What To Look For In Leaf Springs
Leaf springs are a very simplistic suspension design dating back to the beginning of the 18th century. With such a long history, leaf springs might seem a bit outdated for use on modern trucks. But their simplicity has led to their longevity. Leaf springs are the AK-47s of suspension. Both are still around because they are rugged, reliable, and cheap to produce, and effective at what they do.
Just because they are simple doesn't mean all leaf springs are the same. There are significant differences between a cheap set of leaf springs and high-quality ones. So what should you look for if you are looking for a new set of springs? Let’s dive into it and we will explain.
Thin Is In
Peer under the rear of your truck and you will see very basic factory leaf springs consisting of a few thick leaves. Thicker leaves are more resistant to movement and usually produce a rougher ride, but they are much cheaper to produce. OEM springs get around this lack of ride quality by having almost no arch or even a negative arch since a flatter spring moves easier.
This style of spring is fine for the vast majority of trucks that never leave the pavement. But the limitations of OEM springs quickly become apparent once in the dirt. With no arch, or even a negative one, there is very little upward travel and the stock springs quickly bottom out on bigger hits. With their resistance to movement, the thicker leaves also don’t absorb smaller hits well either. All of this adds up to a harsh ride and less control in the dirt. Add more payload to the bed of your truck and things get even worse.
Leaf springs with a multitude of thin leaves are more expensive to produce, but thinner leaves are more flexible than thicker ones and move more freely. This means a spring with multiple thin leaves can have more arch, but still produce a nice ride. Extra arch not only provides some lift, but it also yields more bump travel. And, lots of thin leaves stacked on top of each other makes the spring a lot more progressive. This allows it to absorb both smaller hits and larger ones for a much better ride and control in the dirt.
Military For The Win
Any high-quality set of springs should come with a military wrap. On a standard set of springs, only the main leaf wraps around the eyes of the springs. With a military wrap, both the second leaf and the main leaf wrap around the eyes of the spring. This might seem like a minor difference but can play a vital role if the main leaf ever breaks. Without a military wrap, there is nothing to keep your axle in place should you snap the main leaf. A military wrap acts as a secondary safety should the main leaf ever fail.
Trust us when we say that a military wrap is a feature worth having. We once snapped the main leaf in a spring without one on a trip in the Nevada backcountry. After getting creative with a bunch of ratchet straps, we were able to secure the axle somewhat. The 30-mile drive to the nearest pavement that normally would have taken an hour took six hours. With a military wrap, this would have been much less of an ordeal.
Less Friction
Just like in your marriage, workplace, or current relationship, friction in springs is not a good thing either. As a leaf spring cycles through its travel, the end of each leaf can rub against the leaf above it, causing wear. In extreme cases, this wear can damage a leaf or even cause it to crack eventually. While not as extreme, this friction can also make the leaf springs squeak as they absorb bumps. Anyone that drives a vehicle with squeaking leaf springs will eventually go insane.
Anti-friction pads in high-quality springs eliminate tip-to-tip friction and squeaking. Placed between each leaf, the smalls pads of polyurethane or Teflon keep the tips of each spring from making contact. Anti-friction pads keep you sane and keep your springs in good shape.
Diamonds Are Your Friend
Not only does the tip of each leaf generate friction, but they can limit articulation as well. As one side of the axle goes to full droop and the other goes to full stuff, the spring twists in its mounts. With a standard cut leaf spring, the outside edges of the tip of each leaf can contact the leaf above it as it twists. This contact can limit articulation and cause friction affecting ride quality.
The solution to this problem is simple. Diamond cutting the edges of each tip at roughly a 45-degree angle eliminates the contact points. With those points of contact gone, the spring is now free to twist as much as it can. This allows you to get the maximum amount of articulation possible out of the spring.
Mini Packs
You might also be looking at mini packs if you are thinking about improving your rear suspension. How do they compare to a high-quality set of leaf springs? Well, mini packs are a half measure. Since you are sticking with most of the original springs, you don't get all the benefits that full replacement springs bring. For example, there is no military wrap with a mini pack. You also won't have diamond-cut ends on all of the leaves. And, since you are mixing thin leaves with some thicker ones, a mini pack won't be as progressive as a full replacement spring. However, a mini-pack can still add spring rate, lift, and some progression to an existing pack. And, while high-quality springs will always be better, mini packs are more affordable.