What? It can be a good thing, but it's a bad thing for steel? I don't understand your point.
Anyway, my point was to make him aware (if he was not already) that he changed the properties of the steel. My stand would be that it's no longer the same material that was spec'ed for holding a spring to an axle, therefore I would not use it. Seems to be working out though. 
PZ
Certain steels with a certain carbon content can be harder then steels. But they can be so hard from heating them and quickly cooling them that are become brittle. So you have to anneal it. This will keep it harder but add back ductility.
Poll
