Help! AD Chevy leaf removal

Is there some secret to removing the clips on the front leaf spring packs? I opened them up and they dont seem to want to come off the leaves.

 

That strap deal? Those are normally riveted, on most trucks/cars of that age.

 

Grind the head off? What about reinstallation procedure?

 

off topic, but what suspension are you running on the truck in your avatar ????

 

If you don't want to re-rivet, copy what some Fords had. The U strap thing had a pin shaped nub pressed into the inside bottom of the U. That pin fits into the hole in the leaf. Then there was a through bolt, that goes thought the tips of the U, and that bolt lays across the leaf, so the pin can't get out of the hole.

That's the best i can write without pics.

 

Thats a chop of what I'm trying to do. 4 inch dropped axle from sid and pulling some leaves.

 

Got em.

 

how'd you end up doin it? im gonna be pullin some leafs from my AD chevy. ive pulled leafs on other trucks but not an AD and hopin its about the same