Leaf springs are essential to your truck, Jeep, van, or SUV's suspension. These long, arching spring packs are generally situated at the rear of a vehicle, taking the place of coil springs and link arms.
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Leaf springs center the rear axle under the chassis both side-to-side and front-to-back; they also support the weight of your vehicle and its cargo. Additionally, these spring packs provide movement to the rear suspension, compressing and expanding to allow the rear axle to articulate for a smooth and capable ride.
However, like most suspension components, leaf springs are wear items that can degrade with time, eventually requiring a replacement to restore your vehicle's like-new ride quality. But how can you tell when it's time for a new set?
Our experts at RealTruck have compiled a list of driving characteristics and visual symptoms to look out for on your leaf spring-equipped truck, van, Jeep, or SUV. Read on to see if your ride's due for replacements.
Before getting into the characteristics of a worn/damaged set of leaf springs, let's first verify how they should look.
Leaf springs are arranged into packs–a central leaf with eyelets at each end to house chassis-mount bushings and several supporting leaves that reduce in length as their positioning distances from the central leaf. All leaves in the spring pack are bound using a centering bolt and prevented from misaligning by a series of rebound clips.
In proper working order, leaf spring packs should have a noticeable arch with the apex pointing downward, positioned just above the axle. Additionally, all individual leaves should be aligned and free from structural issues such as cracks or excessive corrosion.
You should also consider the condition of eyelet bushings. These integral bushings should be free from cracks, tears, dry rot, and other physical damage. The rubber should also be pliable, ensuring ample damping of vibrations and bumps.
Now that we know what leaf springs should look like, what are the visual symptoms of a worn or damaged leaf spring?
The individual leaves are one of the first areas to inspect on a leaf spring. Due to excess corrosion or overloading, individual leaves may crack or shear completely, leaving a noticeable break in the steel. However, even if the damage is limited to a crack, you may see a line of rust running vertically through the width of the leaf.
Another common breakage point is the centering pin, tasked with the vital job of centering the individual leaves together, as well as centering the axle under the leaf spring. If this pin breaks, you may notice one side of your vehicle's axle sitting too far forwards or rearwards in the wheel well.
Lastly, check the two large bushings in the central leaf's eyelets and the bushings in the shackles. These components should be free from dry rot, tears, or excessive wear. If these symptoms are present, your leaf spring bushings are toast!
Not everyone crawls under their vehicle regularly to check for chassis damage; for this reason, it's a good idea to know some basic visual and handling characteristics that may suggest damage to your leaf springs.
One of the first hints of worn leaf springs is sagging on one or both sides. If your vehicle sits lower in the rear than you remember, or if one side is notably lower than the other while parked on flat ground, you may have a damaged leaf spring.
Another symptom of suspension sag is a rough ride resulting from the axle making contact with the bump stops over bumps and dips.
You may have a damaged or worn leaf spring if you've recently noticed an audible squeak or clunk from the chassis, specifically the rear. These noises would be most prevalent when traversing bumps, taking off from a complete stop, or coming to a full stop.
When leaf springs are worn or damaged, you'll likely notice a change in handling for the worst. Due to worn bushings, uneven sag, or damaged center pins, you may experience unstable driving characteristics as the rear axle shifts beneath your vehicle.
Can you or should you? The answer to the first question is maybe, though the answer to the second is always a resounding NO.
Leaf springs are crucial components of your vehicle's suspension; driving with any damage to the spring pack puts yourself, your passengers, and other drivers at risk. Therefore, whenever you note visual damage to your vehicle's leaf springs or suspect damage based on erratic handling characteristics, park it until you can address the issue.
If not exposed to road salt or overloaded, leaf springs can last the lifetime of your vehicle. However, you can expect their lifespan to diminish if frequently abused or driven across salty roadways.
On the other hand, rubber bushings typically last 10-15 years if the vehicle is maintained correctly. If abused or neglected, this number will likely decrease.
The cost of replacing leaf springs can depend on various factors, including OEM vs. aftermarket components, whether or not both sides require replacing, and the labor cost in your particular shop.
