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Does anybody make galvanized leaf springs? (Old Thread)
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Of course that's the best solution but it's pretty drastic (and expensive) on an existing trailer. If you're buying a trailer, that's the best way to go.
For what its worth almost all boat trailers here in australia come with hot dipped galvanised springs. We just sold our old boat with galvanised spings and they had no rust on them after 7 years. Both of our boats currently have galvanised springs too.
I just coated mine with wheel bearing grease when I installed them 5 years ago, and give em a spray with corrosion block every season or so, seems to keep em pretty rust free.
__________________ 1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.0/NV 242 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
5.7 HEMI/Quadradrive II
For what its worth almost all boat trailers here in australia come with hot dipped galvanised springs. We just sold our old boat with galvanised spings and they had no rust on them after 7 years. Both of our boats currently have galvanised springs too.
Cheers
can you give us the brands of these trailers? i thought galv. springs were impossible.
__________________ Top Gun 1992 Donzi 22 Classic 454 King Cobra
I have painted wheel bearing grease on the springs with a brush once or twice a year for over 14 years on the same trailer used in a hypersaline bay system and am on the same springs that came on the target trailer in 1977. I have used the same process on other trailers with the same result.
rwidman - Interesting! Thanks for the tip - I have heard of these before but was not able to get a line on them. I called the company owner yesterday and it seems that it is a relatively small operation. Also, each leaf spring design (type, length, capacity, needs to be designed and then tooling built leading to an expensive part.
I forwarded this info to our Purchasing Mgr.
__________________ Eastern Marine/Trailer Parts Superstore www.easternmarine.com
1-800-453-7379
rwidman - Interesting! Thanks for the tip - I have heard of these before but was not able to get a line on them. I called the company owner yesterday and it seems that it is a relatively small operation. Also, each leaf spring design (type, length, capacity, needs to be designed and then tooling built leading to an expensive part.
I forwarded this info to our Purchasing Mgr.
I just remembered someone else mentioning it somewhere and did a web search. I don't know if they are any good or not.
Now if you start marketing them they might turn into a larger operation!
I picked up some new galv springs from a trailer manufacturer yesterday. Whilst there I asked them about any problems they had seen with the galv springs. The reply was that they used to see some issues with the galv cracking, but that the latest generation of galv springs had given them no problems. Unfortunately, they couldn't tell me what process was being used to apply the galv, so I can't share any more than the basic feedback.
As stated earlier Galvanised springs and axels are common here in Australia.
Have had my boat and trailer 11 years mostly salt water use with minimum drive 200Klms to get to the water.
No corrosion in springs or axel to this point.
Some where on another forum, a person mentioned a single leaf spring to replace the multi leaf springs. Advantages to the single leaf, would be it would only get the normal surface corrosion and not water retention between leafs, which usually is what destroys leaf springs. Life could be much longer if any reasonable care was done on them. Sorry no link to any info on them.
Fiberglass springs, like the ones on my Corvette, I wonder if they will hold up under harsh conditions, I had to replace the front spring on my Corvette because it delaminated and the cause was, I was told by many, some how some chemicals on it, like tire cleaner, and chemicals can cause the delamination. I know it is BS because no one touches my Vette but me and the dealer, but that is what I was told.
__________________ If you think Education is expensive, try ignorance.
I picked up some new galv springs from a trailer manufacturer yesterday. Whilst there I asked them about any problems they had seen with the galv springs. The reply was that they used to see some issues with the galv cracking, but that the latest generation of galv springs had given them no problems. Unfortunately, they couldn't tell me what process was being used to apply the galv, so I can't share any more than the basic feedback.
On the TV show "How It's Made", a recent episode showed steel being galvanized by dipping it in molten zinc. I believe that's the only way it can be done.
I picked up some new galv springs from a trailer manufacturer yesterday. Whilst there I asked them about any problems they had seen with the galv springs. The reply was that they used to see some issues with the galv cracking, but that the latest generation of galv springs had given them no problems. Unfortunately, they couldn't tell me what process was being used to apply the galv, so I can't share any more than the basic feedback.
On the TV show "How It's Made", a recent episode showed steel being galvanized by dipping it in molten zinc. I believe that's the only way it can be done.
Thanks rwidman, I am aware of the 'traditional' hot dip method, but would have thought that this might affect the temper of the springs. I am assuming that they have worked out a new technique that protects the temper somehow, and this is what I was trying to find out. Based on the feedback that "they used to have problems with the galv cracking, but not anymore", I assume that someone has been a bit clever with improving the process.
Aliboy - 10/27/2007 4:17 PM ..........I am assuming that they have worked out a new technique that protects the temper somehow, and this is what I was trying to find out. Based on the feedback that "they used to have problems with the galv cracking, but not anymore", I assume that someone has been a bit clever with improving the process.
Gee, someone oughtta tell the steel industry about it, because they don't know about it..... They still use the hot-dip method in every steel mill in this world.... Please explain 'cracking', I'm betting you actually mean flaking. Flaking is caused by the steel not being the right temperature, properly pickled (cleaned) or left in the zinc tank too long....
Aliboy - 10/27/2007 4:17 PM ..........I am assuming that they have worked out a new technique that protects the temper somehow, and this is what I was trying to find out. Based on the feedback that "they used to have problems with the galv cracking, but not anymore", I assume that someone has been a bit clever with improving the process.
Gee, someone oughtta tell the steel industry about it, because they don't know about it..... They still use the hot-dip method in every steel mill in this world.... Please explain 'cracking', I'm betting you actually mean flaking. Flaking is caused by the steel not being the right temperature, properly pickled (cleaned) or left in the zinc tank too long....
Just quoting what the trailer guys said to me. I don't have the answer, but would like to find out! Anyway, the new springs will be on the trailer tomorrow, and the other trailer with 18mth old sgalv prings still looks like new (no cracking:-). Whatever they are doing seems to work.
I have been using the tar based soundproofing spray from the local auto parts store for years. It is black and oily and easy to apply with the boat off. It has worked well for me and is easy and cheap. It takes about a day to completely dry to the touch. You will eventually get some rust between springs where you cant get the spray in, but it will not spread easily.
RE: Does anybody make galvanized leaf springs? 
