DSJ41,
You might want to try and reverse the spring hooks positions, change from hooking through your connectors from "outside in" to "inside out". It may move the body of the spring away from the linkage rod enough to solve your clearance problem???
See below for a copy of your original pic and "cmayna"'s pic (green arrows added) that shows the change in hook orientation which may result in improved clearance.
Helpful???
Dan
