Using Clamps on Leaf Springs (Steer Axle)

So I recently had my leaf springs replaced on my 2013 Freightliner Cascadia, and I am now noticing that my leaf spring “plates” have shifted a bit sideways (about 1/8 inch or 0.5 cm). Is it a good idea to install clamps to keep the plates as straight as possible? Why don’t leaf springs come with clamps? I see newer Freightliner now have one thick plate on each leaf spring instead of two plates on each leaf spring.

 

I do not mean the spacers. I’m not sure what they are called. Maybe leaves? My leaf spring has two “leaves.” The leaves are moving away from each other by very little (0.5 cm). I will have my u-bolts torqued. Maybe that is what is causing the shift. I guess now the leaves need some hammering to keep them close together.

 

They did also replace the u-bolts. I wish they had told me to retorque the u-bolts. I am reading online that it is recommended that it be retorqued after some 100 miles of driving. I watched a video where the recommendation was 350 ft lbs of torque. I don’t have a torque wrench with that strength. I will need to take it to a shop.

 

The leaf spring on one side was flatter making the truck lean more to one side. I had it like that for two years. I think it explains why my steer tires had some funny wear, but not excessive.

 

Yeah, I think the u-bolts on the drives are bigger. There is a chart online where they give torque recommendations based on the size of the u-bolt.