> Hi Kevin and Steve.
>
> A couple of years ago I persued the composite leaf springs on the Chevy
> Astro/GMC Safari van. If you look in the archives under my name you will
> find the results of my testing.
>
> The leaf spring will need to be "..cut down.." some yes, but in lenght
> only. It will need some bi-directional cloth wrappings to provide
> stability to the uni-dirctional fibers used in it, and to distribute
> landing loads at attach points.
>
> To remove the rubber components that are bonded to the composite spring,
> DO NOT USE HEAT! If your destroying the bond that holds the rubber to the
> composite, you're also destroying the bond in the composite. It doesn't
> take long with an 8" diameter, slow turning grinder and 40 or 36 grit disk
> to remove what's needed.
>
> I'm planning on using the composite leaf spring on the nose gear of my
> aircraft. The nose gear alone retracts on mine and the width of the
> spring will be an asset.
>
> Hope this helps. Contact me if you'd like to discuss this more.
>
> Peter Johnson
> Kenora, Ontario
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <tinya...@aol.com>
> To: <kr...@mylist.net>
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: KR> carbon fibre tail spring
>
>
>> Chevrolet Astro vans (some not all) had rear leaf springs that were
>> fiberglass. I bought a set out of the salvage yard and plan to use them
>> on a project for the main gear. They will require some cutdown to work
>> but it is easier to cut off then add on.
>> Kevin.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rsb...@hotmail.com
>> To: kr...@mylist.net
>> Sent: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 6:44 AM
>> Subject: Re: KR> carbon fibre tail spring
>>
>>
>> A while back we were talking about this on the VP list I think and
>> someone was talking about a
>> some small cheap car equipped with composite rear leaf springs. From the
>> way he talked they would be cheap and easy to come by and had more than
>> strong enough. I think he cut them at the arch and bolted them on. I
>> think I can dig it out if anyone's is interested.
>>
>> Might be worth looking into.
>>
>> Steve Bray
>> Jackson, Tennessee
