Many years ago I audited a spring manufacturer in Sheffield who were major players. They were developing valve springs for the Ford Zetec engine.
At that time, there was a huge problem with aftermarket MGB leaf springs, which just didn't last, and were rarely close on camber (with each other)from new.
I had a long chat to the technical director/engineer, who just laughed at the ridiculous situation, driven of course by owners wanting cheap replacement springs, and manufacturing going overseas..
He got out some of the technical drawings for MGB leaf springs, which they had once produced, and the specification was extensive. The bottom line is that unless the steel used is to the exact specification required, and tempered according to that specification, the spring may look like a spring, but it won't survive long.
Much later I took a pair of new MGB springs to a manufacturer in Rotherham, and had an extra leaf added, and a re-temper. It didn't even cost that much.
Even later, a trend emerged for "Parabolic" single leaf springs, but they went the way of other substandard springs and soon developed an "S" shape.
So this journey brought me to where I am now, and the modification of a new set of four leafers using Tribo tape. I won't dispose of the original six leaf springs. I will strip them down, and maybe remove a leaf, add Tribo tape and keep them as spares, just in case the four leafers don't last. The thing is, those six leafers from 2004 are still as new, but with a fairly unyielding ride. What fun it is to experiment!
