If you look at many modern leaf spring assemblies, you'll find a small anti-friction pad at the ends of each leaf. I spotted this on the rear leaves on my rat rod when I re-did the rear suspension. The springs are out of a Nissan 100 pickup. Others I've dissected are similar.
I've also found factory spring assemblies with non-metallic strips between the leaves.
I seriously doubt the claims of lubricants degrading spring steel of ANY alloy!! I'd want to see documentation of those claims.
As I said before, the wrap and lube was for noise reduction more than anything. I got that information from an old Ford engineer years ago at an antique car event back in the early early '70s!!
If I think about it when I'm at the shop, I'll drag that old spring out, take a picture of it, and post it here!!
