Service Spring Clip: Installation
- Load rear leaf springs with rear of vehicle supported either directly by rear axle or by tires. The spring leaves should all be in contact with one another at intended clip location.
- Remove damaged clip by prying back ends of clip which are folded across leaf spring until clip can be freed from spring. On some clips it will also be necessary to pry locating pin out of locating hole. (Locating holes are holes punched out of lowest leaf, the clip encircles which indicate proper spring clip location.)
- Make sure locating hole is clean and free of debris. See Fig 1
.
- Position lower part of service clip across width of underside of spring, so that hole in clip lines up with locating hole in spring. The legs of clip lower half should extend down from the bottom of spring.
- Insert drive rivet that comes with clamp through hole in lower part of service clip into hole in spring leaf. The flat face of rivet flange should rest against clip lower half.
- Fully seat rivet with a hammer. If there is not enough room to hit rivet directly with a hammer, a punch may be used. The slotted legs of clip lower half should extend downward, outer surface of legs flush with sides of leaf spring.
- Place the rubber service clip liner across the top of the leaf spring directly above where the bottom half of the clip attaches to the spring, with the flat surface against the leaf and the clip locating edges extending upward.
- Place clip upper half between locating edges of rubber liner and align threaded holes in clip upper half with slots in clip lower half.
- Hand start two screws through clip lower half slot into clip upper half threaded hole. The screw heads will be located under spring, ultimately pressing against clip lower half.
- Squeeze clip to the spring with one hand while tightening screws.
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.