PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Category A/B1

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

MODULE 7
Sub Module 7.10

SPRINGS

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014

PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Category A/B1

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

Contents
INSPECTION AND TESTING OF SPRINGS ----------------------- 1

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10 - i

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014

PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Category A/B1

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

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.
Corrosion that occurs on static springs can reduce the loads
that the spring can carry, whilst if a spring that carries cyclic
loads becomes corroded, then the combination of fatigue and
corrosion can result in a serious loss of fatigue strength.

The most common check, done on coil springs is on its static

measurement.
The manufacturer will publish the exact dimension of the
unloaded spring with some small tolerance, whilst the servicing
technician will accurately measure the springs length and
compare the two dimensions.
Providing that the spring is within the published figures, then the
spring is considered to be serviceable.

Overheating, usually shown as blistering of the surface

protection can, in extreme circumstances, show a change of
colour of the metal due to the loss of temper. It must be
assumed in this event that the spring is not suitable for the
designed task.
It is important that any exposed springs are carefully inspected
for signs of either of the problems of corrosion and overheating.
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 out at
prescribed intervals whilst others are done on an opportunity
basis, such as when a brake unit a hydraulic actuator is
dismantled for overhaul.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10 - 1

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014

PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Category A/B1

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

The other check, usually completed in a workshop environment,

is the load/deflection check.
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. A series of
loads are, subsequently, applied to the spring and the relevant
deflections noted.
On 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 by a
serviceable item.
Springs must be examined for:

Corrosion

Overheating

Fatigue checking / expected life measurement

Static Measurement

Load / Deflection Check

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10 - 2

Spring Testing Rig

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014

PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Category A/B1

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

Corrosion

Fatigue checking / expected life measurement

Corrosion, that occurs on static springs, can reduce the loads

that the spring can carry, whilst if a spring that carries cyclic
loads becomes corroded, then the combination of fatigue and
corrosion can result in a serious loss of fatigue strength.

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 out at
prescribed intervals whilst others are done on an opportunity
basis, such as when a brake unit a hydraulic actuator is
dismantled for overhaul.
Static measurement
The most common check, done on coil springs is on its static
measurement.

A corroded spring
Overheating

The manufacturer will publish the exact dimension of the

unloaded spring with some small tolerance, whilst the servicing
technician will accurately measure the springs length and
compare the two dimensions.
Providing that the spring is within the published figures, then the
spring is considered to be serviceable.

Overheating, usually shown as blistering of the surface

protection can, in extreme circumstances, show a change of
color of the metal due to the loss of temper. It must be assumed
in this event that the spring is not suitable for the designed task.

Load / deflection check

It is important that any exposed springs are carefully inspected

for signs of either of the problems of corrosion and overheating.

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.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10 - 3

The other check, usually completed in a workshop environment,

is the load/deflection check.

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014

PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC)

Category A/B1

Module 7 - MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Sub Module 7.10 Springs

A series of loads are, subsequently, applied to the spring and

the relevant deflections noted.
On 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
by a serviceable item.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified

PTC/CM/B1.1 Basic/M7/03
7.10 - 4

For Training Purpose Only

Rev. 00
Mar 2014