A panel fasteners (20) is disclosed in the form of a hook and cam assembly (21) having two side walls (24) with a boss (27) through which a cam shaft (28) is journalled. The cam shaft has a socket (29) and a round cam (30). A hook (32) is frictionally mounted in camming engagement with the cam. A leaf clutch spring (33) is mounted within a spring mounting notch (36) and in frictional engagement with a substantially round cam engagement hole (34) of the hook. To position the spring into the spring mounting notch and cam engagement hole the spring is pre-compressed prior to mounting it within the spring mounting notch by forcing it through a narrowing channel positioned adjacent the cam.