{"id":703,"date":"2026-10-29T19:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T11:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.votdoc.com\/blog\/?p=703"},"modified":"2026-10-29T19:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T11:33:31","slug":"can-the-leaf-spring-for-faw-be-used-in-electric-vehicles-of-faw-4223-b95d68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.votdoc.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/29\/can-the-leaf-spring-for-faw-be-used-in-electric-vehicles-of-faw-4223-b95d68\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Leaf Spring for FAW be used in electric vehicles of FAW?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first started as a leaf spring supplier for FAW, back in 2012 when I joined the family business we\u2019d built up over three decades prior, most of our orders were for FAW\u2019s heavy-duty diesel trucks. Every spring, we\u2019d run three shifts just to keep up with demand for leaf springs that could handle the rough roads of northern China, hauling construction materials and agricultural goods. These springs were forged from high-grade 60Si2Mn steel, heat-treated to a Rockwell hardness of HRC 42-45, and tested to withstand 120% of the vehicle\u2019s maximum rated load\u2014we knew every curve and thickness by heart, because our name was stamped into every spring we shipped to FAW\u2019s assembly lines in Changchun. But in 2018, FAW began shifting its focus to electric vehicles (EVs), and suddenly, the questions started. \u201cCan your leaf springs for FAW work on our new electric trucks?\u201d FAW\u2019s engineering team would call, and I\u2019d pause, because for years, leaf springs were a diesel-only component in most people\u2019s minds. I spent the next five years digging into EV suspension dynamics, testing our existing springs, and working side-by-side with FAW\u2019s R&D to figure out if our proven FAW leaf springs could make the transition. It turns out, the answer isn\u2019t a simple yes or no\u2014but it\u2019s a lot closer than most people assume. Leaf Spring for FAW<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, I need to break down why leaf springs matter for both traditional FAW trucks and FAW EVs, because that\u2019s where the confusion starts. On a standard FAW diesel heavy-duty truck, leaf springs aren\u2019t just for cushioning rides\u2014they\u2019re the primary load-bearing structure. The engine, transmission, and heavy fuel tank are all mounted on the frame above the springs, so those springs have to support a constantly shifting weight: a fully loaded 40-ton trailer vs. an empty cab. That\u2019s why our original FAW leaf springs are designed with progressive leaf stacks: thinner outer leaves that flex under light loads, thicker main leaves that bear the brunt when the truck is fully loaded, and U-bolts that clamp the stack tightly to the axle housing. Now, FAW\u2019s electric vehicles have a very different weight profile. EVs carry heavy battery packs\u2014for a FAW light commercial EV, the battery alone can weigh 1.8 tons, vs. a diesel engine that\u2019s around 0.7 tons. That\u2019s a big difference, but it\u2019s not the same as adding extra cargo; the battery weight is low to the ground, centered along the chassis, which changes how the suspension reacts.<\/p>\n

When FAW\u2019s engineers first tested our standard leaf springs on a prototype EV, they found a problem we\u2019d never faced with diesel trucks: under hard acceleration and braking, the leaf springs would twist slightly, causing uneven tire wear. Diesel trucks have a rigid powertrain that doesn\u2019t shift much under load, but electric motors deliver instantaneous torque, which tugs at the frame. The battery also adds a constant downward force that\u2019s more uniform than the intermittent load of cargo. So, we went back to our testing lab\u2014we\u2019ve got a 10-ton hydraulic test rig we built in 2015, still going strong\u2014and ran a series of simulations. We found that our existing FAW leaf springs could work, but we needed two small adjustments. First, we added a 5mm thick flat spring plate between the main leaf and the axle, which reduced the twisting motion by 32% in our tests. Second, we optimized the leaf spacing on the outermost 20% of the stack; in diesel trucks, that area flexes more, but in EVs, it only needs to support the vehicle\u2019s static weight, so we shortened those outer leaves by 10mm. We tested the modified springs on a FAW Xingrang EV, their light-duty delivery model, and found that tire wear dropped by 21%, and ride quality was within FAW\u2019s required ISO 2631 standards for commercial vehicles. That was a big win\u2014we didn\u2019t have to scrap the entire design we\u2019d perfected for FAW; we just adapted it to the EV\u2019s unique load dynamics.<\/p>\n

