If the leaf spring is a double-eye, one hanger will have a shackle link. Once the leaf springs are bolted into the hangers, the next step is to install a pair of U-bolts , two horseshoe-shaped metal rods. The leaf springs can be overslung placed over the axle or underslung placed under the axle.
Either way, the U-bolts fit around the axle and secure to a metal plate that rests against the leaf springs. The purpose of the U-bolts is to keep the leaf springs flush against the axle so they take the weight of the cargo and don't move around too much during driving. It's always important to check leaf springs and their accessories for wear -- a worn or cracked leaf spring can cause untold damage to a trailer and its contents.
When taking leaf springs off, it's a good idea to check the shackle links for wear. A round ring of wear that matches the shape of the nut is OK, but once the shape becomes an oval, it's time to replace the shackle link.
Proper care of leaf springs will ensure a safe ride while towing by keeping the trailer's wheels on the ground and its cargo in place. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.
Towing Equipment. If your leaf springs have gotten to the point where you can feel every bump, or you hear a crunching sound when driving on rough terrain, it is past time to have them inspected and replaced.
Early inspection is the best way to prevent suspension damage. One easy way to see if you are starting to have trouble is to park your vehicle on an even surface and look at the vehicle from the front and back while crouching low. If your car or truck is sitting lower on one side than the other, it might be that your leaf springs are sagging and need to be replaced before they break.
Coil spring suspensions offer more range of suspension movement, and allow the user a wider tuning envelope through the suspension range than leaf springs. Practically all high performance applications use coil springs where possible and if the budget permits. The two main drawbacks to a coil spring suspension are cost and load-bearing. This brings us to a conclusion that each of these suspension systems have their applications unique to their functionality and are used accordingly!
Suspension Systems. The steel is generally cut into rectangular sections and then once held together by metal clips at either end and a large bolt through the centre of the leafs. It is then mounted to the axle of the vehicle using large U-bolts, securing the suspension in place. The elasticity of the spring steel allows for a pliancy within the suspension for comfort and control of a car while moving, and a leaf spring setup has been proven as a viable option for cars for many decades, despite only really being found on HGVs and Military vehicles these days.
They can take huge vertical loads being applied to them due to their tight-knit structure, hence why heavy duty industries still use them.
Vertical loading is also distributed throughout the length of the leaf spring rather than acutely through a small spring and damper, which can potentially create a concentrated force too large for the suspension to handle.
In a car, damping can be an extremely important characteristic. If the suspension is under-damped, the car will wallow and bounce around well after hitting any bump or pot hole in the road. This was a significant characteristic in cars that used helical springs before the dawn of the shock absorber and was disadvantageous to cars when driven at any real pace.
Leaf springs coped much better with vehicle damping due to the friction between each plate of steel which made the response time after a vertical flex in the suspension much quicker, thus making for a much more controllable car.
Leaf springs were simple in design and cheap to produce in comparison with the early springs and dampers therefore it was the go-to setup once cars were being fully mass produced to ensure reliability while keeping costs low. Monoleaf springs were the simplest design of the lot, using only one leaf of spring steel which tapered from thick in the middle to thin at the edges known as parabolic leaf springs to distribute the vertical loads appropriately.
0コメント