A Guide to Checking and Cleaning Your Car’s Leaf Springs

A crucial component of your car’s suspension system are leaf springs. They are set up to aid in bearing the full weight of your car or truck. Additionally, leaf springs control the wheelbase lengths when the vehicle is speeding up or slowing down and preserve the tyres’ grip on the pavement. The regulation of the ride height and axel damping is made possible by leaf springs.

How To Clean Leaf Springs

Wheel trims and hubcaps should be removed, and the wheel nuts should be loosened. To hold the vehicle on an axle stand underneath a chassis member, jack up one side of the vehicle such that the bottom of the wheel is visible (not under the axle). Put the wheels beyond the bottom and support the automobile under the chassis on both sides by doing the same on the other side. Remove both of the rear wheels while choking the front wheels.

The leaves can now somewhat split because the weight of the car has been lifted off the springs, which makes it simpler to wash them. Cleaning up springtime leaves could be a difficult task if they are seriously caked with grime and grease. If you don’t lay out a lot of newspaper or plastic sheeting to catch the drips, the floor of the garage or the road underneath the car will become severely discolored. If necessary, apply a unique reducing fluid with an old scrub brush or by spraying it on. After cleaning, use absorbent rags to dry the springs.

How To Check Leaf Springs

While cleaning the springs, perform the inspections. Examine the springs to see if one is flatter than the other; if so, the car will likely have a noticeable lean to at least one side. This can mean that you just need to check the riding height. Check for cracks on the springtime leaves’ sides. The spring leaves’ internal fractures cannot be fixed by welding. A garage needs to replace the leaf or the spring as quickly as possible.

Examine the shackle pins that pass through the rubber bushes for damage. Verify that they are not bent or severely corroded. These would be very difficult to dispose of and would need to be replaced at a garage. Verify the U-bolt nuts holding the springs to the axle are tight. The axle will move in relation to the springs if they are loose. Which will result in issues with the steering and tire wear. The brakes will judder when applied as a result. The dowel that holds the spring to its mounting pad or the spring’s center-bolt head are both susceptible to shearing.

Key Takeaway

Leaf springs have numerous moving elements, and are susceptible to wear. They should be inspected at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals or at major service intervals, which are typically every 12,000 miles (20,000 km).

The metal ought to be in perfect condition. Take the car to a garage for repairs if you notice that the floor pan or mounting parts are severely rusted. Until this flaw is rectified, don’t use it on other travels.