Our 2000 Dodge Dakota has a broken leaf spring on the driver side, it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle. What is the best way to fix this? I didn't find any new ones on RockAuto or Autozone, so I could either pull one off another Dakota at Pull-a-Part, or have it welded.
Thanks Matt
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06:05 PM
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87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
Our 2000 Dodge Dakota has a broken leaf spring on the driver side, it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle. What is the best way to fix this? I didn't find any new ones on RockAuto or Autozone, so I could either pull one off another Dakota at Pull-a-Part, or have it welded.
Thanks Matt
Damn, you're right? I just searched Rock Auto cause I was like... there's no way you can't buy it... and sure enough, no leaf springs.
It's defintely not worth welding... have you tried eBay? Maybe you're only option is to go aftermarket?
JC Whitney might have them too... check out JEGS also to see if they have some "performance" ones...
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06:13 PM
87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
Originally posted by mattwa: *snip* it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle.
*snip* I could either pull one off another Dakota at Pull-a-Part, or have it welded.
Thanks Matt
You will have to go the pick-a-part route if you can't find a vendor for a new one. The Dealer will probably be able to get you a new one.
DO NOT weld it. It is spring steel and the weld will not hold. I mean yes, you will get the weld to stick and the 2 pieces will be one again but the temper of the steel will be changed and the weld and steel near the weld will become crystalized (the carbon in the steel will crystalize due to the heat) and the result will be very brittle steel that will fracture and shatter as soon as you hit a bump in the road.
I am assuming by your thread title that it is the spring itself that is broken, not the shackle/hanger.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 06-18-2011).]
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06:22 PM
87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
It broke where it mounts to the frame.....That would be the hanger......
He says in his description:
"it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle."
Looking at a leaf spring, the circle is part of the spring that rests in the hanger with a bolt going through it. If it broke on that circle peice, that is the SPRING.
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06:29 PM
87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
"it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle."
Looking at a leaf spring, the circle is part of the spring that rests in the hanger with a bolt going through it. If it broke on that circle peice, that is the SPRING.
"it broke where it mounts to the frame in front of the rear wheel, and it just after where the spring starts to bend around in almost a complete circle."
Looking at a leaf spring, the circle is part of the spring that rests in the hanger with a bolt going through it. If it broke on that circle peice, that is the SPRING.
Correct.....go to a junkyard and hope for the best.
Edit......or Antuzzi has another idea up above me.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 06-18-2011).]
Abso-fracking-loutley !!!!..........I dont think ya could even find anybody to weld a leaf spring, or at least a sane anybody....thats just asking for it to snap under load and take out the entire back end as it goes bye-bye......
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06:49 PM
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cliffw Member
Posts: 37837 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
All well intentioned advice, good advice, but ... better yet : Large cities, have specialty spring shops. It is all they do. Many people buy new springs to replace saggy worn out springs yet a spring shop can re-arch them. Some can duplicate them or custom build them. A used spring, , not for me.
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07:03 PM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
All well intentioned advice, good advice, but ... better yet : Large cities, have specialty spring shops. It is all they do. Many people buy new springs to replace saggy worn out springs yet a spring shop can re-arch them. Some can duplicate them or custom build them. A used spring, , not for me.
Yes, a new spring would be best, but a broken spring can't be re-arched. Well, it could but then you'd have a re-arched broken spring. Now if it wasn't broken on the main leaf, then by all means take it to a spring shop and have them make and replace the broken leaf with a new one, repack and re-arch the spring. Sadly though, his description makes it sound as if the main leaf is broke.
A used spring would be the "cheap" fix but not the "best" fix.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 06-18-2011).]
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07:17 PM
cliffw Member
Posts: 37837 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
Originally posted by Khw: Yes, a new spring would be best, but a broken spring can't be re-arched.
Not suggesting it should be. It can be duplicated. Just as some companies make lift kits (different springs that will work and lift), a spring can easily be fabricated.
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07:34 PM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
Not suggesting it should be. It can be duplicated. Just as some companies make lift kits (different springs that will work and lift), a spring can easily be fabricated.
Why not? Every vehicle with 30, 000 miles is running on used springs. Now, if you are offroading the truck, ok, but otherwise, I'd be hitting the recycling yard.
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07:50 PM
cliffw Member
Posts: 37837 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
His is a 2000 year model. 30,000 miles ? My 05 Tacoma has 125,000 miles. As mentioned, they are failure prone. Me ? I would replace both sides. Especially while I am custom ordering.
Wow, was not expecting this much attention! I have since taken a picture of it. This is with it jacked up. As you can see, it is very much the spring that has broke.
Yes I now get the DO NOT WELD point, should of thought of that, Doh! Thanks for the new spring webpage antuzzi
BTW: This truck has 140K miles on it.
