Finally killed that retched leaf spring squeak

Alright guys and gals, this might have been posted before, but don't know and don't care. I see enough posts about squeaky leaf packs to warrant this.

This past weekend I was out hunting again, and the squeak got so bad after running down dusty trails I had to figure it out myself (can't run to dealer every week after going to the woods). I grabbed my trusty WD-40 (which my neighbor has used exclusively on his mint '11 with great success) and lubed each part one by one. Narrowed it down to the front bushings, and once lubed up good it was SILENCE once again. I used the rocking/jumping on the tailgate method to really agitate the suspension. Been in the woods once since then, and NO squeak afterwards.

So for what it's worth, take your favorite lube and liberally hit the front bushings to see what it can do for you

PS: I'd hit the whole darn thing for good measure (two back bushings, rubber clamps etc.)

 

After you found the squeek did you check the torque on those bolts?

 

Well that's gonna last about a week...

 

Great that you found that annoyance. Now since it's a Toyota you need to give it it's annual bath of fluid film.

 

Yea WD40 doesnt last, I've tried spray methods with no luck. Gonna bring it in on Saturday and I might spread the leafs on mine and put in syn grease.

Also, re-tightening the ubolts is a double edged sword, Toyota likes low torque on the u bolts to prevent arching on the axle. I retorqued mine up to 70ft/lbs and it fixed nothing, I might dial it back to spec, I think its 40ftlbs


Stupid truck

 

^ that and dry out, eventually destroying - cracking the bushings. Lol

WD40 = bad

 

Awesome, thanks OP. There ain't nothing that can't be fixed with some duct tape or lube.

 

do they make urethane bushings to replace the squeaky ones?

 

I actually spray mine with Boeshield T-9 completely about every 6 months...leafs, coilovers, UCAs...granted I have all aftermarket but no squeaks ever and not a lick of rust.
WD-40 isnt the right item for the job IMO...
Anyway back to the second gen side...
Carryon.

 

WD40 ain't lube man.

Come to think of it, I haven't heard my leafs squal since I had my ICON suspension and add-a-leaf installed. I wonder if the installer sprayed some lube in there...

 

Shit, I guess my ex-wife was right after all.

 

We got us a Macgyver here on TW

 

Now you gotta remarry her.

 

Wad-40 should be cologne though

 

So on a side note. When I was a tree trimmer through college my boss used to go to a lot of strip clubs. He used to keep a 1 gal. container of diesel fuel in the back of his truck. Before going home he would sprinkle a little on his hands and rub it on his neck like cologne to get the stripper stank off of him before going home to his wife.

Still a good TTP I carry with me today.

 

WD-40 = Water Displacement Formula 40. definitely not lubricant. Also the problem with lubricating stuff like that (even with proper lube) is that dirt and other shit will actually be attracted to those areas and will stick even more

 

Try silicone paste, same stuff used on caliper slide pins on cars with floating calipers. More friendly toward rubber.

 

Haha good man covering his ass.

 

I replaced the front bolts with grade 8 greasable bolts. They have zerks on the end. Makes the entire front bushing greasable. Never heard them squeak since

 

Uh, nope. I was just concerned with finding the origin of the sound and quieting it.