Stupid Leafspring question

[CUDA JAS]

Is there any way to tell if leafsprings are worn out when they are off the car? 

Jas

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I seriously doubt it. Putting the weight of the car on them is the only way I can see.

[mojavered]

I doubt that this will yield any results, but you can place them side-by-side (with bushing ends on ground) and if one is taller than the other, you can assume that one is flattening out.  It would be nice to set them up next to new and see how they stand up?  Maybe you can get a measurement from Firm Feel or someone and they can tell you what the height is from ground to center on new ones, then you will know if yours are worn or not.  You can always take them to a spring shop, see what they say.

[Bullitt-]

Just pulled my rear w/springs today... I laid a strait metal brace across the top of the eyelets, measuring just behind the axle, where I could clear the sway bar brackets, to the bottom of the spring is just over 8 inches..  This is a '73 Ralley with 50K miles

[Aussie Challenger]

  Only can tell when the weight is on them, old soft springs will usually line up about the same. Brand new springs will have a greater arch until they have settled in.   

[HP2]

Stand them on the floor with the eyes down and measure the arch from the floor to the main leaf. Then stand on them and have some one measure the arch again. Then divide your weight by the amount of spring deflection. This gives you the rate. Once you know the rate, you can approximate how close to original your springs are. The original rate will vary depending on how many leaves you originally had and/or the model of the car. Original spring rates varied from 120 to 165 pounds per inch. 

Simply measuring arch is a touchy subject as you can have light weight springs with lots of arch that will settle in nearly flat when installed or some heavy springs with very little arch that do not settle much at all. Free arch of 4 to 8 inches in stock springs is not unusual.

[Chryco Psycho]

 

[acudanut]

Will simply adding more springs work, to raise the rear??

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes add a full length leaf under the main leaf