Leaf Springs

[cuhollow]

Has anyone ever had the leaf (sp?) springs on the trailer break? Last time I used the boat when I took the trailer out of the water after dropping the boat in the all 4 springs on one side were broken/rusted through in the middle between two U-bolts. The trailer is only 2 years old.

[mikie]

Happened to me a couple of times. When I changed the broken one the first time, I went ahead and put 2 new ones on and carried the one remaining usable old one as a spare. When the spring broke, the trailer dropped and a bolt on the inside of the fender on a bracket hit the tire and ate it up. Upgraded the springs when I changed them, because the whole setup was borderline as far as weight capacity. They pretty much all break right in the center over or under the axle, however they're attached.

[Sandtiger]

mikie originally wrote:
Happened to me a couple of times. When I changed the broken one the first time, I went ahead and put 2 new ones on and carried the one remaining usable old one as a spare. When the spring broke, the trailer dropped and a bolt on the inside of the fender on a bracket hit the tire and ate it up. Upgraded the springs when I changed them, because the whole setup was borderline as far as weight capacity. They pretty much all break right in the center over or under the axle, however they're attached.

Each time I use the boat I wash my springs down with fresh water and spray them with Fluid Film. Going on 10 years nw without a problem.

[rj]

Yes I have had them rust through and break, but mine were much older,,at 2 years old you are either overloaded or have a defect.
to keep springs and other parts on your trailers from rusting away, i use a paintbrush and paint them with heavy axle grease once a year in the spring, since i have been doing this I haven't had a spring break or rust through in over 10 years.

the same thing with roller washers & hog rings and cotter pins.paint 'em with grease and they will never rust away