Can't use aftermarket springs as an example unfortunately, so in this case I'll disagree with garberz (probably first time ever!).
The "Berlin eye" as it comes from Ford is to the front spring hanger. Just as you have it. So they are in correct as far as I'm concerned.
Aftermarket springs with double-wrap eyes always trump whatever other design characteristics are built into the main leaf by needing to be mounted to the frame hanger and not the shackle end. So if there is a berlin eye at the other end, well, in these cases they end up at the shackle end by default.
As mentioned too though, those springs are completely shot and laying flat on their "overload" leaves. The bottom super thick leaf usually has quite the gap at the outer ends, and yours are flat. This alone could cause the issue, and with blocks adding more leverage, they're a recipe for wrap.
Normally, with even the modest cure of the short traction bars, that should not be an issue. But it's possible that the combination of weak springs and blocks is overcoming even the traction bars.
Notice the main leaf is also bent from torque and/or stress points? There's a gap between leaves 1 and 2, which looks like stress from twisting (could be just from old age, as they twist all the time) to me.
That's all just guesswork though. From reading the thread though, I would have sworn it was more of a clutch issue than anything else. Whenever that's happened in a rig in my experience, it was always the clutch.
Not sure you completely ruled it out with the front shaft excursion, but that's a pretty good test and might be enough to point out the culprit.
Any way to rigidly mount the old traction bars for a quick test? Or not...
Paul
