Anyone ever trim their leaf springs???

Fuddrucker · August 15, 2003

I got my new dual exhaust installed and now when I am off road, the corner of the bottom leaf spring taps the second pipe. I can see the marks on the pipe from where it taps it, and was thinking of trimming the corner of that one spring about 1/16th to 1/8 of an inch so it will not hit the pipe any more when driving on bumpy dirt roads.

Anyone think this will cause any problems. I don't want the pipe to get a hole worn through it, and re-routing it is not an option.

Thanks.

AirForceAngler · August 15, 2003

Very bad idea. And this would not be easy to do safely. Spring steel is VERY hard and would require a special saw. Any attempt to do it with a torch would ruin the whole spring by taking out the temper. It would be best to move or slightly dent the exhaust pipe.

awdvkd · August 15, 2003

Use a grinder and go slowly not to overheat the spring, The amount wouldn't take long to do. Grind for a few seconds at a time you will be OK.

cyclejerk · August 15, 2003

Use a grinder and go slowly not to overheat the spring, The amount wouldn't take long to do. Grind for a few seconds at a time you will be OK.

Grinder!!!

you will be fine.

EXJAY · August 16, 2003

ok, i'd live with it or wouldn drive on bumpy roads. no way would i

ever trim anything off like that just for a noise issue or a small worn out piece of the exhaust. take it back to the shop and have it fixed if thats such a big issue

AirForceAngler · August 17, 2003

You're free to do what you think is best, but I don't think that I would cut on a spring that has been precision developed for your truck when the problem could be fixed by a small amount of hammer action to the tail pipe.

The suspensions on today's vehicles are computer designed, to include length and rate, for the truck. When you consider what the manufacturers go through to reduce the weight of vehicles, there's a reason that that spring is as long as it is and is shaped like it is. If it could be shorter, it would be from the factory. To cut on it would compromise the suspension geometry.

Just my .02.