UHMW tape between leaf springs??

Thanks

 

I was originally going to go the EPDM route, but I got pissed at Amazon for not shipping the stuff to Alaska. My original idea was to use the tape, but I became concerned about grit getting between the leaves and tearing it up. They put small gravel on the roads in winter here for traction. Then I came across a post somewhere of a guy claiming to have had larger strips w/o adhesive between his leaves for over a decade and still going strong. That's my current plan.

 

Update: Here are a few pics of what I came up with.

 

1/8" ?

 

I just put a little grease on the contact pads that are there.

 

That's not really the subject of this thread

 

Yes both strips are 1/8"

 

Interested to hear ( or not hear ) your results

 

I thought the purpose of the pads in between the leafs was to eliminate metal on metal contact and eliminate squeaking?

Maybe i don't understand

 

This thread is about an experiment with UHMW strips between the leafs of the Dakars

 

OP , did the pack with the strips installed fill the clips as we discussed ?

 

Indeed. That will be the proof.
I had to trim 1/4" off of the whole length of the strip so I can say that it is some tough stuff. I was using a new razor blade and it took about 10 passes to get through. I also took a file to the sharp edge on the top of the 3rd leaf so it would slide and not cut into the uhmw. It took a little head scratching and measuring to get the lengths figured. I left some excess hanging off with the intention of seeing how it flexed and cutting it later.
Other than that I'm pleased with the immediate results. It's probably for everyone, but it wasn't overly difficult.

 

Yes it did fill the pack up. I couldn't fit another leaf in there using the stock brackets.

 

That may be the limiting factor in this set up

 

For some not entirely known reason there are none of the yellow leaf isolators on the 2nd and 3rd leaf. This allows a metal on metal situation and potential noise here. This thread is my attempt to address this problem by placing something between these leaves. There is a easier and proven, albeit not permanant fix highlighted in the squeaky Dakar thread.

 

Agreed. I'm inclined to think that 1/16" would have worked also, but until I have some durability results I'm not going out on that limb.

 

I'm considering adding the

$75 d29xl old man emu dakar extra leaf spring

d29xl OME AAL , so 1/8" wouldn't work with that

 

Well have fun. I'll go back to my corner now

 

There is that. You'd have to abandon the dak's clip and fab a new one to keep the pack together. Something like two pieces of plate and a bolt top and bottom to sandwhich the whole upper pack.
But then again the

$75 D29xl Old Man Emu Dakar Extra Leaf Spring

D29xl is not for everyone.

 

Agreed

In my case I carry a constant 450lbs