Author Topic: How to identify a broken leaf spring?  (Read 3811 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 5.4L to Freedom

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25
How to identify a broken leaf spring?
« on: February 02, 2009, 02:22:59 PM »
So another one of my threads indicated another T/A with the same symptoms as mine had a broken leaf spring... passenger rear wheel in the wrong location and body sag toward the right side. I crawled under there and poked my head around and all the leafs looked intact. What should I be looking for? Is it possible a bad spring bushing could present itself the same way?

Thanks
Erik

78 Trans Am featuring an unknown small block chevy and lots of issues
04 Ford Super Duty- tows the 78 T/A when necessary
81 Honda CB650- when gas is expensive...
24 pack of budweiser- when dealing with any of the above

Offline Hitman

  • Administrator
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8284
    • http://www.78ta.com
Re: How to identify a broken leaf spring?
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2009, 10:16:28 AM »
Well, if the leaf spring was broken, you would sure be able to tell.  It would be quite obvious that one is broken.  Also check out and compare sides to see if one side looks different than the other.
Brett Campbell
"Hitman"
www.78ta.com
1978 Trans Am

Offline stephendsp

  • Member
  • **
  • Posts: 122
Re: How to identify a broken leaf spring?
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2009, 12:56:58 PM »
I had 3 springs broke, both front, and pass rear. I couldnt tell they were bad. The pass was broke on the top in the middle, so i didnt know it till i had it off. Sometimes hard to tell, but have someone push on the car, and see how they flex.

Offline 5.4L to Freedom

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25
Re: How to identify a broken leaf spring?
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2009, 03:50:21 PM »
The rear right has a definite sag to it, the car has some pretty old air shocks on it so perhaps the right one doesn't hold air. The springs flex the same, but the right side make a hell of a lot of noise and feels funny going down the road. Where do these springs typically break at? could I have a leaf broken in between good leafs and just not be able to see it with the wheel on?
Erik

78 Trans Am featuring an unknown small block chevy and lots of issues
04 Ford Super Duty- tows the 78 T/A when necessary
81 Honda CB650- when gas is expensive...
24 pack of budweiser- when dealing with any of the above

Offline 79T/Aman

  • Member
  • **
  • Posts: 415
    • http://www.pro-touringf-body.com
Re: How to identify a broken leaf spring?
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2009, 08:54:20 AM »
often the spring will break within the confinds of the spring pads making it impossible to see