Genuine vs Aftermarket leaf springs — A Practical Comparison

Maintaining leaf springs on the JCB JS140 is one of those tasks every fleet manager learns the hard way. The single biggest mistake is reacting to failure instead of pre-empting it. With leaf springs, a 5-minute visual check every shift catches 70% of issues before they become breakdowns. Look for the obvious — oil weeping, surface cracks, abnormal noise or vibration, and unusual heat. Note part numbers down in your service log; cross-reference your OEM number against the GVH catalogue before ordering. Procurement tip: buy from a supplier who carries genuine OEM and quality aftermarket side-by-side, so you can choose based on duty cycle. For lightly used vehicles, premium aftermarket gives the best value-for-money. For heavy-duty hauling with high uptime requirements, genuine is worth the premium. When replacing leaf springs, change related wear items in the same service — it costs less in labour and prevents secondary failures. Document part numbers, vendor and install date. Over 12 months this gives you a real cost-per-hour for that component, which is the foundation of professional fleet management.