Replacement clamp?

[Kevin Means]

While working on our M1083, I noticed that the right front leaf spring had a broken retention clamp. (Picture) It looks like the truck came down on something that bent, and broke one of the flanges that clamps the bracket around the leaf springs. I looked through the TMs for a part number for that clamp, but no luck. It appears that they might be considered part of the leaf springs themselves, and I certainly don't want to replace the entire leaf spring kit.

Unfortunately, after looking online for a suitable replacement part, I have been unable to find one, and the original part does not look like it would be a good candidate for welding, due to the amount of corrosion and damage, but I may give it a try.

The leaf springs are 3 & 1/2 inches wide, but the widest leaf spring clamp I could find online was 3 inches wide. I've looked at East Coast, Midwest and other military suppliers, but I couldn't find that specific part. Before we try and fabricate a new part, or weld the original, I was wondering if anyone here had any ideas. Thanks.

Kevin

 

[Keith Knight]

Bend it back into position remove the broken part weld it and reassemble.

 

[MugOfPaul]

After some Googling, it looks like certain Peterbilt models have 3 1/2" wide leaf springs. But looking at the pack shown here, your broken clamp doesn't look any worse than this

While working on our M1083, I noticed that the right front leaf spring had a broken retention clamp. (Picture) It looks like the truck came down on something that bent, and broke one of the flanges that clamps the bracket around the leaf springs. I looked through the TMs for a part number for that clamp, but no luck. It appears that they might be considered part of the leaf springs themselves, and I certainly don't want to replace the entire leaf spring kit.

Unfortunately, after looking online for a suitable replacement part, I have been unable to find one, and the original part does not look like it would be a good candidate for welding, due to the amount of corrosion and damage, but I may give it a try.

The leaf springs are 3 & 1/2 inches wide, but the widest leaf spring clamp I could find online was 3 inches wide. I've looked at East Coast, Midwest and other military suppliers, but I couldn't find that specific part. Before we try and fabricate a new part, or weld the original, I was wondering if anyone here had any ideas. Thanks.

Kevin

 

[Kevin Means]

Thanks Mug. I didn't see that in my search. That's going to be my fallback choice.

Keith... I wish it were that simple, and I was thinking the same thing, until I crawled underneath to remove all the parts. That's when I saw that one part of the bracket is riveted to the leaf spring, and it's a serious rivet. (Picture) Instead of grinding the head off, drilling it out and trying to find and install a suitable replacement, I think I'm going to clean everything up and try to weld the broken flange back on in place. Time to bone up on my overhead Mig welding skills.

Thanks you guys.

Kevin