Replacement leaf spring size?

[Daryles]

We broke a spring over the summer. I replaced it.
Now that we are home I want to replace all the springs and hardware. The springs look kinda flat. 3 years old and 36,000 miles.
My axles are 7K Dexter axles with Lippert Road Armor Equalizers (factory installed).
With 3,500lb double eye 6 leaf 24, 7/8" long.

I bought 4 new 3,500lb 6 leaf springs at a local shop BUT they are 25 1/4" long.

My question is, will they fit properly being 3/8" longer each, which comes to 3/4" longer per side.

Or will the slack in the swing of the Shackle take up the extra 3/4"???

[jetskier]

I'd use the leveling system to take the weight off the springs. Then place a new one against the old and see if the additional length is due to more curvature (lift). The horizontal length between holes may be the same unloaded. As another check, see how close the old spring eye is to the equalizer body with the weight back on the springs. If you have some room there around the shackle, the 3/8" may not matter

[Randu]

Not positive but I think standard factory spring changed to 4000# on the 7000# axles in 2020. You may want to return the 3500 springs and upgrade all to 4000# .

[Lee-CI]

Our 2022 MHC came with 6k axles with 3500 lb springs. Not sure how the 7K axle units were equipped, but suspect similarly oversprung. Sorry but can't remember the year model of yours Daryle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6M3b-a2OyY

[Hblick48]

Interesting because my rig came from the factory with 6,000 pound axles and 2,500 pound springs. After having 2 break at different times, and tires wearing on the inside, I replaced with 3,000 pound springs. Tires no longer wear on inside.

[Daryles]

I like the idea of an 8K axle. When the time comes I will go that way.
My current GW is 11,080lbs. Max GW is 16K.
I like the 3500lb springs so the rig gets a softer ride (hopefully). I think going to 4K leaf springs would give it a harder ride.
I have read of many spring hanger welds failing and the hangers breaking off the frame. I'll be looking at reinforcing that sometime in the near future.

[Lee-CI]

These seem to be very cost effective for spring hanger issues. They are Lippert installed, but really nothing more than properly sized angle iron welded into place to beef up the spring hangers.
As in my signature line, I also went ahead and installed sumosprings and have been extremely pleased with their performance. To me they are a cross between a shock absorber and a graduated bump stop. So far no trim in the coach has rattled loose, all items have been riding well, as well as a noticeable decrease in lateral roll on exit and entrance ramps.

[Daryles]

Thanks Lee.
I found a good video on YouTube

How to prevent broken hangers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7er1SWbbGV0

1/4" thick, 2" wide, 7" long, 90⁰ bend

I will probably go this way. Gotta find a welder first.

[Lee-CI]

Thanks for posting a link to that video. To my way of thinking, that one should go in our files section. Much like myself, they guy is not a professional welder, but he did a really good job. I honestly believe this rather simple mod can alleviate a lot of problems with spring hanger issues. It is a lot cheaper than having old hangers cut off and having new HD hangers installed by a professional. Personally even then I would still have this mod done. Just my thoughts. I know there are other options, but to me this seems to be the best bang for the buck.

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by Daryles

We broke a spring over the summer. I replaced it.
Now that we are home I want to replace all the springs and hardware. The springs look kinda flat. 3 years old and 36,000 miles.
My axles are 7K Dexter axles with Lippert Road Armor Equalizers (factory installed).
With 3,500lb double eye 6 leaf 24, 7/8" long.

I bought 4 new 3,500lb 6 leaf springs at a local shop BUT they are 25 1/4" long.

My question is, will they fit properly being 3/8" longer each, which comes to 3/4" longer per side.

Or will the slack in the swing of the Shackle take up the extra 3/4"???

Your total spring length is only 3/8" longer than the original springs, so each shackle will only be spread 3/16" out at each end of the springs, which shouldn't make much difference. Not sure why they didn't give you the correct replacement springs, but I wouldn't worry about it if you replaced all with the same length springs.

[Djgrimaldi]

So how do you know what spring you have? There is no markings on them.

[Daryles]

Originally Posted by Djgrimaldi

So how do you know what spring you have? There is no markings on them.

Good question.
I'm just going off the size in the Dexter Axle Manual (in the files section -
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=45

I guess I will know for sure when I swap them out.
On the other hand, as I said before, they do look a little flat so the might measure longer than 24,7/8"