shot peening allows higher stresses before failure. if they design them to handle these stresses to begin with, then they should be fine with or without peening.
I wouldn't say that any spring pack in particular 'sucks'. The pre-built crap that most sell are just hi-profit margin/low-quality spring packs. That isn't to say that Alcan makes bad springs or that National makes bad springs, it's just that the company that is selling them is ordering junk. I could sell a 4 leaf National pack that would ride like sh*t and make me lots of money but that doesn't mean that National would be to blame.
The only way to get the leafs perfect for your vehicle is to have a custom set made. This implies that you KNOW something about leaf springs/rates, and through your own trial & error you'll find a setup that works for you......OR you could buy from someone you know has done the homework & is selling a quality product.
Weasel said:
Alcan suck. Anyone that doesn't understand the benifts of shot peening springs doesn't belong making springs.
Thats just it. Alcan claims shot peening doesn't help spring life or even play a factor in fatigue life and is not need. Anyone with that limited knowledge of fatigue should not be making springs. Springs should always be shot peened.
"Any reputable spring maker will have already shot peened his springs. Even Detriot does. Some of the advertised el-cheapo suspension springs are not shot peened. The lack of shot peening gives you one more reason not to buy them." -Carroll Smith
I went through the reason of shot peening awhile ago, if you search you can probably find it. - Craig
