Special features of the structure and properties of strip samples of spring materials of different structural classes subjected to friction deformation are presented. The kinds of treatment and the properties of martensitic steel 70S2KhA, austenitic steel 12Kh17N8G2SMF (ZI-126) and bronze BrBNT1.7 are analyzed. It is shown that the surface plastic deformation by friction provides formation of a strongly fragmented fine structure of a nanometric scale, effective hardening of the studied spring materials and simultaneous elevation of the fatigue endurance. © 2023, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.