I've disassembled many leaf springs where the lower leaf end has worn a ridge into the upper spring it rides on. When wheeling the springs compress and extend all the time. A flexible suspension is the goal. Quality springs will have Teflon pads at the end of each leaf and/or the end of the...
How do the springs know what shocks you're running or vice versa? Leaf spring have been around forever. It's a very basic design. I'd probably remove a leaf. While they're apart wire brush them and paint them. I believe thay make a paint with graphite in it.