Load leveling attachment for leaf spring suspension and method therefor

A load-leveling suspension attachment for a vehicular leaf spring suspension system having a pair of leaf springs mounted on the vehicle frame for supporting loads on the vehicle, said attachment comprising:

• a first body adapted to be mounted onto the frame of the vehicle adjacent a first of said pair of leaf springs;
• a first shoe pivotally mounted to said first body at an eccentric pivot point for selective movement from a position not engaging said first leaf springs to a position to engage said first leaf springs to operatively shorten said first leaf springs as said first leaf springs undergoes heavy loading conditions to balance the load on the vehicle, wherein said eccentric pivoting of said first shoe causes the force from said first leaf springs against said first shoe retains said first shoe in said engaged position;
• a second body adapted to be mounted to said frame adjacent the second of said pair of leaf springs;
• and
• a second shoe pivotally mounted to said second body at an eccentric pivot point for selective movement from a position not engaging said second leaf springs to a position to engage said second leaf springs to operatively shorten said second leaf springs as said second leaf springs undergoes heavy loading conditions to balance the load on the vehicle, wherein said eccentric pivoting of said second shoe causes the force from said second leaf springs against said second shoe retains said second shoe in said engaged position.

A load-leveling suspension attachment for a vehicular leaf spring suspension system having a pair of leaf springs mounted on the vehicle frame, said attachment comprising:

• a first body adapted to be mounted onto the frame of the vehicle adjacent a first of said pair of leaf springs;
• a first shoe mounted onto said first body to pivot about an eccentric axis relative to said first body for selective movement from a position not engaging said first leaf springs to a position to engage said first leaf springs to operatively shorten said first leaf springs as said first leaf spring undergoes heavy loading conditions to balance the load on the vehicle;
• said first shoe engaging said first leaf springs in said engaging position in a position normal to the planar surface of said first leaf springs so the force from said first leaf springs retains said first shoe against said first body due to the eccentric axis of mounting;
• a second body adapted to be mounted onto the frame of the vehicle adjacent the second of said pair of leaf springs;
• a second shoe mounted onto said second body to pivot about an eccentric axis relative to said second body for selective movement from a position not engaging said second leaf springs to a position to engage said second leaf springs to operatively shorten said second leaf springs as said second leaf springs undergoes heavy loading conditions to balance the load on the vehicle;
• and
• said second shoe engaging said second leaf springs in said engaging position in a position normal to the planar surface of said second leaf springs so the force from said second leaf springs retains said second shoe against said second body due to the eccentric axis of mounting.