Does anybody "re-arch" leaf springs anymore?

I remember back in H.S. auto shop the shop teacher had a '66 T-Bird that sagged badly in the rear. He took it to a spring shop and they re-arched the springs. As he explained it, they took the leaves apart and hammered them with a cross peen hammer(blacksmiths hammer). This spread the metal on one side along only the length of the spring making that side longer. This restored or increased the curvature of the leaf. I think they compared it to a template or pattern drawn on the floor. I wonder if this made the springs brittle through work hardening. It used to be common to do it. Anybody have any experience? Could this add lift or correct lean while maintaining ride comfort?

 

They would charge in labor what new springs would cost.

 

Maybe so. It was cost effective then though.

 

Yes leaf spring shops still do this both arching and dearching. Deaver leaf springs for example, can do both and have done both for me in the past.