What Happens if Trailer Leaf Spring Shackle is Almost Flat

Question

Question:

Hello, when I ordered my new leaf springs I measured the existing mounting holes but didnt account for any sag once the load was put on them. The shackles are pushed pretty far to the rear after the jack was lowered. Do you think this will be OK?

asked by: Tom L

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Trailer Axle Suspension
(click to enlarge)

Expert Reply:

Hey Tom, thanks for the picture. So the problem will be that when you hit a bump the spring will run out of room to flatten out so the suspension will essentially get very hard at that point and the trailer will bounce pretty hard. I would recommend going with a shorter length spring or moving your hangers out further.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

Hi Bruce, To lift your trailer we'll first need to check of the suspension and see if you have torsion axles or a leaf spring suspension. If you have torsion axles then I'll need to see the axle tag in order to determine what you have so I…

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Answer 2

Although we do not have spacer blocks of that dimension we have an option for you that will allow you to lift your trailer with what is called an over/under conversion kit. This moves your trailer's leaf springs to the top of your axle and lifts…

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Answer 3

There is no exact way to determine the leaf spring length. The best way to determine the length for a replacement is by measuring the existing leaf springs. The hanger distance and shackle length can help you get a good idea, but you're looking…

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Answer 4

A 13 inch trailer wheel is likely going to use 1/2 inch lug nuts. The torque spec is the same for a 13 inch wheel whether it is steel or an alloy wheel; 75 to 85 foot pounds. I have included a picture with a handy chart with torque values for you as…

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Answer 5

Leaf springs are indeed supposed to flex and will flatten out some when under load. This reduces the distance from the top of the axle to the underside of the trailer above it. There isn't a specific distance this has to be but if the trailer is…

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Answer 6

For a wheel bearing grease that is compatible with an aluminum-complex base grease and you would want UltraLube Biobased LMX Red Grease #L11390. This grease is lithium-complex based and is compatible with aluminum-complex based greases. I attached…

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Answer 7

You are indeed right to think this way. When picking out the appropriate leaf springs for your custom built trailer you will want to choose them based on what the actual loaded weight of the trailer will be. Just make sure that the leaf springs have…

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Answer 8

Our trailer leaf springs are rated for dynamic axle load. Which means the capacity listed but in use on the highway under normal circumstances. Since your trailer is 2,200 lbs loaded you want to go for a spring capacity 2,200 lbs or slightly higher.…

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Answer 9

If you are not having any issues with the trailer bottoming out, and the springs are the same as how they left the factory, then you shouldn't have any issues as some leaf springs are flatter than others depending on the rating of the spring.…

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Answer 10

Yes, you can use 4-leaf springs in place of 3 leaf springs. The extra height of an additional leaf is minimal and won't really affect anything on the trailer. Provided that the springs used are replaced in pairs and not just one side of the…

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Answer 11

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 12

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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What Happens if Trailer Leaf Spring Shackle is Almost Flat

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