Leaf springs are essential to your truck, Jeep, van, or SUV's suspension. These long, arching spring packs are generally situated at the rear of a vehicle, taking the place of coil springs and link arms.
Leaf springs center the rear axle under the chassis both side-to-side and front-to-back; they also support the weight of your vehicle and its cargo. Additionally, these spring packs provide movement to the rear suspension, compressing and expanding to allow the rear axle to articulate for a smooth and capable ride.
However, like most suspension components, leaf springs are wear items that can degrade with time, eventually requiring a replacement to restore your vehicle's like-new ride quality. But how can you tell when it's time for a new set?
Our experts at RealTruck have compiled a list of driving characteristics and visual symptoms to look out for on your leaf spring-equipped truck, van, Jeep, or SUV. Read on to see if your ride's due for replacements!
Diagnosing a spring as faulty is simple is the spring is cracked, broken, or if the vehicle is leaning to one side, however, if the vehicle has excessive body roll, but the vehicle sits level, the ride height at all four wheels, the spring height on all four springs, and the tire pressure will all be recorded. This information will be compared to factory specifications, and the diagnosis will recommend those outside of allowable tolerance should be replaced. If the U-bolts, or other mounting hardware for the leaf spring or axle is damaged, it will be replaced as well.
Replacing leaf springs is much more simple than replacing coil springs, but does involve quite a bit of work. The springs must unbolt from the axle, and the leaf spring shackles. Then, the leaf spring shackles, U-bolts, washers and nuts should be inspected, and replaced with the new leaf springs if needed.
The original springs for any vehicle were designed specifically for that vehicle, and have many properties besides their weight capacity and physical dimensions. Replacing springs with different properties will dramatically alter the driving feel of the vehicle, and handling characteristics. Before changing springs, we recommend consulting a professional technician to ensure the proper springs are selected. Cutting, heating, or removing springs to alter the vehicle's ride height is never recommended, and will create unpredictable, often uncontrollable driving conditions. When springs are altered, the characteristics of each spring will vary, producing undesirable conditions.
Leaf springs of most sizes are interchangeable, and will increase the amount of weight the vehicle can carry, but the payload capacity of the axle cannot be exceeded. Overloading the rear axle with weight may ruin the wheel bearings, axle shafts, axle shaft housing, differential, drive shaft, transmission or engine.
The leaf springs can be replaced at home if the entire process, and all safety measures are understood. It is critical to understand coil springs are under tremendous tension, and releasing a compressed spring can result in injury, or death. If coil springs and the rear axle assembly are not completely understood, as well as safety measures for disassembly, a professional technician should complete the repair.