Listers,
Just to add a bit. I had a long discussion with
a Austin Healey guy about my leaf springs and got
a similar answer. The only thing I would add is
I was told that there is a teflon like material
you can cut in strips and lay between each leaf of
you spring. This guy had it done and said the car
handle far better that before. Haven't had my springs
done yet, so I can't speak from personal experience.
You might ask you spring technician about this. He
may have heard of it.
Derek Palmer
San Jose, CA
87 AH MKIII
At 10:43 AM 10/28/98 EST, JWoesvra@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 98-10-27 23:08:14 EST, malcox@napanet.net writes:
>
><< They seem to be dry, with rust between leafs. Is this bad?, should
> there be inter-leaf lubrication, if so what lubricant. Does inter leaf
> friction have any bearing on the effectiveness of the shocks? >>
>
>
>In order for leaf springs to be effective they must be consistant. Rusty ones
>have unpredictable friction between the leaves and this affects they way they
>react to loading and unloading. It would make sense to take them apart, clean
>and lightly oil them between the leaves. This will make them predictable. It
>also makes a mess!
>
>Consistant spring action will allow your shocks to control axle movement
>better. All of this assumes that the spring rates are or ever were correct
for
>the car and it's intended use. Leaf springs tend to be pretty forgiving and
>the need to change spring rates is not as critical as with other types. There
>are gains to be had if you choose to get into this area, but frankly I don't
>see the value for most vintage racers.
>
>You can have new ones made up if the old ones are too bad. Most big cities
>have a place that does truck springs and the cost isn't that much. However,
>they will not have any idea about spring rates, etc. You will have to specify
>thickness of leaves and just see what happens.
>
>I would just clean and paint them, make sure that they give you the ride
>height you want (use shims or blocks to raise/lower it and equalize it from
>side to side). A little oil won't hurt and make sure the pivot bolt is free
>and the sliding saddle allows free movement. Oil or grease it.
>
>Not rocket stuff, just common sense. Good luck.
>
>
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