Trailer spring failure

[NMBruce]

I have a home build M416 trailer. it weights in at 1250 pounds and the springs are rated at 700Lbs each. The first spring broke about 40 miles into a trip across the Gila and the other broke on the last day on the road.
Both springs broke in about the same place. The trailer has around 26K miles and is 2.5 years old.
both repairs where about the same, here is a picture of the right one.

 

[batcon]

Post up a pic of the other spring pack. Hard to tell, but I think my m416 has a few more springs in the pack.

 

[NMBruce]

Should of said, get an air bag and spring set up. At times I pull the box and use the trailer to haul wood and other things, so an adjustable system works for me

 

[greentruck]

Yeah, not enough leaves was my first reaction, too. Even with the air bags, knowing that now. Have you flogged it that hard previously? I'd bet another leaf on each side will solve the issue "testing" revealed.

 

[ntsqd]

Where did the leaves break?

 

[Brimley]

They look look smaller than stock M416 which are interchangeable with front springs on military jeep M38 and other CJs of the era, although there are some differences depending on model and year, e.g. 8 or 10 leaves and 7/16ths vs. 9/16ths bolt size.

Like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AOONME/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?
ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or is M416 original: leaf spring assy NOS

 

[NMBruce]

Where did the leaves break?

The first on a trail and the second on the road

 

[NMBruce]

I was looking at changing out the springs before this happened. My plan was to go to longer springs and changing the spring rate. The air bags will let me adjust the pressure for what I am carrying and the weight changes with that.

 

[ntsqd]

The first on a trail and the second on the road

What I meant was where in the spring?

 

[NMBruce]

If you look close at the picture you can see the break. The leaf coming from the rear is sitting on top of where it broke. Both springs broke in the same place. Also, the axle is not sitting where is should be.


With hindsight being 20/20 or something like that, I would of gone with long springs and 4 leaf if I could of gotten them, also I would of gotten around 550-650 lbs springs, but I do like the idea of what I am doing now, since this trailer keeps evolving and softer springs might not of been enough spring.

 

[ntsqd]

Build something like this:

Or this:

To use your existing front mounts with air springs & shocks?

 

[NMBruce]

My buddy is doing the same suspension he did to his M416 trailer

 

[greentruck]

Was this a result of a airbag failure or were they OK?

 

[NMBruce]

Was this a result of a airbag failure or were they OK?

no air bags or shocks yet, they are now going on now.

 

[NMBruce]

new trailer suspension

 

[ntsqd]

I think the leverage on those bump-stops is going to make you want to move them closer to the axle. If they hit hard there the result will be to try to tear off the linkage bracket(s) on the frame.