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

©

 200448

1-1

Safety instructions

LEAF SUSPENSION

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

9

5

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

1-2

©

 200448

Safety instructions

5

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

9

©

 200448

2-1

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.

w9 04 002

LEAF SUSPENSION

2-2

©

 200448

General

5

ΧΦ65/75/85 series

9

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.

2 

3

1 

w9 04 003

1

2

3

C9 00 297

;;;;;;

;;;;;;

;;;;;;

;;;;;;

;;;;;;

;;;;;;

;;

;;

;;

;;;;

;;;;

;;

;;

;;;;;

;;

;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;

;;;;

;;

;;

;;;;;

;;;;;

;;

;;

;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;

1

4

2

3

C9 00 303