Worn leaf spring

[Jaun Herholdt]

Hi all
I have a question for all you clever cruiser poeple out there,on the back of the 75,one of the leaf springs are worn through where the military wrap curls before the bushes,the leaf is not broken but only wirn through,now? this is spring steel and tempered,can this be welde up to prevent the leaf from breaking,this will have to be a weld across the widht of the leaf,Will I be changing the structure of the steel strengh or can this be welded without any problems.

 

[Ron R]

Hi all
I have a question for all you clever cruiser poeple out there,on the back of the 75,one of the leaf springs are worn through where the military wrap curls before the bushes,the leaf is not broken but only wirn through,now? this is spring steel and tempered,can this be welde up to prevent the leaf from breaking,this will have to be a weld across the widht of the leaf,Will I be changing the structure of the steel strengh or can this be welded without any problems.

Welding is out of the question if you want to keep using this leaf.
As a temporary fix (just to 'get home') you can try. Eventually, if that part of the leaf is free of the leaves underneath, you could weld a short strip over the point of wear.
However....you will need a new leaf.

 

[Downey]

It's been my understanding for a zillion years that:
(a) You can not weld spring steel.
(b) You can not reheat-treat spring steel that has already been heat treated, which makes all re-arching and reheat-treating companies bogus!!!!!
If anyone knows different, let me know!!!!!

 

[Ron R]

It's been my understanding for a zillion years that:
(a) You can not weld spring steel.

Why not? But then the properties will be lost in the welded area

(b) You can not reheat-treat spring steel that has already been heat treated, which makes all re-arching and reheat-treating companies bogus!!!!!
If anyone knows different, let me know!!!!!

Reheating indeed is a problem. But why shouldn't you re-arch a spring leaf?
Springs can be bent as well as 'normal' steel. However why do you have to re-arch? Was the spring overloaded or is it old and tired?
As long as an oldtimer professional is saying (after examining the leaf) that this is possible and does it before my eyes, freehanded and within 5 mm (say half an inch) to the required bow-depth who am I to disbelief what he tells me? Especially when that spring keeps up for another five years or so?

 

[roscoFJ73]

I think what makes rearching,or resetting as we call it in oz , a success or failure is how bad the spring before you attempt to reset it.

If its been flapping around and bellying out for donkeys years ,forget it.

IMO ,there are no real cost savings these days and your better off in the long run wih a new set of prings

 

[Cruiserdrew]

It's been my understanding for a zillion years that:
(a) You can not weld spring steel.

You can weld spring steel just fine. You just can't weld spring steel and use it as a spring. I cut up an old spring and used the bits to practice welding, and it welds just great. I think the temper does not survive the welding so it's done as a spring.

 

[Gold Boy]

It's been my understanding for a zillion years that:
(a) You can not weld spring steel.
(b) You can not reheat-treat spring steel that has already been heat treated, which makes all re-arching and reheat-treating companies bogus!!!!!
If anyone knows different, let me know!!!!!

well i don't know any different...

but... my springs where re-heated by a guy called "Attila Vizi" at

Okanagan Springs Suspension - Westbank. Contact: Attila Vizi. Address: 2535 Butt Rd. Westbank, British Columbia (Canada), V4T1N9. Phone: 250.768.4545 ...

on the recommendation of local off roaders and a commercial trucking company.

that was years ago and the springs are still very healthy [NO SAGGING] other than normal spring settling.

however there are a lot of bogus reheat-treating companies out there, as you here folk complain all-the-time about there springs sagging out.

i must of chose the right company to do the job, and i would recommend Okanagan Springs Suspension.