Quick answer: Measure both directions and separate spring behavior from slide friction. The difference between assembled traces is not automatically a spring defect.
How should pull-versus-return differences be interpreted?
Guide seals, strip contact and bearing drag can create a substantial directional difference. Compare the spring in a low-friction fixture with the assembled carriage. A single force target without travel direction can lead two suppliers to deliver samples that appear inconsistent even when measured differently.
A practical verification method
Record separate fixture and assembly traces at matched speed, temperature and position; identify which contact changes the gap.
| Item | What to record | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Reference configuration | Part or assembly identity and drawing revision | Make comparisons traceable |
| Test conditions | Relevant position, direction and operating condition | Compare the same characteristic |
| Decision evidence | Record separate fixture and assembly traces at matched speed, temperature and position; identify which contact changes the gap. | Resolve the specific question before approval |
Use the result in an engineering request
Describe the observed condition and the required function separately. Include the relevant drawing revision and your results from the check above. If an acceptance limit has not been established, identify it as an open design input rather than treating a successful trial as approval.
Review the related Leading Spring product information. For a project-specific review, send the mechanism description, available geometry and the evidence relevant to this decision through the contact page.
Editorial note: AI-assisted engineering guidance, prepared from the topic-specific reasoning shown here and the company’s public product context. Illustrations explain decisions; they are not customer-case photographs or test results. Product-specific suitability requires review against your approved requirements.