a circuit board edge connector includes an insulative housing and two opposing mating ends with a plurality of conductive terminals supported by the housing and extending between the two ends . one end of the connector mates with an opposing connector and the other end has a slot disposed therein that receives the mating edge of a printed circuit card or board . the terminals at the end of the connector extend outwardly in a cantilevered fashion and they terminate in free ends that contact conductive pads on the edge of the circuit card . a preload cap is provided that includes two parts that interfit with each other and with the circuit card mating end of the connector . these preload caps engage the terminal free ends and impart a preload to the terminals so that the circuit card may be easily inserted into the connector slot and the caps are subsequently removed from the connector .