Leaf spring lubrication?
Al...@dial.pipex.com
Leaf springs give a softer ride with oil/grease between the leaves (and on a
wet day with lots of puddles), but combined with grit and dirt I should
think it makes lovely grinding paste. Didn't matter with my old springs as
they were well past their 'best before date' anyway, but am about to fit new
springs and don't want do carry on lubricating if this is likely to cause
premature wear. Is it best to run them wet or dry?
Thanks
Alan
R S
tape. it seemed to work ok.
Richard
<Al...@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message news:87rnm4$b1n$1...@lure.pipex.net...
Pete
this. Leaf springs are designed to run dry, the deflection characteristics
are designed with this in mind, as is the low maintenance input. Oiling or
greasing them runs counter to every aspect of their design theory therefore.
You're right about the grinding past effect.
I do remember long ago seeing veteran and vintage cars with their leaf
springs wrapped in leather gaiters, though whether this was simply to keep
grit out? I tend to think that in the progression from horse-driven
carriages, covering them was probably for decorative effect than keeping
say, the goose fat in and the rain and grit out.
That being said, I give mine a larrup with dirty engine oil from time to
time.
Pete
Matt Butler
The dampening effect of the friction between dry leaves was important
BEFORE the inroduction of decent telescopic shock absorbers. If you
keep them free of grit you will get a better ride lubricated (and
less 'cross axle' off road).
Matt.
In article <87sjvu$jha$1...@nclient11-gui.server.virgin.net>,
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Before you buy.
Richard Brookman
>
>
This cross-posting with alt.condom.faq will have to stop!
Sorry folks.
Richard
Andy Gardiner
<ms.b...@talk21.com> writes
>Well..
>
>The dampening effect of the friction between dry leaves was important
>BEFORE the inroduction of decent telescopic shock absorbers. If you
>keep them free of grit you will get a better ride lubricated (and
>less 'cross axle' off road).
Yes but keep them covered if you're using a 'wet' lubricant otherwise
they'll wear in no time. I have heard of teflon sheets between the
leaves as a lubricant. Or what about graphite dust? Both seem valid to
me (and the graphite will be easier and cheaper as long as you can get
it to penetrate between the leaves).
--
Andy Gardiner
BLRC Editor
Lit me tell yew tha' orl vews, ign'rent o' th' fax an' tu'al lud
a' squit tha' thay moit be, are me own unless oi sed atherwoise.
jeric...@netscapeonline.co.uk
>
>
>Leaf springs give a softer ride with oil/grease between the leaves (and on a
>wet day with lots of puddles), but combined with grit and dirt I should
>think it makes lovely grinding paste. Didn't matter with my old springs as
>they were well past their 'best before date' anyway, but am about to fit new
>springs and don't want do carry on lubricating if this is likely to cause
>premature wear. Is it best to run them wet or dry?
>Thanks
>Alan
>
What about waxoyl?? Very good penetration, dry(ish), wont drip or wash
off also rustproof your springs.
Mark(dickin...@hotmail.com)Dickinson
Ser 3 Lightweight, Petrol with diesel springs, knackered back and
kidneys
Pantelis Giamarellos
A friend of mine recently unearthed a 1925 built Sunbeam.
I way unearthed because the car was built-in the garage of its late owner
since 1975.
He was the first and only owner and with his will dictated that the car
would be left into his garage, the garage would be built and his car could
be only sold to someone who would care about it and only after the year
2000.
This lucky friend of mine visited the town and house of the owner's daughter
hoping that he could find some photos of the car. And after he had been
shown the photos and was ready to leave he was asked whether he would like
to have a look of the actual car. Of course he went crazy when he heard
about it and more crazy when he saw the car covered in dust but otherwise in
perfect condition. The car had the 1925 typewritten adjustment and
maintenance notes (compare that to a modern owner's manual) and the late
owner's passport and driver's license along with the its first license for
free circulation around the city of Volos (you needed a special permit from
the police in order to leave the city and travel elsewhere)
Why all this story?
The car sits on leaf springs. One of the accessories it had (lots of them,
but no drivers (rhd) door event though the other three passengers had doors)
was leather wraps around the leaf springs.
Leafs and leather wraps were still in perfect condition and the car still
does not squeak when it is rocked.
A perfect way of preserving the good health of your leaf springs.
Sorry for the long story but a 1925 car deserves some publicity and has a
lot of technology still found on a series vehicle.
Take care
Pantelis Giamarellos
LAND ROVER CLUB OF GREECE
Andy Gardiner <101...@shedcity.demon.co.uk> wrote in message ...
TVS
> springs wrapped in leather gaiters, though whether this was simply to keep
> grit out?
between the leaves and makes the springs stiffer. Hence less body role and
more damping (the dampers where only the friction type anyway) etc
The 1 ton springs on my LWB where effectively solid until I socked them with
diesel/oil mix.
They weren't sized, just solid ;-) Now the ride is much better... (still
'oribal, but I'm not getting shorter anymore! ) Toby.
Tomas Petersson
> The 1 ton springs on my LWB where effectively solid until I socked
them with
> diesel/oil mix.
How did you get the oil into the springs, did you have them of?
I will replace my springs with parabolics as soon as I can afford,
but this might be a short term solution for a better ride.
I don't mind the "grinding pase effect", the springs are shot anyway.
Cheers, Tomas
--
Tomas Petersson
Stockholm, Sweden
http://www.pobox.com/~tomas
Matt Butler
If you jack up under the chassis and not the axle, the springs will
open enough to spray in your choice of oil.
Have fun! Matt.
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