How do these leaf springs look?

[mattpyle]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it, but I'd throw some shocks on there when you put new springs on too. They'd reduce all the bouncing and take a little of the work off of the springs.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Maybe it's just me but that seems like a strange spring setup with one side of the spring being lower than the other. Doesn't seem like the spring would be very effecient and wear prematurly if not level as possible.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Maybe it's just me but that seems like a strange spring setup with one side of the spring being lower than the other. Doesn't seem like the spring would be very effecient and wear prematurly if not level as possible.

That's how it should be. almost all vehicles with leafs are like that.


Think about when the tires hit a bump. Since you're traveling forward, the tires will want to be thrown back, as well as up. This having them angled helps absord that back movement as well.

 

[mike64]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I took off one of the leaf springs today-- snapped off one side on each of the 2 u-bolts. I'll take it to a trailer parts store tomorrow and try to find matches for the hardware. How does this shackle look-- I watched an etrailer video that said if the bolt hole is not enlongated, it's ok to reuse. Mine's perfectly round, just a little rusty:

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I'd reuse it, looks good.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Ya it looks good

 

[champno6]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

What is the purpose of the rear shackle and does the spring even need to be fastened to it? I just bought an old trailer for an open bow 14' fishing boat. It had 7 leafs to the spring. It seems way way too stiff and much overkill. The guy before me must have had a really heavy boat on it. My question is this, can I just remove 4 of the leafs and not even attach it to the rear shackle and simply let it slide? This will help lower the trailer a bit and should help in launching and loading a bit too. I see some trailers are designed just that way for the rear of the spring to slide.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

What is the purpose of the rear shackle and does the spring even need to be fastened to it? I just bought an old trailer for an open bow 14' fishing boat. It had 7 leafs to the spring. It seems way way too stiff and much overkill. The guy before me must have had a really heavy boat on it. My question is this, can I just remove 4 of the leafs and not even attach it to the rear shackle and simply let it slide? This will help lower the trailer a bit and should help in launching and loading a bit too. I see some trailers are designed just that way for the rear of the spring to slide.

Ummmm, That's how the leafs are attached to the trailer's frame on that end. You're axle and springs would fall off if they weren't connected to the trailer

 

[champno6]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Well, the springs are attached to the trailer with a bolt at the front of the spring and the weight of the trailer rests on the rear of the spring and the spring is attached to the axle by double u-bolts. Can't see how they would fall off. There are trailers made specifically with springs that are rounded at the rear and designed specifically for the trailer to ride on. Yes, my springs were designed to attach to the frame at the front and a shackle at the rear but don't see why letting the frame ride on the rear of the spring would make any difference unless I hit a mega bump at breakneck speeds. I also have the shackles bolted at the top and hanging straight down to keep the rear of the spring from sliding to the side at all.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Well, the springs are attached to the trailer with a bolt at the front of the spring and the weight of the trailer rests on the rear of the spring and the spring is attached to the axle by double u-bolts. Can't see how they would fall off. There are trailers made specifically with springs that are rounded at the rear and designed specifically for the trailer to ride on. Yes, my springs were designed to attach to the frame at the front and a shackle at the rear but don't see why letting the frame ride on the rear of the spring would make any difference unless I hit a mega bump at breakneck speeds. I also have the shackles bolted at the top and hanging straight down to keep the rear of the spring from sliding to the side at all.

Sorry to aid in the hijacking of this post but this dumb idea needs to be stopped.

Seems as though your determined to do it no matter what anyone tells you. Why? To save money on the bolts? The springs tie the axle to the frame. What happens when you hit a curb with one tire? Axle will twist. And yes you will hit a big enough bump to move the axle. Either way you'll end up on the news. It would be better to duck tape the spring to the frame maybe (Just kidding don't do that).

 

[saumon]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

I think you confuse slipper springs with double-eyed springs. They can't be mixed and each have their specific hardware. Double-eyed are tied at the rear by shackle and slippers ride through hangers.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Interesting thread. I never really saw an answer to the following:

If the boat, trailer and motor weight 1500 lbs., do the leaf springs each get rated for 1500 lbs? Or would that create a total load capacity of 3000 lbs.?

Curiously...wellsc1

 

[jeffnick]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

The springs, like the tires and axles, will need to carry only their share of the load (total weight/# of units); their ratings are combined to determine capacity. Two 3,500 pound axles are good for a 7,000 pound load. Tires and springs of tandem axles each carry 1,750 pounds and require a 1,750 # rating for that 7,000# (gross)tandem axle trailer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do these leaf springs look?

Sorry to aid in the hijacking of this post but this dumb idea needs to be stopped.

I second this. You definitley have to sift through the advice on a board such as this.