Leaf spring question

[Nymisus]

earlier today I was under my jeep looking around and noticed the front driverside leaf springs was kinda messed up....the bottom 2 leaves were kinda sideways, not alot but not in line with the rest...so I got my handy rubber mallet and put them back in place....was just wondering if this is a common occurance or should there be something I need to do to fix this so it won't happen again

 

[mingez]

For me, yes. I had the same remedy you did: Rubber malloted that bastard back into place.

 

[Snitty]

there should be retainers holding them from sliding out... there are several ways to make retainers... basically anything that will stop side to side movement

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

They can only move so far due to the spring clips and ubolts. It's common and nothing to worry about, just beat 'em back in place.

Make sure your ubolts are very tight, like 80-100 ft.lbs. at least.

 

[TwistedCU]

you should have some clamps (they probably differ slightly from the ones in this pic) about 3/4 the way out from the axle to the end of the spring on each end, if the clamps are loose or missing you'll need to address that. if they're tight and the leaves are just fanning out slightly, there is no way to prevent it, just knock 'em straight when needed.

 

[Snitty]

oh i see... those bottom ones fanned out... my mental image was off for a minute... as bounty said, it won't hurt much, you are just losing some support on heavy load, and should not affect normal driving too much.

 

[Nymisus]

cool thanks guys

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

TC, those springs are just like my Rusty's springs. Do you know who builds RE springs for them? Could be the same supplier, I guess. Rusty's springs are now made in Canada.

 

[redrooster]

You can put more band clamps on there, but it will limit your droop. Just keep knocking them back in.

 

[Snitty]

if the clamps only limit side to side movement.. they will not affect the droop at all

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

The clamps can affect droop if they keep the leaves from falling away from each other, vertically.

 

[White]

How about shering the center pins ? I just found one of mine completely gone. The axle was moving, making a squeek. so I looked around. Thats not good... Anyone else have this happen ?

 

[TwistedCU]

TC, those springs are just like my Rusty's springs. Do you know who builds RE springs for them? Could be the same supplier, I guess. Rusty's springs are now made in Canada.

Sorry I just saw this. No I don't, I asked a long time ago and they wouldn't tell me who the Manuf. is.

 

[Snitty]

The clamps can affect droop if they keep the leaves from falling away from each other, vertically.

that's why i use a U style clamp.. they do not wrap around the top... they can allow the springs to move vertically as much as they need to