[Railcarmover]

Petroleum based lubricants and the abrasives in road debris combine to make lapping compound,fine for seating valves,bad for springs.Ford vanadium steel leaf springs are no different than modern leaf springs made today,all spring packs (a stack of leaves is called a pack)when assembled are assembled clean and dry to insure the center bolt clamps the leaves together and bears proper load to hold the leaves in alignment,any lubrication would deter the ability of the center bolt to work,its how leaf springs ultimately fail,through wear the tension on the center bolt degrades. Spring packs 'lubricate' and remain rust free through action.in the above photo the leaves are worn due to use,they have achieved the end of their life cycle,lubrication would have accelerated the failure.