To remove or not remove?

[Booya]

Hi there, I have a 72 short box 4x4 and I will be installing a Tuff Country EZ Ride 4" lift kit. I was wondering if any of you guys have had clearance issues with the left front leaf spring hanger safety bracket (see below). Getting the final tear down done and should have the frame blasted and ready for paint here in a few weeks so I would rather remove it now rather than later. Thanks Bill.

[BLAZERMAN]

I've never had a problem with clearance, it wont hurt anything to remove it with your new springs.

[Altec]

can you elaborate on "clearance issues?" Is the eye of the spring hitting it?

[Booya]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

I've never had a problem with clearance, it wont hurt anything to remove it with your new springs.

Perfect, I didnt think it would be an issue, just making sure.. Thanks

Originally Posted by Altec

can you elaborate on "clearance issues?" Is the eye of the spring hitting it?

Proactive question, I see a lot of trucks without this bracket and just checking to make sure it was ok to leave on or if it needs removed for any reason.. Thanks

[Altec]

Gotcha. My area of knowledge mainly lends to 73-87 trucks, but if you trust hear-say I've heard that some trucks came with that bracket from the factory, and some did not. My opinion is that they aren't really adding much in the way of rigidity, but at the same time if your leaf spring isn't hitting them at full droop it never will. I would leave them simply to help keep dirt out from around the bushings. Can't hurt...

[Booya]

Thanks Altec I appreciate your input. I think I'll be leaving it on... Bill

[duallyjams]

That should be on the driver side GM was having trouble with them twisting hence the extra brace the brace showed up about the same time that power steering came along.

[Altec]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

That should be on the driver side GM was having trouble with them twisting hence the extra brace the brace showed up about the same time that power steering came along.

Good to know!

[special-K]

I'd leave it alone. It doesn't interfere with anything and GM felt they were needed and that's good enough for me. I've never removed one.

[Burt4x4]

From what I remember reading about that strap is in 69 GM had a recall as the front spring eyebolt was busting and the driver would loose control of the vehicle. You should also see a "stop" at the opposite end. This was put inplace to "trap" the springpack inplace enough too stop the rig. GM also bumped up the bolt size too the eyebolt.

So ya remove it if you need too, use grade 8 bolts..the biggest you can fit in the hole upgrade your rear shakels and remove that stop too

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Burt4x4

in 69 GM had a recall as the front spring eyebolt was busting and the driver would loose control of the vehicle. You should also see a "stop" at the opposite end. This was put inplace to "trap" the springpack inplace enough too stop the rig.

More than 30 years I've been looking at that stop, wondering what it was for...

[special-K]

I heard the same thing,but never saw a need to bother with it.

[BLAZERMAN]

The problem was in 1969 GM changed to a short second leaf in the front springs..this leaf did not extend under the front spring eye. I actully bought a 1969 K-20 truck and drove it 75 miles home just to find out it had a broken main leaf on the drivers side..the front strap and rear bracket had done there job in retaining the spring..its hard telling how long it had been like that.
I have the recall notice around here somewhere.

[Burt4x4]

Ha! Nice BlazerMan

Years ago somone at the old site blazer-net.com had posted a scaned copy of the recall, that is were I read about it but it was years ago so the details are fuzzy