Why Do Leaf Springs Break?

Leaf springs can break, become cracked or become fatigued or even break, but have you ever wondered why? In this short blog we’re going to take a dive into what causes leaf springs to weaken or even break. You may be having trouble with your suspension and suspect it’s your leaf springs then you can hop over and check out our blog dedicated to troubleshooting.

U-Bolts are usually found at the center of your leaf springs and often fail or break because they are not screwed tight enough. You should have your U-Bolts checked periodically to ensure they are tight especially after the installation of new truck springs. We usually recommend our customers come in for a check after 500 miles when driving on new leaf springs.

There are a number of factors that determine how long your leaf springs will last when it comes to corrosion and fatigue such as the amount of weight you carry and where you live. The roads you drive on play one of the biggest roles when it comes to corrosion and fatigue.

This one’s pretty easy although people say they don’t overload their trucks. We have seen it done many times. The manufacturer always provides a weight load for your truck and how much it can tow so if you overload obviously the strain on your springs will eventually cause damage. If you want to avoid overloading your truck’s springs then the solution is pretty simple. You need to invest in a truck that carries more weight or load your truck with less weight. You could also add an overload system such as a suspension air bag kit or a set of helper springs. Overload kits are specifically designed to take weight and pressure off your leaf springs, this will NOT allow you to increase the overall GVWR of your truck.

If you’re the owner of a commercial vehicle then this is one of the most popular options, and entails adding a piece of steel to the current spring pack, this may cause you vehicle to become stiffer when traveling but if your planning on your hauls being heavier this could be the perfect solution for you. We do not recommend adding steel onto existing damaged springs. It’s better to get two new springs then add the spring pack, if one is already damaged it’s highly likely that the other one is on its way out.

Weld spatter is more common in commercial vehicles especially if they arrive from the factory without a bed or motor home of leaf springs. Weld spatter is achieved by welding a combination of accessories to the same area as your leaf springs. It’s important to remember that weld splatter can cause damage to your vehicle and leaf springs. The only way to do this is to inspect this after your vehicle’s body has been installed.