leaf spring rebuild

[droopydawg]

searched, but did not see this addressed.

Paint or black powder coat? Is it really worth powder coating them?
Aren't there small pieces of felt or something between each leaf? Never seen this for sale on SOR.

Thanks

 

[metalonmetal]

i'd just paint the hell outta em, some springs have inserts inbetween

 

[Ullr]

I am painting mine. There are special paints available too, try searching "slip kote" or "slipkote" or something like that.

 

[droopydawg]

both of you, thanks

 

[HawkDriver]

JTOutfitters sells these things called slinky strips that go in between them if you really want em. I just painted mine. Maybe some good POR or roll on liner would be good.

 

[LCS]

No sense in using any special paint/coatings. Dis-assemble, Clean, drill out ends (tops 3 or four leafs), paint (regular paint), press in anti-friction tips (couple bucks each at your local spring shop) and you have new springs again with excellent flex.

Special paints or coatings will just rub off at the friction points and the full length strips will shift and squeeze out in time.

 

[ridgerunner]

Disassemble them, wire wheel them, grind the indentations off of them, paint them with some industrial paint and then slip-plate the hell out of them. reassemble with new center pins if needed.

I do like the idea of anti-friction tips, but I wouldn't waste my time with slinky strips.

 

[dustin]

slinky strips wiggle their way out from what I can tell on others I have seen. I used slip plate on my springs. Goes on super goopy thick. I dont know how much it *really* affects the springs, but my springs are quiet and move at their beckon will. Before I took the packs apart, they were nearly glued together with dirt and rust though. Can of the stuff is $40.00 from Grainger. Taking the springs apart, cleaning (very well), painting, and assembling will take atleast a day. Its actually quite a bit of work for 4 spring packs. I used rustoleum for the paint. Its spray paint, so chips easily, but has been fine.

-Dustin

 

[1973Guppie]

I used slipplate, I thought it was a paint, it really should be thought of as more of a lubricant. I painted the whole spring in the stuff. In retrospect I should of just painted and used some of those disk people mention. My springs do flex well though, so.....

Noah

 

[1973Guppie]

another...

 

[ridgerunner]

The other thing to consider it that Slip-Plate will oxidize; it is best to apply ontop of a base layer of paint.

 

[71-CRUISER]

I painted mine and put some antisease between the leaves when i reasembled them.

 

[Ullr]

drill out ends (tops 3 or four leafs), paint (regular paint), press in anti-friction tips (couple bucks each at your local spring shop) and you have new springs again with excellent flex.

Hijack! How far from the ends are you drilling the hole?