Grease leaf springs

[RestoreThemAll]

I watched part of a corvette restore last night on the tube. The leaf springs were rusty and dry. They cleaned up and painted the springs then packed with grease. They then wrapped them up with duct tape with the plan to drive that way for a few weeks to allow the grease to work it's way in between the leafs. Then remove the tape and wipe down the excess grease, as it would accumulate dirt. That's the first time that I've ever heard of greasing leaf springs. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I grease my BJ7 springs? Or is there a better alternative?

 

[Dave Russell]

Some old Brit cars had greased leaves with overwrapping.

Big Healeys originally had thin zinc sheets (interliners) between the leaves. Some replacement springs have nylon type interliners. Either type liner provides dry lubrication without the need for grease.
D

 

[steveg]

I installed new Daur springs a couple of years ago, which came without interleaves. I used 2" wide teflon tape as an interleaf. A friend used black 2" wide teflon window glide material, which came in a roll from a home improvment store. Both are permanent with no mess.

FWIW--the tape can be purchased from racing sailing outfits--I got it from Annapolis Performance Sailing in, wait for it, Annapolis, MD.

 

[RestoreThemAll]

Thanks for the info guys. I like the idea of dry lube rather than messy grease. That's the way I'll go.

 

[bob hughes]

I cleaned my grease off during a spring bearing replacement and they looked like new, probably replaced by a PO, then I tried to oil / grease them back up, wiping the excess away and found them rusting on the exposed surfaces at a later inspection, wire brushed and coated the outside with grease again.

I suppose I could have painted them up but I do not show mine, as long as the wire worm is kept at bay I'm happy

Bob