Ok, for those of you who might
be a little light on the leaf spring knowledge, this is for you.
A leaf spring is actually a
very simple type of spring that is commonly seen in the suspension system of
vehicles. Originally this spring was
known as a carriage spring or a laminated spring and even now people will
sometimes refer to it as a cart spring or a semi – elliptical spring. As far as springs go, this type is one of the
oldest types known of as it dates back all the way to medieval times.
Leaf Springs take the shape of
a slim piece of arc shaped steel. The
middle of this arc is where the location is for the axle. There are tie holes that are provided at each
end so that the spring can be attached to the body of the vehicle. For vehicles that are very heavy, leaf springs
can actually be made from quite a few of the leaves being stacked in multiple
layers. When this happens, each
successive leaf is shorter than the one before it. Leaf springs serve the purpose of locating as
well as damping and they also have springing functions. The damping action is provided by the
friction between the leaves but this is not controlled too well and can result
in what is called “instiction” occurring in the movement of the suspension
system. This is why some manufacturers –
such as Pro Comp Suspension – have moved to mono leaf springs.
Functions of a Leaf Spring
1.
A leaf spring can act
as a type of linkage that holds the axle in its position making additional
linkages redundant. This type of spring
makes a suspension system quite strong while still retaining its simplicity
2. Due to the fact that the positioning of the axle is
determined by the leaf spring, soft springs that have a low spring content are
not recommended
3. Braking torque and acceleration can cause vibration and
windup. Wind up can then lead to nose
diving and rear end squat
4. The friction between the leaves damps the motion of the
springs while reducing the rebound.
Until the invention of shock absorbers, this was a huge improvement over
the helical type of springs.
The leaf springs that are
brought to you by the minds at Pro Comp Suspension will give you that
additional ground clearance that you have been wanting without you having to
sacrifice the quality of your ride. Your
ride will remain smooth and you will get a response that is great even on harsh
off road terrains. You can add anywhere
from a single inch to your height all the way up to 6 inches.
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