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A leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. A leaf spring can be made from several leaves stacked on top of each other in several layers.
A leaf spring can either be attached directly to the frame at both ends or attached directly at one end, usually the front, with the other end attached through a shackle, a short swinging arm. The shackle takes up the tendency of the leaf spring to elongate when compressed and thus makes for softer springiness. Leaf springs are mainly used in heavy commercial vehicles such as vans and trucks, SUVs, and railway carriages. For heavy vehicles, they have the advantage of spreading the load more widely over the vehicle's chassis.
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