when to replace leaf springs

[spotfin]

My double axle trailer is 9 yrs old, has about 12000 miles on it. I'd like to avoid leaf spring failure and don't want to invest in one of those contraptions to save the trailer and boat if the leaf spring breaks. Does anyone have any guidelines on when to replace the springs? I'm also afraid if I replace them I might end up with replacement springs from China which may not last as long. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Bigbassmike]

I have a 1984 Ranger 372v with a lot of miles on it. I have used the boat every month since it was new. I had to replace my leaf springs several years ago. They did not break but several of my fellow bass club members did have thiers break with only 5-8 years on them so I got worried. The problem with mine is I let the trailer repair guy tell me I needed stronger and bigger leaf springs and it raised my boat up a couple of extra inches and made it harder to reach the compartments and climb in. I would recommend using the same size don't upgrade to bigger ones. I would think that you have gotten enough miles on the ones you have and if you are mechanically inclinded you could change them yourself fairly easy.

[mark poulson]

I had the spring on the same side of my trailer break twice.
Fortunately, it was a Tracker 175, which is very light, and I was able to block the trailer up off the axle, and limp home.
The first time, I replaced them both with stronger springs, from China. I went down to a spring supplier in Long Beach, and picked them up myself. I figured a leaf spring is a leaf spring.
It did raise the boat about three inches, which actually made it easier to launch and retrieve, and it drove just fine.
But that Chinese spring broke after only one year, on the same side that had broken before,
I replaced both springs again, with the stronger springs, but from my local Merc. mechanic's trailer parts supplier. I had him order them for me, and I put them on myself again. The trailer supplier is a big outfit, and he said they only use quality parts. Those spring lasted until the trailer got totaled on the freeway.
I'd be sure to buy from a well known trailer supplier, not out of the yellowpages or off the internet.
If you garage your boat, make sure raising the boat by going to stronger springs won't affect your clearance when you back in under the overhead door.

[drrakruz]

The fact that you have a tandem axle is saving wear and tear on your springs. The main issue that a lot of people neglect is to inspect the nylon bushings that sit in the eyelet at each end of the springs. Once those wear out, you are running metal on metal. I just replaced all my bushings, shackle brackets, bolts, nuts and both rockers, as most of them were riding "metal to metal". PacWest Trailers in Sac had everything I needed. I was lucky to get out of there for about $150.

Hope this helps.

[chf8500]

We work on and build quite a few trailers in my shop, per say there is no given time limit on how long springs will last, best advice I can give is to check them periodicly for bushing wear, u-bolt tightness, and any type of cracking. one more thing, if they show heavy pitting or deep rusting time to change em. a good supply store should beable to fix you up with a quality replacement

[bustout]

mine broke and the replacements had more leafs in them. since they were stiffer (higher load rating), I had to replace all four springs. boat trailers on the road much better than before

this was on my deep v bay boat. my bass boat is a nitro and It has single leaf springs...the trailer mfg for by bay boat said that he has repaired many nitro trailers for that same reason. my nitro is a 95 and so far so good but it is something that I should get around to and fix.

[mark poulson]

We work on and build quite a few trailers in my shop, per say there is no given time limit on how long springs will last, best advice I can give is to check them periodicly for bushing wear, u-bolt tightness, and any type of cracking. one more thing, if they show heavy pitting or deep rusting time to change em. a good supply store should beable to fix you up with a quality replacement

Both times they broke, my springs broke in the middle, right at the locater pin hole.
It looked to me like they weren't tempered properly, or had become brittle from friction as I trailered.
Should I/we be lubing our springs somehow, like with WD40, to cut down on the heat caused by friction during trailering?

[BassManDan]

That's exactly why I love the torsion axle on my trailer

[JDBASS]

One thing is for sure, China won’t be selling any leaf springs from this forum. I have a 2013 Nitro Z9 with quite a few trips. I need new actuator and my leafs have to be worn out. What manufacture for leaf springs are considered the best? I’m in Los Angeles. Any help is always great. Thanks

[JVGondal]

In my case the springs wore out and sagged enough that the trailer tires rubbed the fender
Set of new springs resolved the fender rub