leaf springs rebuild
 

Going to do a gear change in my front Dana 44 and will be rebuilding the springs with new bushings and shackles. will have the leafs apart to clean the 50+ years of rust and dirt out.

anything special to do to them? Any special paint or coating?

Re: leaf springs rebuild
 

I would used frame paint or powder coat for the springs.

Re: leaf springs rebuild
 

Not sure if it's related. You may have seen the spring swap that I just finished. I found a stock set of 05 ish rear springs and a "rebuilt" set of '74 rear 52" 1/2 ton springs that had been powder coated. The 52"s are the ones that I run on the front. Well I just noticed last week that the bottom leaf of one of the packs that I bought has a crack about 4-5" from the end. Not too concerned at the moment but I am keeping an eye out for another set of springs. I have no idea if the baking process of powder coating had anything to do with the crack but the next set will be painted or original rust color for me to go through. The rear springs are factory painted. If the rear springs would have cracked, I think they would have done so by now. As far as I'm concerned, I think they have passed my abuse test.

Re: leaf springs rebuild
 

probably will just wire wheel them and maybe some epoxy paint. Don't think the power coat oven would heat treat the leafs? 400*

Re: leaf springs rebuild
 

You know, I have no idea. I would have thought that they get much hotter when they are being tempered but really I have no clue. My cracked spring could be a complete one off as well?