Greasing Leaf Spring Bolts

When I installed my Icon RXTs a month ago, I had grease ready to for reinstalling the bolts. However, I completely forgot to grease them on the driver’s side. Remembered on the passenger side.

Of course, now the driver’s side is groaning/creaking and the passenger side is making zero noise.

I’d like to remove, grease and reinstall each of the three bolts one by one. I think I can put the back end on jack stands and then use the floor jack to support the driver’s side of the axle to keep it right in place. Drop the spare down, and then go after the bolts one at a time.

Can I do it this way? I can’t remember if the orientation of the bolts on the shackle is such that I need to remove the leaf and shackle to get both bolts out. If so, screw it. I’m not taking the whole thing apart.

 

If there’s room for it, you could use a lady foot bar to tap the bolt out, then tap on the hook while pushing the bolt back in.

 

There’s a learning curve. After a few time you get proficient at taking the leaf springs off and on.

PS; Dobinson makes greaseable bolts

 

I’m looking to avoid removing the springs. Just want to remove, grease, and reinstall the bolts one at a time.

 

I did remove a bolt and replace it with another. It’s doable.

Im not sure if it saves anything doing them one at a time vs removing all the bolts and reinstalling.

 

My reason for doing one at a time is to reduce the chance of the leaf slipping out of position making it harder to get the bolts back in. There’s no time savings.

 

Replace with greasable bolts and there will be no more worries.

 

Decided to tackle this today.

Got the truck up on jacks stands and the supported the driver’s side rear axle with just enough pressure to hold it in place.

In examining the shackle I found that the top bolt cannot be removed without removing the leaf spring first. The bolt head faces the shackle hangar and has nowhere to go.

I still loosened this bolt as much as I could, covered the exposed shaft in wheel bearing grease, and then one at a time removed and greased the other bolts. I also sprayed the area between the sides of the leaf spring bushings and their attachment points in case this was making noise. Reassembled, dropped the truck back down, torqued to spec, and the creaking noises are GONE.

So, cannot emphasize enough to grease your bolts when installing leaf springs.

 

What's the best one? Dobinsons?

it would probably be too much of a pain to fit my stock bolts into a drill press to put a hollow hole, thread tap a zerk fitting, and make my own
probably easier to just buy them

Thinking of pulling into a car wash and bring my rhino ramps with me
to put one on the ground and drive up on it with the rear
or both fronts
to make one rear wheel droop at a time to open up the leaf, spray it clean with pressure washer, then spray fluid film
I guess jacking up the truck/on a lift could also do that

I was hoping this to not be the case, but heard it is.
It may be easier in a shop if you can lift the truck, remove the wheel, support parts with a pole jack, and zap it loose with an impact.

At the time of installing my RXT's, the biggest pain I remember was having to lower my spare tire. I've since chopped the tailpipe and relocated the spare to the bed so it's no longer a problem in the way.
An install guide mentioned the bolts have to go in from the inside, and nuts on the outside, so the stud is not facing into the gas tank where it can gouge it when the suspension moves

grease only lasts so long before you need to re-apply. Maybe it's time to order greasable bolts?

 

I’m getting ready to replace my entire leaf pack . Do these bolts need to be greased and with what? I’m a noob.

 

i used trail gear bolts front and back for the leaf springs and shackles.

 

Sounds like a good idea. If you get the fancy grease zerk bolts, you'll need a grease gun. Pneumatic or cordless are nice but if you won't be using it much, a manual one is good. I've heard lots of people like something called red and sticky or red and tacky, something like that.

 

Lucas red and tacky. Can find it most places, I got my last tube at home depot

 

I downloaded the install guide for the icon Rxt ‘s and there is nothing regarding greasing the pins. Am I missing something?

 

It’s not part of the instructions, it’s just good practice. I bought a can of wheel bearing grease and a tiny paintbrush, just thoroughly coat the bolt before you install them with the new springs. Takes only a minute. There are three bolts per side, two in the shackle and one at the front attach point.

 

Ok thanks!

 

@Hook78 if pulling them out............ Replace them with this

 

Zerkified, that’s pretty cool. I already greased mine. I figure, the stock ones never squeaked even after 7 years. So the grease I applied ought to cover it.