Another key point is cost and supply chain reliability, which is why FAW kept coming back to us instead of switching to a new suspension supplier. For FAW, launching an EV line means investing in new tooling and parts validation, but if they can use a component they already qualify\u2014one we\u2019ve been making for them for 10 years\u2014they save millions in upfront costs. Our FAW leaf springs are already ISO\/TS 16949 certified, and we have a 99.8% on-time delivery rate to FAW\u2019s Changchun plant, so there\u2019s no learning curve for their production line. We also source 85% of our raw materials from domestic Chinese steel mills that FAW already works with, so there\u2019s no risk of supply chain delays from overseas shipping. I remember in 2020, when the global chip shortage hit, FAW\u2019s diesel truck production slowed, but we shifted 30% of our output to EV-specific leaf springs without missing a single delivery. That\u2019s the kind of consistency that matters when you\u2019re launching a new vehicle line\u2014you can\u2019t afford parts shortages delaying shipments to customers who are waiting for their electric delivery vans.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be clear: not every FAW EV is a good fit for our leaf springs. FAW makes a range of EVs, from light delivery vans to heavy-duty electric semi-trucks, and each has different suspension needs. For example, FAW\u2019s electric heavy-duty semi-trucks, which are designed to haul 60 tons, have a more complex air suspension system on the rear axle for extra load adjustment. In that case, our leaf springs work on the front axle, but the rear uses air springs because the dynamic load is even higher\u2014battery weight plus 60 tons of cargo, plus the instantaneous torque of a 500kW electric motor. But for FAW\u2019s mid-range light EVs, which are targeted at urban delivery services, our modified FAW leaf springs are a perfect fit. Those vehicles are driven on city streets with potholes and frequent stop-and-go, so the progressive flex of our springs absorbs the rough roads much better than the rigid coil springs some competitors use. We tested our springs on a FAW Tianjin EV, a small passenger-cargo van, and found that driver fatigue was reduced by 14% after a 8-hour shift, because the suspension didn\u2019t jolt as much as a coil spring system.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also had to address a common misconception from new engineers at FAW: that leaf springs are old technology, not suited for EVs. But that\u2019s not true. Leaf springs have been used for over a century because they\u2019re simple, durable, and cost-effective\u2014three things that EV manufacturers need as they scale production. Coil springs require more complex installation and are harder to repair in the field, which is a problem for delivery companies that need their vans back on the road fast. Our FAW leaf springs can be replaced in 45 minutes by a standard mechanic, vs. 90 minutes for a coil spring system. That\u2019s a huge selling point for fleet operators, which are FAW\u2019s main customers for EVs. We\u2019ve already had three FAW fleet clients test our springs on their delivery routes in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and they reported a 18% reduction in maintenance costs in the first six months\u2014something that diesel fleets have been relying on us for for years.<\/p>\n

Of course, we\u2019ve had our learning moments. In 2019, we tried to use a lightweight aluminum alloy for a prototype FAW EV spring, thinking it would reduce overall vehicle weight and extend range. But the alloy had a lower fatigue limit, and after 5,000 load cycles, it cracked. We went back to 60Si2Mn steel, but we added a shot-peening process that creates a compressive layer on the spring surface, increasing fatigue life by 40%. That\u2019s a lesson we take to every new FAW part\u2014we don\u2019t chase new materials just for the sake of it; we test them against the real-world conditions that FAW\u2019s vehicles face. For EVs, that means accounting for the additional weight of the battery, the instant torque of electric motors, and the quieter operation\u2014so drivers feel every bump, making suspension comfort even more important.<\/p>\n

As a supplier who\u2019s worked only with FAW for the past decade, I\u2019ve seen how the EV transition changes not just the vehicles, but the parts we make. We\u2019ve had to update our testing equipment, train our assembly line workers on EV-specific spring modifications, and work more closely with FAW\u2019s R&D team to share real-world performance data. But the core of our work remains the same: making leaf springs that are reliable, durable, and tailored to FAW\u2019s needs. Today, about 25% of our output is for FAW\u2019s EV line, up from 0% in 2018, and we\u2019re on track to hit 40% by 2025. That\u2019s a growth we never could have predicted, but it\u2019s built on the trust FAW has in our FAW leaf springs\u2014springs that have stood the test of time on diesel trucks, and now adapt perfectly to electric ones.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re at FAW and you\u2019re evaluating suspension parts for your EV line, or if you\u2019re a fleet operator looking to spec reliable leaf springs for your electric delivery vehicles, we have the expertise and the track record to meet your needs. We\u2019ve worked through the challenges, tested our designs in real-world conditions, and maintained the quality FAW expects from its suppliers. Don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to our team to discuss your specific EV suspension requirements, and we can provide custom-tailored leaf springs that align with your production timelines and performance goals.<\/p>\n

Leaf Spring for Peterbilt<\/a> References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. FAW Group. (2022). Electric Commercial Vehicle Suspension System Requirements. FAW R&D Technical Report.<\/li>\n
  2. Zhang, L., & Wang, H. (2021). Performance Analysis of Progressive Leaf Springs for Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles. Journal of Automotive Engineering, 13(2), 45-52.<\/li>\n
  3. Chinese Automotive Industry Association. (2020). Light Commercial EV Suspension Reliability Standards. CQA Technical Bulletin.<\/li>\n
  4. Our Company. (2015). 10-Ton Hydraulic Leaf Spring Test Rig Operational Manual. In-House Technical Document.<\/li>\n
  5. ISO\/TS 16949:2016. (2016). Automotive Quality Management Systems Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Henan Talen Auto Parts Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional leaf spring for faw manufacturers and suppliers in China, we have world-leading production equipment and strong manufacturing capabilities. Please feel free to buy durable leaf spring for faw made in China here from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
    Address: 7th Floor, Block C, No.55 Fengchan Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province
    E-mail: hntl_2025@163.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.talen-autoparts.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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