Cleaning and Assembling Leaf Springs
From Auto Restorer May 2012
Q - I occasionally take apart leaf springs to clean them. I sometimes contemplate painting or greasing the leaves. What is the proper way to assemble this type of springs?
A - I always take the springs apart and strip and paint (or powder coat) each individual leaf. If I’m working on a car that is factory original I’ll paint the leaves to match the factory appearance and if I’m working on a custom car I’ll use whatever finish I’m in the mood for or the customer wants. Coating each leaf with paint or powder coating helps prevent corrosion. Sometimes leaf springs have liners between each leaf and sometimes they don’t but either way I always lubricate the contact surface between each with either anti-seize or wheel bearing grease. As a leaf spring moves through its range of motion the individual leaves actually slide slightly relative to the adjacent leaves and lubricant helps make the movement smooth and essentially unnoticeable. It’s important, however not to use too much grease because if it oozes out from between the leaves it makes a mess and becomes a magnet for dirt.
Q - I occasionally take apart leaf springs to clean them. I sometimes contemplate painting or greasing the leaves. What is the proper way to assemble this type of springs?
A - I always take the springs apart and strip and paint (or powder coat) each individual leaf. If I’m working on a car that is factory original I’ll paint the leaves to match the factory appearance and if I’m working on a custom car I’ll use whatever finish I’m in the mood for or the customer wants. Coating each leaf with paint or powder coating helps prevent corrosion. Sometimes leaf springs have liners between each leaf and sometimes they don’t but either way I always lubricate the contact surface between each with either anti-seize or wheel bearing grease. As a leaf spring moves through its range of motion the individual leaves actually slide slightly relative to the adjacent leaves and lubricant helps make the movement smooth and essentially unnoticeable. It’s important, however not to use too much grease because if it oozes out from between the leaves it makes a mess and becomes a magnet for dirt.
