I know welding a leaf spring is usually a no no, but I would like your thoughts on this.
I sliced a small cut into the edge of my main leaf on my 63" chevy springs with a 4 1/2" cuttoff wheel. Its pretty small, like 1/8"h x 1/8"w x 1/8"d but its on the corner of the spring. If I just weld it up and grind it smooth is it for sure going to cause a crack in the spring, or do you think it will be ok? I just wanna know if I am better off replacing the main leaf or welding up the small cut in the old one. I'd rather not find out on the trail.
Thanks.
just leave the cut, its safer than the weld. if you wanna get anal retentive you could smooth the edges of the cut to try to get rid of some stress risers but personally I would just leave it.
thats what I figured, thanks guys. I just had this thought after wrestling with removing the stock rubber bushings from a new main leaf.:barf: I was so pissed off I was hoping for some reason it might work. :laughing:
I have a replacement, I just figured if I could weld it and have it not be a stress riser and break than it would be easier than pulling those shitty rubber bushings and metal sleeves from the stock one.
BTW I have been to many pick n pulls and I have only seen a pair of 63" springs once. They are always stripped by the time I see them.
1/8"x1/8"x1/8"? That's just a knick in it. I'm running 30 year old cruiser springs and I'm sure they have way more out of them from the rust that was eating away at them before I rebuilt them.
Just replace it. I know it might last forever if you just leave it alone. But trust me you have the spare so change it. If you don't it will haunt you every time that you go out. It will always be in the back of your mind "Is it going to break this time". Save yourself the headache dude.
I have replaced the spring, thanks for everyones insite. It was one of those things you know is wrong but it helps to be told so by others, so thanks
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