If you drive with a damaged leaf spring can render the vehicle unsteady or even impossible to drive. It is necessary to replace it or fix it as soon as possible.
Replacing a spring on a leaf is costly if you employ an expert. The other alternative, especially if you’re with a limited budget is to fix it.
What is the most secure method to go about it? Do you have the ability to weld leaf springs?
Nope. The technical aspect is that welding leaf springs is feasible in controlled environments. However, it’s extremely dangerous. The process of welding the spring’s material to greater temperatures. This causes carbon steel to lose its tensile force. In the event of this the area you have made a welding on could become extremely fragile (brittle) and susceptible to break. This isn’t the ideal situation for leaf springs, which are designed to help support the suspensions of a car.
In this post, we’ll examine the different problems that you might encounter when you attempt to weld damaged leaf springs back. We will also discuss how leaf springs break and offer alternative solutions to fix some or all springs.
What are leaf springs & its properties
Leaf springs are a suspension system consisting of an arc-shaped form that may be semi elliptical or fully circular. They have been used for millennia and can still be found in modern day cars, especially those with rear wheel drive layouts because they provide better traction off road than other types such as torsion bars which rely largely on front wheels alone when driving through dirt roads.
Wheels are designed to minimize the impact of bumps on a ride, but they can’t do their job if there is unnecessary shaking going on.
High carbon steel and other materials, such as chromium can be used to give leaf springs the desired properties. For example higher toughness or resistance against fatigue induced failure in a vehicle’s suspension system.
The cost to replace a broken leaf spring could be expensive, but there are other solutions. You can weld and fix it quickly or wait for the right parts before getting started with this job.
Possible Problems you may have when welding leaf springs
The most common reason for a leaf spring to break is that you overload your vehicle. Sometimes it can be due to loose U-bolts, other times there might even just not being enough torque on one of the center bolts which will cause them all start bending outwards until they eventually snap.
The vehicle tilts to one side or the tires start wearing unevenly is a clear indication that something’s wrong with it.
There are a number of ways to prevent issues from occurring, but many people tend not do maintenance.
What happens if you attempt to weld springs?
Heat will cause the steel to become softer and weaker, so it might not hold up as well when you weld on your project. The heat from welding can anneal nearby areas of spring which means that they may lose some properties after being heated for a period time.
That’s why you need a strong and quality filler metal to avoid breaking your welded leaf spring.
Other potential problems that can occur
The issues don’t stop with that, though. The method you use to cool the spring requires attention and it’s simple to make the mistake of doing it in the wrong manner. If you cool it down too slowly, it’ll be too soft, and when you cool it down too quickly, it’s likely to become brittle.
Leaf springs can rust when they’re not under controlled environments. But with knowledge of metallurgy, you could successfully weld a leaf spring without losing its desired properties and thus avoid this problem in the future by simply replacing it if needed be.
What to do if a leaf spring breaks?
A lot of people are asking how to fix a damaged leaf spring. Before I begin with the steps, I’d like you to know the steps are similar in case torsion or coil springs cause problems.
The first thing to determine is the extent of damage. The leaf springs generally look like semi-elliptical.
If the spring seems like it’s been rolled out, but is not broken, you can attempt to bend it to the back. I recommend seeking the assistance of an expert who can advise you on the amount of pressure to apply.
If the spring is completely broken, I would not suggest welding the leaf springs back to one another. If this is the case, the only option that is safe is replacing it with fresh spring.
Conclusion
It isn’t a good idea to use leaf springs for welding and can cause more problems and also the steel could be less durable and lose its properties.
If you’re experiencing issues with your leaf springs, make sure you choose the safest solution even if, in this instance it’s also the most expensive option.
Paul Dixon is a certified welder with a wealth of experience in welding and related technologies. He started his career as an apprenticeship in welding, where he learned the ropes and acquired extensive skills in the craft.
Over the years, Paul has continued to sharpen his expertise, earning him top-rated welding certification. He remains one of the most outstanding welders in the industry.
