Originally Posted by rick@laysons
Speculation........

I'll bet it was put there to keep the Z-bar on the ball studs.....instead of the wire clip that goes over the tube and secures the white plastic half-bushings in the tube end.
up iagree
The retaining spring may have been broken or lost when it was worked on before you got the car twocents work up

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)