Leaf Spring Camber

So as not to hijack evanjm's thread on leaf spring restoration, I have started this new one. In the chart posted by Howard Eisenhauer in the above thread, there is a spec for "design camber". To me, camber is the tilting away from the vertical plane in a direction across the vehicle. What do they mean, for example, by 1 1/2" camber for CJ5 springs. Where is this measured? I always thought the springs flexed in a vertical plane. If they don't, how do they get the camber? Are the spring seats cambered? Are the springs cambered from top to bottom of the arch? Or am I just smoking the pipe too much? I can see that if things aren't nice and square, as I have always pictured in my mind, this could cause alignment problems if I swapped springs or moved the perches. I would have to keep everything in their original positions. :? :?

tommy b

 

I agree with you, poor terminology. To me, camber requires a third axis or dimension.

 

This was a term I never heard of before in relation to springs. I did a little Googling and it seems that Camber is another term for spring Arch. "Load to Attain Design Camber" seems to mean the amount of weight needed on a leaf spring to create a certain pre-loaded arch.

The following is a 'cut and paste' article I found on a website describing how the driver's side spring has more unloaded arch to compensate for the driver's weight:

Check your leaf spring selection to ensure you have the correct spring for your intended application. When fitting, the Military Wrap end of the leaf spring is always fitted to the fixed pin chassis mount point. (exception: Nissan MQ Patrol). Some Lovells leaf springs are marked D/S (Drivers Side) and P/S (Passenger Side). If springs are not marked, a quick way to distinguish between the two is: turn them up and rest on spring eyes along side each other. Push down in the centre of each to settle free camber, and pick the highest of the pair. The higher free camber spring is fitted to the drivers side of the vehicle. This is to offset the weight of the driver in many cases.

It sounds good to me.

 

Thanks! Gotta love that Google.

tommy b

 

Are you callin' me FAT???

 

Of course not, you're just short for your waist line.