DAF CF65, CF75, CF85 Series . Manual — part 1098

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1-1

Safety instructions

LEAF SUSPENSION

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

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1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1.1 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Spring leaves
-

Spring leaves should not be subjected to

blasting. Blasting will cause indentations in

the leaf spring which could initiate pitting

corrosion.

-

Corrosion should be prevented as this will

considerably shorten the service life of the

spring.

-

Any type of damage should be prevented.

Damage will considerably shorten the

service life.

-

Spring leaves should not be heated.

-

Bear this in mind when welding on the

vehicle. Take precautionary measures

against weld and fire damage (notching

effect).

-

Never hit a parabolic spring leaf with a

hammer. This could cause the leaf to break.

-

Never replace a single broken leaf within a

spring assembly, because this will

substantially shorten the service life of the

other spring leaves.

Spring brackets
Spring brackets should be removed, if:

-

there is doubt about the dimensional

accuracy after having been subjected to a

heavy load (e.g. a collision). The spring

bracket should be magnaflux tested.

If cracks are detected, the spring bracket

should be replaced. If it is not possible to

magnaflux test the spring bracket, the spring

bracket should always be replaced.

-

such a degree of wear has occurred that it

must be replaced.

LEAF SUSPENSION

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200448

Safety instructions

5

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

9

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200448

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General

LEAF SUSPENSION

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

9

5

2. GENERAL

2.1 DESCRIPTION OF LEAF SUSPENSION

DAF uses two different types of leaf spring

assemblies on its vehicles: parabolic and

trapezoidal leaf spring assemblies. The

trapezoidal leaf spring assemblies only come with

the driven tandem axle.

The trapezoidal leaf spring assembly consists of

a number of spring leaves of different lengths,

fitted on top of each other.

The parabolic leaf spring assembly, which has

fewer spring leaves than the trapezoidal leaf

spring assembly, consists of several spring

leaves of equal length whereby the thickness of

each leaf follows a parabolic curve in relation to

its length.

Except at the centre clamping and at the spring

leaf ends, the spring leaves of a parabolic leaf

spring assembly should not come into contact. To

that end spacer plates have been fitted between

the spring leaves.

As the leaves of a parabolic leaf spring assembly

do not slide over each other, they are subjected

to less friction than those of a trapezoidal leaf

spring assembly. Consequently, they give a

better ride under similar stiffness conditions.

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LEAF SUSPENSION

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General

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ΧΦ65/75/85 series

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The spring leaves (3) of both types of assembly

are held together by a centre bolt (1) and spring

shackles (2).

The head of the centre bolt (1) is used to centre

the spring assembly.

At the front, the spring assembly is connected to

the spring bracket with a shackle pin.

At the rear, the spring assembly is "attached" to

the spring bracket with either a shackle or a

slipper seat, depending on the type of vehicle.

The spring assembly is clamped to the axle

housing using U-bolts. A wedge and/or filler block

may have been fitted between the spring

assembly and the axle housing.

The U-bolts clamp the spring leaves together and

secure the spring assembly to the axle. The

forces on the axle are therefore passed on to the

spring brackets via the spring assembly.

The parabolic spring assemblies applied in the

case of a rear axle suspension are fitted with a

helper leaf (3). A centre bolt is used to attach the

helper leaf (3) to the other spring leaves (2). At

the ends of the helper leaf (2) rubber blocks (1)

are installed which rest against the main spring

assembly.

Except for the spring which comes with the air-

sprung front axle suspension, the parabolic

spring assemblies are fitted with a maintenance-

free suspension.

To that end, a silentblock (4) is installed into the

spring eyes. The silentblock is clamped in the

spring bracket (1) using an attachment bolt (2)

and sliding bush (3).

Apart from the spring function, the leaf spring

assemblies also have the task of guiding the axle.

This means that braking, driving and lateral

forces are passed on to the chassis via the spring

assembly and the front spring bracket.

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C9 00 297

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C9 00 303