As a rule of thumb, account for $500-$1,000.
Discover what function coil springs have in your car’s suspension and whether you can drive your car if you have a broken coil spring…
Coils springs are integral to your car's suspension system.
Your vehicle has four coil springs - two front coil springs and two rear coil springs (one for each wheel).
If your car coil springs are properly sized, then they are designed to last for the lifetime of your car. However, sometimes they will wear out and need to be replaced.
Suspension springs for cars are important in ensuring the smooth, safe handling of your car.
Coil suspension springs are designed to absorb the impact of driving over rough terrain, and also help keep your vehicle at the correct height so damaged coil springs on a vehicle are not good news for any motorist.
In this article we will look at broken coil spring symptoms, what causes coil springs to break in the first place, and whether you can still drive your car with a broken coil spring…
No, you should not drive with a broken coil spring. You should get it fixed as soon as possible.
Are you interested in learning more about automotive springs? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Some drivers may decide to drive on a broken coil spring in order to reach a garage or home. But Is it safe to drive a car with a broken coil spring?'
When driving with broken coil springs, the ride is likely to be rough and controlling the car in an emergency will be more difficult.
A broken coil suspension spring will put extra pressure on the adjacent shock absorber and may cause serious damage to it if you drive the car in that condition.
If one of your car coil springs breaks, your vehicle will sit at an angle, with the lower corner over where the broken spring coil is.
A broken coil spring will mean pressure on the tyres is uneven, causing the affected tyre to wear out more quickly on one side.
A broken coil spring could also result in your car suffering a puncture, rendering your car undriveable; having comprehensive breakdown cover in place will enable you to call on assistance in such scenarios.
And if the coil spring falls out of the vehicle it obviously creates a hazard for other road users.
Think that you may have a broken coil spring?
Symptoms of a broken coil spring which may indicate a bad coil spring in your car's suspension system to look out for include:
Have a broken spring on your car? You may be wondering what has caused you coil spring to break.
Car suspension system coil springs can break for a variety of reasons:
Coil springs are covered in a flexible plastic coating to help protect the metal from corrosion. However, over time, with constant compression and being hit by stones from the road, this coating can get damaged, allowing rust to form on the coil. Once this happens, coil springs can weaken and potentially break.
Driving over rough terrain regularly will make a coil spring breakage more likely.
In many cases, damage to car coil springs are as a result of road conditions, such as potholes.
Wheel imbalances can cause your suspension system to wear out unevenly, potentially leading to a broken coil.
A flat or blown tyre meanwhile can put huge pressure on your suspension system and can cause a coil to break.
A broken coil spring could also cause damage to your steering and braking systems.
If a strut - which usually comprises a shock absorber and spring - leaks hydraulic fluid, it won’t work effectively, placing more pressure on the adjacent coil, increasing the chances of a break.
Additional noise when driving over dips and bumps could mean you have a hydraulic fluid leak.
Lower hydraulic pressure could mean coil springs connect with other suspension components, causing damage to brake lines or even the exhaust system.
How much are coil springs? Well, the cost of a coil spring depends on the make and model of your car and whether you need new coil springs on the front axle or rear axle of your car.
A coil spring replacement cost of £100 per spring is a rough guide price. There is also the need to factor in the installation costs for labour for replacing the coil springs.
Generally speaking, front coil springs cost more to replace than rear coil springs.
If you need to replace one spring it's advisable to replace the one on the other side. It's also a good idea to have all your car's coil springs inspected for damage.
A car suspension system typically lasts for 50,000 to 100,000 miles, however, many factors can impact how long the suspension system of your car lasts, such as driving habits or road conditions, vehicle maintenance checks and the quality of the parts.
Find out more on car suspension issues you may experience and how to keep your suspension in good shape.
If you're concerned about your car failing you on a journey, for ultimate peace of mind, consider getting appropriate breakdown cover.
Purchasing breakdown cover online from Start Rescue is simple, just click here to get a quote in seconds.
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