Thread: trailer leaf springs for rod?

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hi everybody
i am on my 1st build and i need some leaf springs for the front.
can i use trailer springs?
they come in the length i need and take 9/16 bolts but most of them are 1 3/4 instead of 2" wide.
they are rated for 1000lbs. and up in various increments.
will the narrower springs work for me?
this is for a 27 chevy p/u .
thank you for your time
bill

Posey's...

The width of the spring leaves is not critical as long as they fit your application otherwise (length & center pin location). If you are putting these in the stock 1927 Chevy location and the original springs were wider, you will need to put shims (washers) on the sides to make up the difference in width. You may find that the 1,000 pound weight rating is too stiff for the vehicle, especially if you are using two springs in parallel like the stock Chevy. No problem, though; once you determine what the ride is like you can delete leaves to soften the ride or add leave to stiffen it.

I am using boat trailer springs in the back of my roadster. I bought them at the local ACE Hardware and cut one end off to make quarter-elliptic springs. If they are too stiff I can remove a leaf or two. Also, by using shackles that have multiple holes, I can change ride height.

One last thing, the ride characteristics of a leaf spring can be improved by disassembling the spring and rounding off the ends of the leaves slightly. When you put the spring back together, put Teflon strips between the leaves (available from Speedway, Posies, etc.) or, at very least, lubricate the leaves where they touch with heavy grease.

A couple of years ago there was a rash of boat trailer leaf spring failures. It got so bad that there was one company making a emergency air bag safety device, that would inflate when you had a spring failure.

It seems that that writings then, made the statement that Boat's most Boat's were using springs that were made off shore and these springs were suffering from Hydrogen Imbrittlement and failing at an alarming rate.

Now I think we have a boat guy on here. That would be Don or Itoldyouso, if I am not mistaken he owns a Marina so he may be able to speak to this with some actual knowledge.

I do remember some of the reports on the spring breaking, and I remember some of the advertisments about this air bag thing. I own a Bass Boat and I tow quite a bit, so I jacked my boat up just to take a look. On the springs on my Nitro Bass Boat it states on there "Made In The USA" dont have a clue if that makes them better or safer, but it kinda makes me feel better.

RS

Originally Posted by billy zz

hi everybody
i am on my 1st build and i need some leaf springs for the front.
can i use trailer springs?
they come in the length i need and take 9/16 bolts but most of them are 1 3/4 instead of 2" wide.
they are rated for 1000lbs. and up in various increments.
will the narrower springs work for me?
this is for a 27 chevy p/u .
thank you for your time
bill

Why? Of course you can, but why would you not use the correct pieces?

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

Why? Of course you can, but why would you not use the correct pieces?

probably the $250 or so difference in price.

whats correct in a scratch built car?
there are no plans. (unless we draw them up)

[QUOTE=Hombre259;371105]


Now I think we have a boat guy on here. That would be Don or Itoldyouso, if I am not mistaken he owns a Marina so he may be able to speak to this with some actual knowledge.

I wish I owned it, but I just work there.


This is one of those discussions where there may not be a right or wrong answer. Personally I have never used a trailer axle on a car and have always elected to buy one that is made to fit whatever axle I am using. However, I then see guys who I respect for their knowledge and skill like Jim Robinson who have used them and say they are fine.

I guess a spring doesn't know if it was put under a car or trailer......a leaf spring is a leaf spring to a certain degree. As long as it has the proper weight carrying capability I guess it would be fine. Obviously, the length is important too as the longer the spring is the softer the ride will be. As for the spring breakage situation, I do remember a while back some springs were having problems, but not sure how much of that was due to the abuse trailer springs get (backing in and out of water.....sometimes salt water) or if it was due to offshore quality issues.

I just order mine from Posies or sometimes even Speedway because I know it will fit with probably no modifications and was designed for the application I am using it for. But, that doesn't mean I am completely right either.

Don

i am going to run the trailer springs.
and use the saved money to buy all the steel needed to build a frame.

too each his own.

Just a thought. It's not always wise to use parts for purposes other than what they were intended for. I know a spring is a spring, but how much is your life, your family and others worth! Is it worth saving a couple of hundred bucks. Build your frame, suspension and brakes using only qualty parts made for that purpose.