Stop The Noise!

The leaf springs squeak to no end. I jacked up the rear of the vehicle (to get some space between the springs) and washed the underside really well. I also sprayed some Slick-50 lubricant in there. It worked great - for 1 week :(
The squeak is back - Help!

Personally, I don't think you can ever get rid of it entirely, but if you want to go through the hassle, get some teflon strips and put them between the leafs.

Hey Travis, I remember reading (over a year ago I think) about a very high grade plastic (quite thin) that goes between the leaves. The springs have less internal friction (which is good) and are quiet (which is great). I'll see if I can track down the article. Or, you could try National Spring....they seemed to know about the stuff when I called them a while back.

WD-40 cleans up the springs. Super Lube in the silver can keeps them from squeaking for a while.

Welcome to owning a leaf-sprung vehicle!

Ha, you should hear mine the past few days! SOunds like an old squeaky porch swing or something.:rolleyes:

The three plastics are; UHMW, Nylatron GS and Teflon (PTFE). It was suggested to use a thinkness of between .03-.06 inch. Just trim a place s sheet between each leaf. You can get material from: Plastic Sales Southern Inc. (323) 728-8309.

The story was in"Off-Road" June 2000.

hmmm... A good idea!

.03-.06", why not thinner? Is that so the leaf spring grips the insert?

I ask because I can get 0.02" teflon skive or 0.025" teflon coated fiberglass. Nothing as tick as you say. I might give this a shot one Saturday afternoon if I can obtain the stuff for free.

If its going to cost me I can deal with the squeek.

Thanks Ned, I'll do it when I install the new AAL!

This board rocks - Nobody yelled "Use the search engine you retard!" :D

Originally posted by Goliath the X
hmmm... A good idea!

.03-.06", why not thinner? Is that so the leaf spring grips the insert?

I ask because I can get 0.02" teflon skive or 0.025" teflon coated fiberglass. Nothing as tick as you say. I might give this a shot one Saturday afternoon if I can obtain the stuff for free.

If its going to cost me I can deal with the squeek.

I think that they determined if it is any thinner, it will wear more quickly and not worth the effort. The real bonus is that the suspension is more fluid (better) because there is less friction. I would do some research before diving into it. I can scan in the article if people want.

You'll never here that kind talk here! We all help each other! Sometimes we poke fun at each other, but all in a good way! :flash:

Eek! :eek: My truck is getting noisier. Seems to only be the left side. I'm guessing the noise has something to do with adding the AAL's last week, but I'm not sure. While looking under there, it appears that the shock on that side may have a bad seal, but I don't think that's the noise I hear. It's really loud and embarrassing creaking sound though. I just hope it's not soemthing more serious like a U bolt that may give up on the trail next weekend! :(

Philosopher,

WD-40 worked for me for about the first year and a half. Now they just squeak all the time, no matter how hard I clean or lube. As for it being common in leaf sprung vehicles, I guess it depends on how the springs are built. I have had 3 other leaf sprung 4WDs and they didn't do it. Has anyone put in an aftermarket spring pack and if so have you experienced the squeaking yet?

Originally posted by Philosopher
WD-40 cleans up the springs. Super Lube in the silver can keeps them from squeaking for a while.

Welcome to owning a leaf-sprung vehicle!

Find a big oil pit and drive through it...It will coat the springs and reduce friction between the leafs..... It might even lubricate the frame and allow it to easier slide over rocks..It would also coat the frame and reduce rust...Just be careful when pulling back onto the road, because your tires will be very slick....:frog:

Ok, so maybe that's not the best idea I have ever had, but if you're in the right mood it could be funny...

On a more serious note, coating them with as much oil as possible is the only thing I know to do. WD40 is good for cleaning, but will do very little (if any) to lubricate and prevent squeaks. White Lithium grease in an aerosol can is my preferred lubricateing grease for metal parts. It works great on door and gate hinges...It may be difficult to get in between the leafs though, and a side affect, it will leave a white coating on everything....


I used lubricate way to much in this post, so I know I'm going to get flamed for it....:flipa:

Cliff

Originally posted by wilburburns
White Lithium grease in an aerosol can is my preferred lubricateing grease for metal parts.


