UHMWPE tape for springs

Post your questions about your suspension and steering problems here!
Post Reply
User avatar
ScottieJ
The Boss
The Boss
Posts: 11635
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:13 pm
Location: Chippenham, wiltshire

UHMWPE tape for springs

Post by ScottieJ » Fri May 28, 2010 12:57 pm

here you go ferris

(in the words of tim pink from difflock) UHMWPE is its full abreviation, stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthelyne. Coefficient of friction is nearly as low as PTFE, wear restance is very high. Putting the tape between the leaves reduces the interleaf stiction (resistance to initial movement) making the ride softer. The important point is that it actually works. I used it on the racer about 6 years ago, I tested 1 spring with it against 1 spring without. The spring without took about a 30kg load before it would start to move, the spring with took less than 10kg.
If you go down this route ensure that you get the tape with acrylic adhesive, I would also suggest that all paint is cleaned off the springs, they are degreased & then painted with acid etch primer. With my tape the acrylic bond to the paint was stronger than the paint bond to the spring steel & it eventyally pulled the paint off!


http://www.mcmaster.com/#uhmw-polyethylene-tape/=5vgyfy

http://www.lewis-mason-plastics.co.uk/products.asp

http://www.tapecase.com/c.214.1.1/uhmw-pe-tape.aspx
Zuki Build

Steady as she goes!

User avatar
ferris
Suzuki Guru
Suzuki Guru
Posts: 1226
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:55 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: UHMWPE tape for springs

Post by ferris » Fri May 28, 2010 9:19 pm

Cheers for that Scott. It sounds like pretty good stuff. I just been scowering the web tring to find a uk company that sells it. Quite expensive though, about £60 a roll :shock: Or there is some on ebay but they only sell it by the meter.
86 SJ413 tin top, 1.6 8v, SU carb, YJ spring conversion, virtual lift, 33x12.5x15 KL71's, rocklobster, rear discs, power steering.

User avatar
basil
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:47 pm
Location: THORNTON HEATH

Re: UHMWPE tape for springs

Post by basil » Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:00 pm

ScottieJ wrote:here you go ferris

(in the words of tim pink from difflock) UHMWPE is its full abreviation, stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthelyne. Coefficient of friction is nearly as low as PTFE, wear restance is very high. Putting the tape between the leaves reduces the interleaf stiction (resistance to initial movement) making the ride softer. The important point is that it actually works. I used it on the racer about 6 years ago, I tested 1 spring with it against 1 spring without. The spring without took about a 30kg load before it would start to move, the spring with took less than 10kg.
If you go down this route ensure that you get the tape with acrylic adhesive, I would also suggest that all paint is cleaned off the springs, they are degreased & then painted with acid etch primer. With my tape the acrylic bond to the paint was stronger than the paint bond to the spring steel & it eventyally pulled the paint off!
On my 413 springs i prise the leaves open and put in copperslip grease then Denso tape it up
needs to be repeated about every 6 months or so...
Jim

http://www.mcmaster.com/#uhmw-polyethylene-tape/=5vgyfy

http://www.lewis-mason-plastics.co.uk/products.asp

http://www.tapecase.com/c.214.1.1/uhmw-pe-tape.aspx

User avatar
basil
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:47 pm
Location: THORNTON HEATH

Re: UHMWPE tape for springs

Post by basil » Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:03 pm

On my 413 i prise the springs open with a screwdriver and feed in Copperslip grease then denso tape it up...lasts about 6 months
Jim

User avatar
tomcat
Engaged 4wd low
Engaged 4wd low
Posts: 221
Joined: Wed May 04, 2022 6:59 pm

Re: UHMWPE tape for springs

Post by tomcat » Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:28 am

Over the years has anyone used this UHMWPE tape?

Post Reply