Can you add arch to a leaf spring??At home?

I had a main leaf built by a local spring maker back when the Fly was new. It has lost a lot of the arch I started with. I called the shop and they don't re-arch springs anymore. Can a guy add arch at home?

 

Yes. One leaf at a time with a press. Carefully.

 

Care to elaborate?

This is what I found.
http://www.eatonsprings.com/rearching.htm
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32681

 

Seen it done about 10 years ago by somebody who claimed to have done it a long time. Little at a time, tweaking short sections of the spring, not the whole leaf at once. Was hoping someone who knew more would chime in cause that's all I got.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90824
im thinking it would be similar to this.

 

I have seen several posts on here for reversing the arch of a spring. I would think you could use the same method to re-arch a spring.

 

I've changed the arch, and matched arches, of leaf springs with a 2lb. hammer and an anvil. You hammer on the inside of the arch against the anvil to increase the arch and the outside to decrease it, one leaf at a time. You don't have to hit it very hard, just move along the length and try to be even. It's noisy and you have to remember you're just moving it a little at a time, not trying to beat it into submission. I've done this to 4-5 cars over the years and haven't ever had a problem with the springs afterward.

 

Lay out the arch you want on the floor or cardboard. Use a piece of railroad iron (track) laid on its side. lay the spring arch down between the base and top of the railroad iron. Beat the hell out of the spring with a 2 lb hammer at the point between the two contact points of the iron. Work the entire length of the spring evenly. Keep repeating the process until the desired arch is met. Do each leaf one at a time. Forget about loping your mule for the next week. Oh yeah, Ear plugs and thick loves are helpful.

 

arched some with a worth tubing bender worked good , have also un arched some it worked good

 

Yeah check that link out. I've re arched and reversed spring eyes using a press the same way. worked fine.

 

It just pisses me off, cause it settled enough that my headers drag on the trailer when I back it off. I have to jack up the nose of the trailer to gain clearance.

 

I rearched mine using a press. Like most have already said - work a little at a time. I highly reccomend that you trace out the spring on something as a starting reference. They move pretty easy and if you're not carefull you'll have it all over the place.

 

Call Eaton Detroit Spring, Inc. (313) 963-3839. They re-erch any steel springs.

 

I thought about that, but I was kinda needing it quick, that's why I was looking locally.

 

Yep, that is how my dad and I did it back in the day. Works great, I held the spring and he hit it with a sledg hammer! I highly recomend the thick gloves.

Don