[Makie43]

I want to remove a leaf from my springs to "Soften" the ride, do I remove the bottom leaf or the one above it? If I remove the bottom is it necessary to try to refit the bracket (Arrowed) Which as far as I can see only serves to keep the leaves in line????

[brent]

take off the very bottom leaf, if thats not soft enough then take the next one from the bottom off. I took off the very bottom leaf and it made it ride good without losing height.

Nothing wrong with taking that clamp off either.

[303zuke]

I'd leave the very bottom leaf in place for a couple of reasons. Although it's the thickest leaf in the pack (and therefore the stiffest), it doesn't actually bear any load until the spring is almost fully compressed. Removing it will not alter the spring rate for most of the spring's travel, and leaving it in place will reduce the stress on the spring fully compressed and prevent the main leaf cracking from fatigue.

The leaf clamps also play an important role in preventing the leaf pack rotating about the locating bolt axis. As the leaf pack articulates, it doesn't simply raise and lower in a straight line, it rotates about the centre of the diff, and each leaf has a twisting force applied to it. Without the leaf clamps, the leaves can rotate and loosen the centre bolt of the pack. Although held in place by the U-bolts, if the centre bolt breaks or the nut loosens, each leaf then acts as an individual leaf and again a broken main leaf is a good possibility.

I'd remove the 2nd lowest leaf and replace the bottom leaf with the leaf clamps in place. You may also need a new centre bolt if there is insufficient thread to clamp the reduced spring pack. Don't rely on the U-bolts alone to hold the pack together.

[Makie43]

O.K. That cleared it up! Thanks for the replies and advice guys.