Leaf Spring rebuild, should i use new clamps?

[Jordb543]

Hi all,

im currently re-building my leaf springs, i will be all teflon tape/line inbetween then leaves and due to the added height on the pack this will give, as well as me breaking one of the original clamps (rebound clips) i will be making some new ones,

my idea was to make u shaped ones with a bolt through the top, however after doing some research i found that alot of people (mainly in the states not so much here in the UK) make the clamps bigger to allow around 1 inch on flex, instead of the original clamps which just keep them tightly compressed,

so basically im looking for some advice from people who have these clamps that allow flex, and people who have standard

Thanks Jord

 

[Alaska Mike]

I've rebuilt my springs, and I bent the originals into a U shape. I kinda wish I had've just gone with parabolics, because it was a lot of work to get them cleaned up and painted- not to mention removing the bushings. Still, with the teflon tape I hope to have a decent ride. If not, I can always spend more money...

 

[Antichrist]

When I've done mine I just reused the inner clamp as is, or larger one, but still kept the leaves together. For rear springs that have the larger clamp that doesn't retain them at rest, I've left it as is also.
What I have found is that rebuilding them when they've lost their load capacity, even with a new main leaf, generally isn't worth the effort.

 

[Jordb543]

I've rebuilt my springs, and I bent the originals into a U shape. I kinda wish I had've just gone with parabolics, because it was a lot of work to get them cleaned up and painted- not to mention removing the bushings. Still, with the teflon tape I hope to have a decent ride. If not, I can always spend more money...

i was thinking parabolics, but with the price of them compared to normal springs and the 50/50 split between lover and haters of them ive decided against them,

When I've done mine I just reused the inner clamp as is, or larger one, but still kept the leaves together. For rear springs that have the larger clamp that doesn't retain them at rest, I've left it as is also.
What I have found is that rebuilding them when they've lost their load capacity, even with a new main leaf, generally isn't worth the effort.

the back ones arnt the originals and have been prelaces sometime and regulary covered in waxoyl, and by the looks of it havnt had any load for too long a period on them, i could have just resprayed them as the rust was very minimal surface rust but i thought a full rebuild wouldn' do any harm,