I believe that is what Super Lube is made of.

Originally posted by Snoopy
Thanks Ned, I'll do it when I install the new AAL!




So you'll be taking the whole spring pack out and taking it apart? YIKES. Your AAL install will end up taking a LONG time if so. You're talking about 4 times as much work if not more. Personally I'm just living with it and lubricating them every so often. Otherwise, get a new spring pack when you have the cash. Doing that much work on the Nissan spring pack seems like a waste of time to me.

I agree. Just Lube the springs periodically and crank your stereo.

Dog

Originally posted by ChuckH
Eek! :eek: My truck is getting noisier. Seems to only be the left side. I'm guessing the noise has something to do with adding the AAL's last week, but I'm not sure. While looking under there, it appears that the shock on that side may have a bad seal, but I don't think that's the noise I hear. It's really loud and embarrassing creaking sound though. I just hope it's not soemthing more serious like a U bolt that may give up on the trail next weekend! :(


Have you and Schlud (or someone else) looked at it really good yet? It may be a loose U bolt, it may just be the spring pack ... either way, good luck brother, let us know what happens.

Originally posted by Philosopher

Personally I'm just living with it and lubricating them every so often. .

I've thought about lube, but won't that just make things worse? It seems like all the dust would just stick better on the first outing. I agree that it would be a bit of work to get the leaf teflon (or whatever) placed, but wouldn't the increased functionality of the suspension make it worth while?

Originally posted by ned946


I've thought about lube, but won't that just make things worse? It seems like all the dust would just stick better on the first outing. I agree that it would be a bit of work to get the leaf teflon (or whatever) placed, but wouldn't the increased functionality of the suspension make it worth while?


I haven't noticed that it makes things worse at all, it just helps to stop the creaking for a while.

What "increased functionality"? The spring pack may not creak as much but you're not making the leafs more "functional" in any way.

I personally just don't see the point in putting more work than is neccesary into the stock spring pack. It's going to sag sooner or later, you may as well work it as best you can for now and then just get a new spring pack when it's trashed. (Remember I've already had my spring pack replaced once under warranty, then I added the 2" shackles, then I added AAL's. My spring pack is good for quite a while.)

Are you running the 2" SLR Shackles and the AALs? I still have my SLR Shackles on, care to comment on how they compare to the AALs? I've heard about the shackles killing spring packs, but haven't noticed it on my truck.


Dog

I went back to the stock shackles from my 2" SLR's when installing the AAL's. The leafs are back to their original position that they had with the shackles and steel rear bumper/tire carrier. The difference being that the spring arc has returned and thus better suspension response.

I would suggest trying the AAL's with stock shackles first. Then later you can always put on the 2" shackles before your springs meet their fate.

Thanks Schlud, looks like an option I may pursure in the near future.


Dog

Originally posted by Philosopher


What "increased functionality"?

I assume that decreased friction (leaves slide more easily against one another) equals "increased functionality".

Yes, new spring pack will be on order, but IN order (ie - not now ($)).

Originally posted by Maddog
Are you running the 2" SLR Shackles and the AALs? I still have my SLR Shackles on, care to comment on how they compare to the AALs? I've heard about the shackles killing spring packs, but haven't noticed it on my truck.


Dog

You will have to take a look at mine sometime. Sagging a LOT with just the shackles. Need AAL's soon.

Originally posted by ned946


I assume that decreased friction (leaves slide more easily against one another) equals "increased functionality".

Yes, new spring pack will be on order, but IN order (ie - not now ($)).


I really doubt that sliding something between each leaf to quiet them gives you anything more than a quieter ride.

I'm with you on the money thing - I'm not worried about it for quite a while.

Originally posted by Philosopher


I really doubt that sliding something between each leaf to quiet them gives you anything more than a quieter ride.



I dunno.
Just an FYI (man I hate that phrase, please forgive me) but if you didn't see the earlier scan of the article regarding this material, the story was for increased suspension movement, not noise. They listed noise reduction as the "added benefit". It would be interesting if someone has the knowhow and time available to try it out (if ya do, please post your findings!).