also control the heat on the spring. If I was to weld replacement washers, I would use my mig welder and continually keep the leaf spring cool to retain it's temper. If the spring did get hot, a slow cool in a bag of insulation would be prudent. The lower spring isn't as big of a risk for losing its temper and that should be an easy one to weld up. Just keep the spring cool all of the time.
The nuts on the spring end connecing bolts are lightly peened over to keep them from accidentally backing off.