Are my leaf springs broken? M101A2

[pbcolt]

Just picked up my M101A2! Pretty darn excited about it. I'm ordering a new axle for it and was looking at whether I could keep the leaf springs or not. On both sides, the third leaf from the top, it looks like it was "cut" for lack of a better word. See how the rest of the leaves have a tapered end and these just stop. Are they broken or is this just the way they were designed?

The top is in incredibly good condition - no tears, rips, clasps are in great condition.

 

[rustystud]

Just picked up my M101A2! Pretty darn excited about it. I'm ordering a new axle for it and was looking at whether I could keep the leaf springs or not. On both sides, the third leaf from the top, it looks like it was "cut" for lack of a better word. See how the rest of the leaves have a tapered end and these just stop. Are they broken or is this just the way they were designed?
View attachment 550855
The top is in incredibly good condition - no tears, rips, clasps are in great condition.

It's broken off. That is a common area for leaf springs to break, just ahead of the spring clamp.

 

[pbcolt]

It's broken off. That is a common area for leaf springs to break, just ahead of the spring clamp.

Thanks for the response. Well that's what I was afraid of. I was really hoping to reuse these. Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive replacement pack? The dexter 3500lb seems too cheap to be good.

If nothing else I'll go to a local spring manufacturer and see if they can make a single replacement leaf and see how long that holds up.

 

[rustystud]

Thanks for the response. Well that's what I was afraid of. I was really hoping to reuse these. Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive replacement pack? The dexter 3500lb seems too cheap to be good.

If nothing else I'll go to a local spring manufacturer and see if they can make a single replacement leaf and see how long that holds up.

The only problem with replacing just one leaf is all the other leafs are at a lower stage in their wear life ( less spring !) and this new spring will be "new" ( more spring ! ). It will effect how the spring acts especially on handling. Just get a new front set of springs.

 

[pbcolt]

The only problem with replacing just one leaf is all the other leafs are at a lower stage in their wear life ( less spring !) and this new spring will be "new" ( more spring ! ). It will effect how the spring acts especially on handling. Just get a new front set of springs.

Thanks. I know it might be a band-aid fix, but I don't have the budget at the moment for a $600+ new set of leaf springs. I'm wary to order the dexter ones.

 

[M543A2]

The spring people should be able to help you. They can look at your old spring and advise if it has broken or not by the way the end looks. They can advise also about the curve match, new to old. Give them a call or best go visit with your spring. They are the experts (I hope!)
Honestly unless you are going to load it really heavy I would not worry about the small end missing. You could also load it as heavy as you think you ever would and see if the springs on top of the two short end ones bend down over them, making a bit of a reverse curve. If they do, then it is wise to replace the one you suspect is broken. If the top leaves do bend down over it, running down the road loaded can cause the end of the short spring to eventually cut into the top spring.
Regards Martin

 

[harleyhouse]

The springs on my 1990 M101a2 are cut the same.
Both sides front and rear are flat trimmed at the wrap.
The other two leaves ate tapered.

 

[topo]

Are both sides the same ? To me it looks like made fork lift scraps?

 

[harleyhouse]

This trailer was overloaded causing the spring to flatten out and scrape the paint off the main leaf.
Should be just fine.