How to improve your ride quality

One reason why our vehicles ride so nicely when they are new is because the leaf springs are all slippery. So they slide over each other as they flex.
As the slippery surface wears away the ride gets worst and worst. There are ways to combat this.

The easy method involves simple hand tools, and a can of spray lube. WD40 won't work for this, it must be some sort of spray grease.

position the jack under the frame, and crack loose the lug nuts. Jack up that side and support it. remove wheel.

Now wedge a flat head screw driver between 2 of the leafs
spray some lube in there.
http://mypage.uniserve.ca/%7Ekvsbt/leaf/DSC01349.JPG

http://mypage.uniserve.ca/%7Ekvsbt/leaf/DSC01350.JPG
remove the screw driver and do the same to the other leafs.

On the front 1/2 you'll see a clamp like this
http://mypage.uniserve.ca/%7Ekvsbt/leaf/DSC01348.JPG
remove it, and do the same thing. Then clean up the threads and put it back.
Put the wheel back on and lower the jack. Don't forget to torque the wheel to spec's.

Do the same thing to the other side.

It makes such a big difference that I'd like to take the extra time to do this job every time that I rotate the tires.


If your on the market for new springs you can replace them with a set that has these grease able inserts installed.
http://mypage.uniserve.ca/%7Ekvsbt/leaf/leaf%20spring%20inserts.jpg
I'm looking for a do it yourself insert set, but haven't found any that I like yet.

And remember to wash your truck first. hehehehehe

Those pic's are from one of my parts trucks that already had the wheels off :grinno:

I just did the job to my Blazer about a week ago and never thought of mentioning it until I saw the Replacing Spring Leafs after 10 Years.... post

Nice post OBP. Next time I have the wheels off - next week - I will do the same thing.
What type of spray lube did you use???

Thanks billibong.

I just used cheap junk, since it's what I had with me. I would recomend teflon spray lube if possible, or graphite would be my second choice.

Bads Crew on the S10 forum sugested used gear lube if your changing gear oil. It would be a little harder but with the funnel tip it should work. Bads idea would sure be messy though

OBP, Thanks for a great tip. I'm off this weekend so this is on my Saturday list now. I think spray lithium grease will work well. If you could get "Never Sieze" or some other graphite product in real deep that would be the ticket. Thanks again, Larry

Can someone explain to me why the ride will get worse if you don't lube them?

They bind together, so the friction is what causes the rough ride.

Tis wouldn't happen on a mono spring setup, which Chevy doesn't use

I was just told that you don't have to remove the clamps on 2wd's

If they can't slide against each other, they can't flex. Imagine you put a big C clamp on the end where the leafs come together and tightened it. The spring couldn't flex at all. The crud between the leafs acts like a partial C clamp.

Just did your service. Took hardly no time! That Is why I love this forum. Good advice and common sense. Please keep them coming!

Bump as this is a reminder for myself. I have to do have in the next week or two since I got my shocks replaced.

Great How To its easy and its something I would of never thought of......

On my 92 Jimmy (4x4) the clamps that hold the leafs together do not bolt on. So I can not loosen them, although I don’t need to because I can gain enough space to apply the oil. However, the rear differential housing has two U-bolts on each side to hold on the axles and differential onto the leaf springs. Is it necessary to loosen these to get in-between the stack of leafs underneath? If so, would this not cause misalignment of the rear end if not properly installed?

Thanks for the great maintenance tip!

an easier way: http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/6518/nofatchicks2bs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

No need to go right into the middle, just go as far as you can.

Your right, removing those U-Bolts will mess up your rear alignment, although with some carefull measurments it's easy to put back

One more quick question! You mentioned that the use of a pry tool will able you to apply the lube between the leafs. I lift up my truck and the leafs have about a 3/16 – 1/4’’ gap. Does this mean the leaf springs are shot? Thanks

They're fine, mine does that as well. I didn't want to mention this, just because some leaf packs might not spread apart like that. My parts Blazer didn't for the pic.
It's the weight of the differential that pulls them apart like that.

It's when you have a broken leaf that you need to replace them soon.

Since your about to take it for a test drive can you let us know how you like the ride?
Thanks

I cleaned in between the leafs with compressed air and applied synthetic gear oil and used compressed air to spread it about… It was a little messy but I have a load of rags to use up. I’m thinking that I should notice the smoothness more then I do, but it’s so slight that it’s hard to register. However, I’m glad I’ve taken steps to maintain the leafs thanks to this wonderful maintenance tip.
My lack of detection could be that my left front shock is going and all my attention is directed at that.

How big of a difference does this really make?

Every new vehicle is different. It really depends upon how new the rear springs are.
It really only takes a few min to try and find out.

I have a question, I just bought a 1998 Chevy Blazer Ls 2 wheel drive. The problem that everything works on the cluster except the Gas Gage, I was told that I would need to buy a whole new cluster, just to obtain to this gage. Anyone out there got any suggestions as to what happened?