Ford Transit leaf spring - the basis of a van's suspension

The leaf spring for the Ford Transit is an elementary suspension component in a van. The Ford Transit uses semi-elliptical leaf springs. Depending on the model, the leaf spring can have a different number of leaves, also known as lags (layers). Among the leaf springs for the Ford Transit are: 3-leaf spring, 2-leaf spring and 1-leaf spring, the so-called single leaf spring. In older Ford Transit models (MK2 and MK3), the leaf spring was also used in the front suspension. In newer models they have been replaced by wishbones. In our shop you can find used leaf springs and new leaf springs for your Ford Transit. We have a wide range of high quality leaf springs that have been manufactured in Poland.

Ford Transit leaf springs - construction

The leaf springs used on Ford vans can be part of the front end of the vehicle, or part of the rear suspension. The Ford Transit leaf spring is made of spring steel and usually consists of flat bars arranged parallel to each other. The leaf spring for the Ford Transit consists of the following parts:
- leaf spring main leaf,
- leaf spring sub-leaf,
- leaf spring rubber,
- leaf spring hanger,
- heart (central point of the leaf spring),
- bushings.

Why do you need a leaf spring in a Ford Transit?

The primary function of the leaf spring in the Transit is to dampen vibrations that are transmitted through the chassis to the vehicle body. When the van encounters a bump in the road, this is absorbed by the vehicle's shock absorbers and leaf springs. In addition, the leaf spring is responsible for supporting the Ford Transit's body and keeping it at a specific height. Due to its design, the leaf spring also absorbs the forces acting on the vehicle during braking and acceleration. The heavier the load on the Ford Transit, the more leaflets the leaf spring should have.

Ford Transit leaf spring assembly

The leaf spring for the Ford Transit is fitted to the underside of the van. Depending on the version of the Transit, the leaf spring can be fitted either at the front of the vehicle or at the rear. The leaf spring is either mounted to the drive axle using dowels (stirrups) or to the body using a spring hanger. The leaf spring on a Ford Transit is usually mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

What do I need to know when buying a leaf spring for my Ford Transit?

- distance from bushings to centre,
- width of the leaf spring at the heart ,
- thickness of the leaf spring at the middle ,
- diameter of bushings ,
- total lenght of leaf spring .
Remember that your spring may have deformed over the years and its length will be different. Be guided by the distance from the bushings to the centre of the leaf spring.

Broken ford transit leaf spring – main reasons

- worn shock absorbers that are unable to dampen body movements on uneven roads,
- overloaded vans lead to accelerated wear and tear or even fracture of the leaf springs,
- cracked leaf spring bushings for ford transit ,
- very low temperatures affect the strength and breakage of the ford transit leaf spring.