On my truck (89 standard cab/bed 22re) I have the wide u-bolts with the clam shell plates that cover the leaf packs where the u-bolts clamp down. Originally there was a rubber liner inside of them. I know lots of models didn't have those...just the u-bolts clamping directly over the leaf pack.

Anyone know what the point of these plates was?

1989 reg cab pickup, 22re, 31s, 4.56s, rear ARB, rear OME springs, RS9000s, otherwise stock.