I basically decided to replace my broken leaf with a leaf I got from a junkyard. The problem is that the broken leaf had a clamp on it (not sure if that's what it's called) to prevent the leaves from moving side to side. The "new" leaf that I had to use doesn't have that. Is there anything I can buy that will put some kind of clamp around that leaf? I just want to make sure the leaves don't eventually fan out after hitting some of Pittsburgh's famous bumps and potholes. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

That clamp on the springs that you're talking about isn't absolutely necessary for normal everyday use. Some that I have had (factory), have rusted away and nothing ever happened because they were gone. Stayed that way for the next 8 years I had the truck. Till I got rid of it. As long as the two u-bolts holding the springs in place are good and tight like they should be, the springs should be ok and not move. Even though I just said all that, you'll probably find more springs with the clamps than without. Both new spring packs I had installed on my 91 last year have the clamps. They're the heavier gage metal type that are riveted to the forward end of one spring and wrapped around two other springs. Similar spring clamps can be found at spring shops or maybe offered at performance shops. One type of clamp is made of two fairly thin pieces of sheet metal that you fit over the spring and bend the ends over the other part of the clamp to hold it in place. The other type of clamp is like a u-bolt that is square and bolts in place on the spring . Check around at different spring shops or performance shops to see what they offer. If you go to a spring shop, you can check out the type of clamp that comes on the new leaf spring pacs that they sell to see what that type looks like. I know others will have had different experiences with this, but that's how mine went.

 

Be sure to re-torque the springs after 100 miles. They almost always come loose after re-assembly.