Edit: And to think we been driving it like this for who knows how long. At least 5k miles, we just didn't know about it till I jacked up the back end today.
[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-18-2011).]
Also, I noticed on the webpage tuzzi provided that the correct (year and model wise) replacement leaf springs have 5 leaves compared to the current 3. I understand this will increase load capacity, but would there be any differences in handling or ride stiffness with the extra leaves?
Also, I noticed on the webpage tuzzi provided that the correct (year and model wise) replacement leaf springs have 5 leaves compared to the current 3.
Are you sure? It looks like in the picture I can see 4.
The image on Antuzzi's link is probably a generic image. It looks to me like in the picture you have 3 full length springs and atleast 1 helper spring. The helper spring is still counted as part of the whole spring pack.
Like this one from a Dodge Dakota, although I'm not sure of year. It has 3 normal leafs with 1 helper for 4 leafs.
Granted that still doesn't get you to the 5 leafs his original link shows. Curious, I would think a 4X4 would use more leafs then its 2WD counterpart.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 06-18-2011).]
I'm sure you would. And a lot of guys can. But to do it correctly, annealling the spring, welding, and re-heat-treating, quenching, and tempering to restore the correct metallurgy? Very few people have that knowledge, or the correct equipment to do this kind of work. But technically, it could be done. For a RIDICULOUS amount of money.
We both are aware, Jake, that all that stuff has to be done. I just know I have no idea how to do it!
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01:13 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
I'm sure you would. And a lot of guys can. But to do it correctly, annealling the spring, welding, and re-heat-treating, quenching, and tempering to restore the correct metallurgy? Very few people have that knowledge, or the correct equipment to do this kind of work. But technically, it could be done. For a RIDICULOUS amount of money.
Exactly! For all that expense, just buy a new one.
We used to anneal AR plate so we could drill and form it and then re-heat-treat it at the machine/fab shop I worked at for 10+ years (among other metals). That's alot to go through and alot of expense.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 06-19-2011).]
All well intentioned advice, good advice, but ... better yet : Large cities, have specialty spring shops. It is all they do. Many people buy new springs to replace saggy worn out springs yet a spring shop can re-arch them. Some can duplicate them or custom build them. A used spring, , not for me.
best advice. its not that expensive. I had new leaf springs put in an old Lincoln for a few hundred dollars.
Wow, was not expecting this much attention! I have since taken a picture of it. This is with it jacked up. As you can see, it is very much the spring that has broke.
Yes I now get the DO NOT WELD point, should of thought of that, Doh! Thanks for the new spring webpage antuzzi
BTW: This truck has 140K miles on it.
Edit: And to think we been driving it like this for who knows how long. At least 5k miles, we just didn't know about it till I jacked up the back end today.
Just a bit of duct tape and you should be back on the road.
Well it's not that you have to replace them in pairs, but it's a good idea to do so, and most likely should be done.
Really?
The truck is 10 years old and springs sag with time. If you install just one new spring you'll have a noticably higher stance on one side of the truck and that'll throw off the steering and suspension. You don't replace only one spring on an older vehicle. If you broke a spring on your Fiero would you only replace one? Even though us Fiero owners are cheap as hell you don't replace just one.
I usually try to offer the proper repair techniques. If you want to replace only one spring, be my guest. It's not the proper way.
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04:55 PM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
Don’t do it, have it welded or weld it yourself. As a welder I have in the past welded one or two. Never wanted to, and always reinforced the weld with another leaf spring over the broken part. Surprisingly that have held for years.
You can’t do this in your case so brake down and buy a new one.
And yes everyone whop has said not to weld it has been right, it is never something that should be done, for the reasons already stated.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
The truck is 10 years old and springs sag with time. If you install just one new spring you'll have a noticably higher stance on one side of the truck and that'll throw off the steering and suspension. You don't replace only one spring on an older vehicle. If you broke a spring on your Fiero would you only replace one? Even though us Fiero owners are cheap as hell you don't replace just one.
I usually try to offer the proper repair techniques. If you want to replace only one spring, be my guest. It's not the proper way.
I have been down that road before and i agree, replacing one just means you will go back not long after and do the other .. and depending on the car and its age, the other 2 as well..
[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 06-20-2011).]
The truck is 10 years old and springs sag with time. If you install just one new spring you'll have a noticably higher stance on one side of the truck and that'll throw off the steering and suspension. You don't replace only one spring on an older vehicle. If you broke a spring on your Fiero would you only replace one? Even though us Fiero owners are cheap as hell you don't replace just one.
I usually try to offer the proper repair techniques. If you want to replace only one spring, be my guest. It's not the proper way.
Oh ok, you are referring to brand new springs, then yes that is certainly the right way to go. I was talking about used springs.
EDIT: JB weld and duck tape sounds good to me.
[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-20-2011).]
, not for me.
.
