Broken leaf spring clamp - Montana Owners Club

Randy E · 08-08-2020, 05:49 PM

Today i repacked all my wheel bearings on my 2017- 3791RD. . During the inspection I noticed one of my clamps that wrap around 3 leaf springs, is broken. It’s a flat metal clamp that goes all the way around the spring stack. Does anyone know what it’s called, or where to find a new one? It wraps around the spring and a tab gets bent over to keep the two ends connected. It looks real easy to replace, if I knew where to find one.

Montana Man · 08-08-2020, 08:18 PM

Try etrailer. They have everything and good service. Also, check the torque of the axle u bolts while in you are in there. They are often over looked.

**Carl n Susan** · 08-08-2020, 08:22 PM

I remember another member saying he used a stainless hose clamp instead.

Randy E · 08-08-2020, 08:32 PM

Thanks for the reply. I will torque the u bolts while under there. I was wondering about a stainless clamp. Or even a square bottom U bolt with a cross bar. I’m not sure how much pressure is actually on this clamp. I will check Etrailer. Hopefully they can help me out.

RMcNeal · 08-09-2020, 05:17 AM

Carl just beat me to it. I just read that post about the SS hose clamp yesterday.

beeje · 08-09-2020, 07:14 AM

I cant see how that thin strap does a dam thing. Several of mine would always slide and work there way off.

dieselguy · 08-09-2020, 11:22 AM

Here's what I believe as a creditable explanation for the straps. A hose clamp may work in a pinch, but I'd go with something a bit stouter for the long term.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-143095.html

Randy E · 08-09-2020, 12:44 PM

Now I know what it does and why it’s there. I think I can easily make one. It looks easy to fabricate one up with some hardened bolts, lock nuts, and 2 cross bars drilled in the correct location. There is a hole in 1 leaf spring that is used to keep the clamp in place. I think I’ll head to TSC and see what I can find to put it back on. The factory clamp is so flimsy I can’t believe it does much.
Thank you everyone for the great feedback.

Randy E · 08-10-2020, 12:59 PM

I found a piece of steel rectangle tubing the exact size inside. Then Drilled a hole to put a grade 8 cross bolt through it with a roller pin around the bolt. Then put another short bolt head on the bottom. This goes in a hole in the spring. It keeps the clamp from sliding around. It was an easy fix. Look at the photo attached. The factory one is folded sheet metal. No wonder it broke.

Montana Man · 08-10-2020, 01:52 PM

That'll do it.

dieselguy · 08-10-2020, 05:03 PM

Although I admire the ingenuity from some here on the MOC in upgrading the spring straps ... these very straps have been around since "Moby Dick was a Guppy". Look on any older car, truck, or trailer with leaf springs. Yes they do move around sometimes, but I doubt if they've ever had what I'd call a mass failure rate as designed. Over the years, I've just tapped them back in place and headed on down the road.

PNW Fireguy · 08-11-2020, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselguy

Although I admire the ingenuity from some here on the MOC in upgrading the spring straps ... these very straps have been around since "Moby Dick was a Guppy". Look on any older car, truck, or trailer with leaf springs. Yes they do move around sometimes, but I doubt if they've ever had what I'd call a mass failure rate as designed. Over the years, I've just tapped them back in place and headed on down the road.

They come off all the time. I don't know if that classifies as a failure but once they are off the spring leafs can fan out. That is the consensus of what lead up to our spring failure.

dieselguy · 08-11-2020, 09:27 PM

As with all owner operator experiences ... yours reportedly come off all the time, mine seldom do. I always check my running gear during trips and simply tap it back in place as the need arises. I'm sure you check things as well. I was just pointing out spring straps have been around for several decades.

PNW Fireguy · 08-12-2020, 11:41 AM

Let me try to be more precise regarding the point I was trying to make. I think based upon both my experiences and what I have read from the forum posts on this topic is just what you have alluded to. Some folks have issues and some folks don’t. Based upon the results that I had related to our failure along with what I have gathered from others experiencing similar failures in addition to the recommendations from Morryde rep this extremely inexpensive clip drain should be changed. For such a potential catastrophic failure point imho this clip can and should be improved. Though I hated crawling underneath the coach and using whatever tools needed to re-tension and lock over this clip. I am sure that over tome fatigue contributed to its failure. A pipe clamp at face value looks like a better option if it can withstand the forces of the spring pack flex and compression. The point here is that the manufacturer can probably come up with a much better solution to the existing clip.