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