SPRINGS This check is done on the springs which are used in

INSPECTION AND TESTING OF
SPRINGS
Springs will generally require little in the way of
maintenance. Those that are in exposed areas can
become corroded over time and those in areas of
high temperature can, if they become overheated,
lose their temper and cease to have the necessary
mechanical compliance to satisfy the task for which
they were designed.
It is important that any exposed springs are carefully
inspected for signs of corrosion and overheating.
Corrosion occurs on static springs and reduces the
capacity of the loads that the spring can carry. When
a spring carrying a cyclic load becomes corroded,
the combination of fatigue and corrosion results in a
serious loss of fatigue strength.
more critical services, such as piston engine valve
springs. A special test rig is used, to load the spring
with either a compressive, tensile or a torsional
loading and a meter on the rig will display the load
versus deflection figures. (Figure 10-1) A series of
loads are subsequently applied to the spring and the
relevant deflections noted.
Upon completion, the figures are compared to a
graph, published by the spring manufacturer, to
establish the serviceability of the spring.
If a spring fails any of these checks it is simply
replaced with a serviceable item.

Overheating is evidenced as blistering of the surface

protection and, in extreme cases, a change of color
of the metal due to the loss of temper. When
overheating is detected, it must be assumed that the
spring is not suitable for the designed task.

In some instances, springs have to be checked

against figures or graphs to prove whether they are
in a suitable condition to continue in service. Some
checks have to be done at prescribed intervals whilst
others are done on an 'opportunity basis', such as
when a brake caliper is dismantled for overhaul.

The most common check done on a coil spring is

static (length) measurement. The manufacturer Figure 10-1. A spring compression tester.
publishes the exact dimension of the unloaded
spring with a small range of tolerance. The servicing
technician accurately measures the length of the
spring and compares it to the published dimension.
If within tolerance limits, the spring is returned to
service.

Another common check, usually completed in a

workshop environment, is the load/deflection check.

10.2 Module 07 - Maintenance Practices