Spring mystery - where is the missing leaf?

Records for my Series 2a diesel show that a dealer replaced both rear leaf springs for a previous owner three years ago. However I've just noticed that the nearside has the correct 11 leaves and the right side only 10. The missing one being one of the very small ones. Would have thought his could hardly have broken. But why would anyone remove a leaf - or was it fitted minus the leaf for some other reason?
Anyone come across this situation before?
Can such odd leaves be purchased?

they would steal anything nowadys

Hi, I think he must've replaced them with the springs for a petrol, although I thought they only had 9 leaves on one side, 11 on the other.

when i undid the nut holding the springs together on mine, the tension is taken out and the springs separate slightly, not allowing me to fit the smallest spring back cos the bolt was too short. i used a press to get it back together. it would have been easy for me not to bother fitting the last leaf back on. i guess this may have happened to yours.

Are they(Series) not set up like this due to one side being heavier than the other?

crashbox said:

Are they(Series) not set up like this due to one side being heavier than the other?

Click to expand...

Nah, forget that, I've just checked my S3, it has 10 leaves on each rear spring.

I will check my S2 later.