The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Powdercoat Leaf Springs?

Can the leaf springs be powdercoated without takeing them all apart? I'm wondering if the coating will crack. Cecil...........

I wouldn't coat them: they are supposed to bend and powder coat doesn't, so it will crack. Taking them apart won't help for the same reason.

51Jimmy ... I would also advise not to powdercoat your leafsprings. The leafsprings are tempered and when powdercoating they heat them up to 375 - 400 degrees. Unfortunatley it is near the threshold to distemper the metal. For money sake and saftey sake I wouldn't powdercoat them.

I painted mine and they turned out really good.

Also you can do a search on this topic there have been several long posts concerning this subject.

I used POR-15 on mine, no cracks yet. I did take them apart, however. Zoero-Rust would be a good choice too, I've heard much good input on that product.

Thanks guys, you convinced me to paint them. I will take them apart. Cecil......

I used zero rust on mine!!!! When they chip I can simply sand a little and spray it to new again!

I took my springs apart, sand blasted them next, then used epoxy urethane primer with a black urethane enamel for color. This has worked great and is tough. You can color the primer with a bit of black.

How hard are the leaf springs to take apart?

They sell a special paint that is impregnated with graphite for leaf springs. I think it's called E-Z Glide or something. A friend of mine found it at a tractor supply type place,
Scott

To take springs apart, tighten a good sized C-clamp to the spring stack and remove the center bolt. To reassemble, get a longer center bolt, preferrably all-thread, and pull the springs back together. You may have to use the C-clamp to assist in pulling completely back. Then hold the springs together with the clamp while you reinstall the center bolt/alignment pin.
Scott

Thanks Scott,I was concerned about the pressure.

The pressure is not to bad. Lay them on there side so the go out instead of up! You will have to bust the bolt off or torch it off. You can new center bolts at any trailer shop, spring shop, or even NAPA. They are a soft, threaded full length bolt. Once you get the bolt tight, cut off the extra and take a hammer to the remaining threads, it will keep the nut from backing off!

yes you can
if you get them out from under the truck
they are fairly easy to take apart
when i had mine redone i had a teflon type disk placed at the ends of all springs to make them quieter.

no i would NOT P/C ...... just spray paint them and touch up when needed

I put both my original '41 front springs in for repair with a local springmaker. Three weeks later I went back and showed me my old springs sitting on the floor and said "Theyr'e completely shot...every leaf has a star shaped crack developing and then there's nothing that can be done about it."
I told him to make new ones.
"I did he said, and brought them out" They looked great.
$400.
What could I say, I paid up.
And there's no powder coat going anywhere near them, I'll use POR 15.
Zacca

This explains all about powdercoating and springs. http://www.eatonsprings.com/powdercoating

I had them make my springs, they did a great job and really know there stuff. Reasonable price too.
Grigg