will this leaf spring work?

[bigredscowboy]

i'm swapping out the whole rear end and realized after hours of work that the driver's leaf was bent from the role over. i hit it a few times with a sledge hammer and it straightened out some. my old ones are rusted
the front side (you can still see a gap):

then the rear side (what it should look like):

the old one:

 

[beaujt]

i'd try it. if not you can always pull it out later, and i don't see why it wouldn't work for now... but i'd change it out eventually

 

[4x4junkie]

I would replace it. I could see it possibly breaking after a few thousand miles.

 

[bigredscowboy]

DD or off-roading?

I would replace it. I could see it possibly breaking after a few thousand miles.

 

[4x4junkie]

Either (any time the spring is moving/flexing).

 

[bigredscowboy]

so would the lightly rusted leaf be safer?

Either (any time the spring is moving/flexing).

 

[Sprag-O]

so would the lightly rusted leaf be safer?

Spring steel is some nasty stuff... Lightly rusted isn't bad... If its off like an 83 or newer ranger... I doubt it's rusted to the point of dangerous

We've pulled leafs off of 70's Chevy p/u's, and they still just had surface rust... no scale... anything.