How to Determine If Trailer Leaf Springs Have Been Overloaded

Updated 05/29/2018 | Published 05/25/2018

Question:

Noticed the leaf springs had hose clamps all four broken around the frame and the spring on both sides. Are they necessary? Or was that just to hold them in place when installing?

asked by: Vince P

Expert Reply:

On a leaf spring the metal band that wraps around the bundle of steel leaves is intended to remain in place after installation. If your trailer's leaf springs now have hose clamps installed around them this could indicate that at one time the springs were over-loaded and that band was forced off or broken.

If when you remove those hose clamps the springs' leaves separate from each other then I suggest replacing all of the springs on the trailer.

You always want to replace both springs on an axle. If you only change one spring on an axle you can get axle alignment and trailer tracking problems.

Also note that a worn spring when measured will often tend to be longer than when it was new. So, for instance, if you pull a spring from the suspension and measure an eye-to-eye distance of 25-1/2-inches that spring when new may actually have been shorter, say 25-1/4-inches like # e34SR. Also be sure to select springs that match the weight capacity of the axle, which is usually found on the axle tube sticker or plate.

expert reply by: Adam R