Leaf spring advice req

[cstokes]

Whilst playing at whaddon at the weekend i managed to break/bend the rear lower leaf of my british springs parabolics.  Does any body know if it is possible and safe to just remove the lower leaf to make them only two leaf rears?

[stratie]

How long have you had them?

[Porny]

Why not email them and see if they can do you a deal on one??? - or repair.

Worth a try....

http://www.british-springs.co.uk/land_rovers.html

Not that far away either.



Ian

[ian_s]

do you ever put a heavy load in the rear? if you dont, then i'd say just try it.
i wonder if this means that parabolics are easier to damage than the old style?

[cstokes]

I have had them about a year and 6 months, i emailed them yesterday but as yet no response.

I don't think that they are more difficult to damage than normal springs, it is the lower leaf that is the problem as it doesn't wrap around the mounting eye and the clamp that holds the leaves together has a gap, whereas the normal springs have no gap between the leaves or the clamp.

I think the problem occured when i was trying to reverse out of a deep hole where the back of the landi was sunk up to its chassis, don't know wether the lower leaf hit something and this is what caused it to bend.

May just have to try removing the lower leaf, worried that the efficiency of the two remaining leaves will bw compromised.

[ian_s]

well, it will make the ride softer, and probably make the rear end sit slightly lower

[Miniman]

I would not do it personaly. I know a mate who did this and it cost him his landy. The spring broke and he totaly lost control of the vehicle. Trashed it. The back wheel shot up in the arch and locked up. Sent him into on coming traffic. He was not insured as he had not informed the insurance company he had done this and he is still paying bills for the other cars involved. Think about it...

[cstokes]

This is the damage to the O/S/R spring

http://members.mud-club.com/profiles/Stanton%20Boy/gallery/springdamage

[Miniman]

It looks like its all a bit bent. What did you reverse into or hit....?

[cstokes]

Got pulled out of a few big mud holes backwards at whaddon, can't think of anything i hit though.

[hobbit]

You should be able to get it repaired, need a specialist but I imagine it can be done, its still in one piece, and needs heating, straightening and tempering, other than that a replacement leaf may be an option, if the suppliers do them, if not  the suppliers manufacturer might be able to help

[datalas]

if the leaf is damaged, especially on a parabolic which has fewer then I would advise either getting the spring repaired (if the manufacturer suggests it's possible) or replcament.  They won't have added an extra leaf for a laugh, and if it snaps on the road it'll potentially cost you a lot more than a spring does....

[stratie]

In you're email did you send them a pic?
If you did, then they are going to tell you that's what happen's when you run parabolics and 109 extended shackles.

[datalas]

If that's the picture, forget repairing it, it's toast, replace it.

Both of the straighter springs show signs of contortion and not being remotely the correct shape, I wouldn't be happy running on it personally.

[hobbit]

If that's the picture, forget repairing it, it's toast, replace it.

Both of the straighter springs show signs of contortion and not being remotely the correct shape, I wouldn't be happy running on it personally.

Agreed, not worth the effort, removing the leaf will have you lob sided and probably not legal, but I'd say just get a single spring, or if you can afford it a pair, so if you do something like it again you have a spare

[yer auld aunt nelly]

No mate i wouldn't chance it parrabolic's are a bit more "tuned"then the lump'o'metal that are normaly there.I think it would just be to risky ive seen what can happen when when you mess with normal leafsprings.Not telling me granma to suck egg's or owt,but just too iffie :)