Another thing to be aware of and check is the torque on the u-bolt nuts. With the 1/2" u-bolts, they should be pretty close to 70 ft lbs. Our neighbor in the park we are in right now is servicing his bearings and I just mentioned to him that while he is down there he might check the nut torque on his u-bolts, even loaned him a torque wrench. He just came over less than an hour ago and told me he got at least a full turn on his nuts before he was able to get 70 ft lbs. He was happy I told him about checking them and a bit disappointed that his were loose too, but again happy to have them tightened properly. With them tight, it is highly unlikely that the spring leaves will move, with or without those clips. I'm fully in agreement with wal_mart that the sound that was heard was the hydraulics popping from a stiction issue, and the Lippert fix is adding stiction fluid to the hydraulic fluid.
https://www.lci1.com/images/support/lipsheet/0295.pdf