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Motortech Tyre Shine 400g

Protect and shine tyres, bumpers and trims with this Silicone rich Tyre Shine from Motortech.

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Car Leaf Springs

The leaf spring has been around for hundreds of years. They have been using them on carts pulled by horses well before the car was even dreamt of. Their function or purpose has not changed since those days. They increased ride comfort dramatically by softening the bumps between the axle and the body. This also allowed a faster travel speed.

They were immensely popular in early cars being used as front (transverse leaf spring) and rear suspension until independent front suspension relegated them to the rear of the vehicle. With the push into front wheel drive there was no need for a heavy solid axle in the rear so the leaf spring got replaced by a coil spring or strut working independently like the front suspension. Nowadays you mainly find them on large 4WD's or trucks as coil springs, struts and airbags have taken over.

They are still commonly used in trailers and caravans as they are a cheap simple design. With mounting eyelets at each end and a number of spring steel leafs clamped together between them that is a leaf spring.

Popular Questions Asked

How many years do leaf springs last?

It is dependent on mileage and the types of roads you travel on and if a goods vehicle the loads you carry. They are very reliable and on sealed good roads will last decades. If not, maybe 5 to 10 years. A quick visual inspection or if the spring is making noises is all you need to check them.

Do leaf springs need maintenance?

Being simple not much goes wrong. The most obvious is sagging, when they start to lose their tension and droop. Since you have one on each side of the vehicle you may notice a lean to one side or the other. Noise coming from them can be worn eyelet mounting bushes or even a cracked leaf. The joy is they are simple to replace though they are heavy. You may need help removing and installing them. If you need to replace one through wear and tear, I suggest replacing both of them.

How do I stop my leaf springs squeaking?

A lot of leaf springs have pads at the end of each leaf to stop the metal to metal contact with the leaf above it. If any of these are missing it can cause a squeak. Simply replace the pad. The bushes at either end also squeak, especially as the rubber gets hard with age. Replace them if cracked or split. Spring alignment can also cause it. Each leaf should fit squarely above the one below it. A light tap with a hammer can realign them. You can use a spray on silicone grease to help stop the squeak or to help identify where it is coming from.