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Posted by Chriscase on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 09:47:03 :
In Reply to: Spring options? posted by Tim Holloway on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 21:14:06 :
Maybe you only need to do every other leaf?
Or there are other plastics that are low friction, like HDPE, that may be easier to find.
So far as 'over extension', it ought not to be a problem in an otherwise stock-ly engineered system. The axle bumper and shock limit travel. Anybody here ever seen a WWII ambulance spring pack? The ones wrapped in oil soaked burlap then armored with scales of sheet metal to hold in the oil? Fancy cars of that era did that too- Caddies and Imperials. Nothing to good for our wounded.
But, likewise with stockly-engineered systems, there is some friction expected within the spring pack. That is why rear shox are optional. But, those suspension engineers didn't plan on the whole pack being rusted into a solid block of steel either. I'd say that a 50 year old spring pack would be considered "extreme service" and ought to be lubed.
I lubed mine by supporting it from the frame and letting the axles hang down, giving some leaf separation. Disconnect the shox, and work in 90 weight with a solvent brush. Step on the rim/hub and get each wheel bouncing to work the oil in. Reapply lots of oil, bounce more, soak awhile, repeat. Made a mess of the driveway, wish I had thought to apply sawdust. Do this for a couple days. Put back on the ground, leaving shox disconnected, and drive it over curbs, across dips, etc. When you start to get sea sick, the springs are loosening up, and you can re-attach the shox.
If they are not oozing rusty grease, it's time to do it again.
And those are my thoughts on leaf springs.