What Are Parabolic Springs?

As discussed In previous blogs leaf springs are an integrated part of most wheeled vehicles, designed to support the weight of the vehicle so it can transport cargo safely and securely. There are a wide range of springs available on today’s current market, but mechanics or automotive dealers/experts would commonly use the term parabolic springs. This is a variation of the spring and provides a huge range of benefits for your vehicle. The types of springs have many benefits, one of the main ones being they offer a better driver experience.

What is the purpose of these type of springs?

So before we take a closer look at parabolic springs we’re going to take a dive into why leaf springs are used. These play a huge role in your vehicle’s suspension system, mostly made up from layers of steel and tend to vary in size, most springs will be manipulated into an oval shape that allows flexibility when pressure occurs.

This may come as a surprise but leaf springs date back all the way to 5th century (medieval times) and were often referred to as carriage of laminated springs. Fast forward to today and leaf springs are usually found in larger vehicles especially trucks and vans used to carry heavy loads of cargo.

So let’s recap on what the main purposes are, which are:

Number One – They provide an all round better driving experience, absorbing bumps and shocks.

Number Two – Maintenance’s your vehicle’s tire alignment on the road and affects how high your vehicle rides.

Let’s take a look at a standard leaf spring which is made up usually from a number of different leaves, throughout the layer each leaf is made to be bigger than the one below, the length may be different but they will be the same thickness throughout. So the larger the load the thicker and more leaves you will need.

Now for the parabolic springs these are made up of less leaves and then ends will be tapered, it’s usually a semi-elliptic (sort of like an arch) this means it’s designed so that the center and end springs are touching, preventing inner leaf friction. Because the leaves have been tapered at each end the weight is distributed evenly resulting in a smoother more consistent driving experience.

The main Benefit of parabolic springs is that they are made up of less steel meaning the weight of the vehicle can be massively reduced. They also help to reduce inner leaf friction provided the leaves don’t touch. Last but not least using a parabolic leaf spring ultimately provides an all round smoother driving experience.

You should keep in mind that all parabolic springs are different, there could be variations in how many layers they are made up of, they may have a different number or leaves and some are less flexible than others.

Sanderson Leaf Springs always recommends doing your research and having a shop around before deciding on the product you would like to invest in.

When shopping it’s a great idea to consult with a professional technical consultant. This allows you to gain the correct knowledge and helps you determine what product suits your needs best.