Spring Lube ?? Additional....

J

jb-ob

Well-known member
For those who followed and contributed to a recent thread on lubing springs, I'd like to add this.


'Ford Motor Company'
August 2, 1929
Weekly Service Letter (Chicago)


Spring Lubrication


"We received a number of front and rear springs which are returned as defective, the statement being made they are weak. Our inspections shows that they have been over lubricated with penetrating oil and that the interleaf friction is lost, with the result that the spring fatigues. We therefore urge the use of Spring Covers for proper spring lubrication, and the discontinuance of excessive spraying with penetrating oil, as springs affected in this way can not be considered defective."




So don't excessively lube and the "loss of interleaf friction resulting in spring fatigue" might explain why the manufacturers of new replacement springs suggest not lubing them today ???
 
"Ford Motor Company'
August 2, 1929
Weekly Service Letter (Chicago)


Spring Lubrication


"We received a number of front and rear springs which are returned as defective, the statement being made they are weak. Our inspections shows that they have been over lubricated with penetrating oil and that the interleaf friction is lost, with the result that the spring fatigues. We therefore urge the use of Spring Covers for proper spring lubrication, and the discontinuance of excessive spraying with penetrating oil, as springs affected in this way can not be considered defective."

WHAT A CROCK.
 
Yet in 1936 Ford introduced a fitting and oil grooves in the leaves to be lubricated with "spring" lube, which was ice machine oil(77%), talc, and a dash of ground asbestos, talc is a dry lubricant and polishing agent, ice machine oil is about the consistency of auto trans fluid----
Since I have been lubricating the springs with atf the ride has improved, handling on rough roads better, tires are staying on the road --- good trade off for perhaps less spring life, the nearly worn out front spring has survived 80 some years, if I only get 40 years out of a new one I will be happy ---- of course I have properly working shocks
 
Hello to each other,



I worked at Ford in quality control until the 70's. The individual leaf springs for rear axles were phosphated to better glide. After that they were "gebondert" bound several different layers. In addition, to enable life-long sliding lubrication and to prevent corrosion.



Thin nylon inserts had the main purpose of not squeaking.


(I coated the new spring leafes with anti friction paint.)
 
LeafSpringGaiters.jpg
 
My understanding is that sometime in the mid to late fifties the springs began to be made out of a different steel. The new springs are supposedly not to be oiled or greased. I personally do not understand this next part but if you oil or grease them it will somehow change the molecular makeup of the steel and will prematurely weaken them. Greasing or oiling before the change was recommended.
As a side note if you are sanding or grinding the springs you are supposed to go length wise only, otherwise it will weaken the spring.
Mike
 
I have a 1959 Triumph Tr3 along with the factory service manual. The manual states that the rear leaf spring should be painted with the used drain oil to provide rust protection.
On the Triumph Forum there is no disagreement on this practice. I have always lubricated my Model A springs.
 
Leaf springs are designed to have a certain amount of friction between the leaves. It is not an apples to apples comparison between the springs on Model A's and Ford V8's.
 
watch "Watch How Its Made" making leaf springs, no lube between leaves, and once assembled, dipped in paint,
 
I think you some of you guys are trying to compare now with then. We are talking about Model A's here not modern cars. The reason to use covers is to keep the springs clean and lube in.
 
I do not oil my springs on a regular basis,but when I do oil them I notice a much better ride over bumps. Even the Posie rear spring on my roadster was much better riding with oil.
I use LPS chainmate spray.

John
 
I recently rode in a friends '30 Town Sedan, a similar car to mine. I could not believe how harshly it rode. When I asked if he ever lubed his springs he replied "You're not supposed to lube leaf springs". Not worth the discussion for me because I know he is set in his ways but my Town Sedan rides so much nicer than his. I think the only suspension he had was the flattening of his tires when we hit a bump in the road.

Think I'll stick with my lubed springs, gaiters and Stipe Shocks
 
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