can someone tell me what this is?
 

this little piece is located behind the driver's side front leaf spring. i moved it back since it was hitting the leaf spring when the truck's weight was pressing it down. i'm trying to figure out what it is! there isn't one on the other side, unless that broke off a long time ago (considering the frame came from a junk yard).

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

keeps the springs from rotating backwards

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Seems like it's been posted that it helps keep things in place if a leaf should break.

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Actually is is a front spring shackle stop and is used to prevent overextension of the factory front springs.

The factory springs being negative arch actually get shorter under deflection or load and would be at their longest just about the point the front wheels leave the ground. The stops are actually there to prevent the front springs from popping over center in an unloaded condition. Bad for the springs and bad for steering response.

Replacement lift springs are for the most part positive arch and get longer as you load then. Due to the static arch built into them it is unlkely that you will have a shackle problem unless the spring is too short. But it is possible to add a stop to prevent forward movement of the shackle and spring eye preventing the shackle from trying to tuck forward from an unloaded spring that is too short.

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Meant to put up the parts drawings and to tell you that if you are going to run positive arch springs you really don't have to have stops behind the spring but they are a good idea and should contact the spring before the spring eye bottoms on the frame. Also they should be in pairs and timed very close to each other to prevent a bump steering issue

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

the 72 that i have now and the one i sold about 20 years ago both only had them on the L/H side

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Seen singles, left or right, both and most often none. The factory spec was 1/8" clearance loaded. Thinking a lot of them were removed just from the clicking while driving much less the wholesale removals for lift springs. Parts manual lists two required per vehicle as well. Service manual has very minimal information in 72. The right side could have been eliminate sometime for production cost reasons too as the left side is the critical with negative springs.

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Leave it to Tim :)

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

What? Did I do something wrong??? :-)

Re: can someone tell me what this is?
 

Haha, have you meet Tim, he comes with jokes too :)