Leaf spring treatment

Freewheeling banter.....anything goes as long as it's clean and nothing to do with Mokes.
Post Reply
User avatar
Doug G
MMC Member
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 14:44
Location: Caribbean

Leaf spring treatment

Post by Doug G »

The leaf springs on the rear axle of my twin axle aluminium boat trailer (5 years old) snapped just after I launched the boat and was in the process of driving off to park the trailer.

I plan to replace all four sets of the three leaf spring sets.

The question arises, how does one treat the leaves to minimise (I suspect you can never prevent it) the rusting?

1. Hose off with fresh water every time?

2. Hose off with fresh water and spray with WD40 every time, and respray regularly?

3 Pack them very liberally with grease, wrap with hessian cloth and wire it to the springs?

4 Pack them with grease and leave it exposed?

5 Spray with old gear/engine oil regularly?

6 Other?
Having a moking good time!
Nigel(no top)Sykes
MMC Member
Posts: 5257
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 21:04
Location: Everywhere and nowhere baby

Re: Leaf spring treatment

Post by Nigel(no top)Sykes »

Other...........(have a trailer with rubber suspension)
Come on summer
User avatar
Doug G
MMC Member
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 14:44
Location: Caribbean

Re: Leaf spring treatment

Post by Doug G »

Nigel(no top)Sykes wrote:Other...........(have a trailer with rubber suspension)

The boat is 22'0", has two 85 hp outboard engines, carries 40 gallons of fuel (+/-240lbs).

I am not sure that there is a trailer with rubber suspension available to carry that load .
Having a moking good time!
User avatar
vsssm27
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 22:49
Location: salisbury wiltshire

Re: Leaf spring treatment

Post by vsssm27 »

Hi Doug
When I was an apprentice truck mechanic inthe late 70's
My Manager always told Me not to oil or grease leaf springs as this would increase the risk of breaking the leaves.
Most leaf springs fracture rather than rust away ,so not much you can do about it.
I dont think this applies to you but we have more spring fractures now in cold weather on a range of trucks
and most often caused by sleeping Policemen or pot holes.
The best advise I could give is just a coat of paint on the outside .
best regards
from a Freezing Salisbury UK
Steve :)
User avatar
Robin Jones
Posts: 655
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2007 20:02
Location: Maple Heights/North Royalton, Ohio, USA

Re: Leaf spring treatment

Post by Robin Jones »

Doug,
Look for a trailer with torsion axles.....
This is Matt Jones Son of Robin.
User avatar
Doug G
MMC Member
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 14:44
Location: Caribbean

Re: Leaf spring treatment

Post by Doug G »

Robin Jones wrote:Doug,
Look for a trailer with torsion axles.....


I think I will keep this for a while. The replacement springs on all four positions will cost about US$250.00.

The original cost of the trailer - here - was, =/- US$3,700.00
8)
Having a moking good time!
Post Reply

Return to “Side Scream”