A spring is provided having a high durability in actual use and sagging
resistance of the same level as or higher than conventional ones through
improvement of the corrosion fatigue resistance. The spring uses as a
material a steel including C: 0.35-0.55%, Si: 1.60-3.00%, Mn: 0.20-1.50%,
S: 0.010% or less, Ni: 0.40-3.00%, Cr: 0.10-1.50%, N: 0.010-0.025%, V:
0.05-0.50% and Fe balance. The steel is heat treated to have a hardness of
50.5-55.0 HCC and shot-peened at a moderate temperature to render a
residual stress of -600 MPa or more at a depth of 0.2 mm below the
surface. The temperature at which the spring is shot-peened is preferably
100-300.degree. C., and the hardness of shot particles for the
shot-peening is preferably 450-600 Hv.