leaf spring squeek

[prb51]

Ok, Ive re oiled the leaf springs but this time they are really squeeking (never did before that I remember).
So how do I shut them up!
Degrease/wash and start over or what. I just used old 15/40 oil and a paint brush and hit where the leaves end/rub.
Driving me nuts.

 

[DrEntropy]

Not a LASTING answer but: Spray th' livin' snot outta 'em with PB Blaster.

..are ya SURE it's the leaf springs squeakin'? There are bushings and bolts, mounting points to consider too. Damper links, lots of possible "squeak" sources.

 

[19_again]

the squeak in my MBG "springs" turned out to be the bushings, just needed some grease.

 

[DrEntropy]

My point, presqueakly! :smirk:

 

[TR3driver]

While I agree it might be bushings squeaking (or shock links, shocks, etc.); you might want to think twice before lubricating the bushings. The original bushings were rubber, should not require lubrication, and petroleum products will degrade them. IMO if they are squeaking, it's because the rubber has already sagged/rotted, and is letting metal rub on metal.

To "do it right", you'll need to disassemble the springs and clean between the leaves. But that's a lot of work, especially if they haven't been off the car in the last few decades. So what I did was to spray them with PBB several times over a few weeks period, then brush on a layer of used motor oil as the book recommends. With any luck I'll find out how well that approach works in a month or two.

 

[prb51]

I don't think it's the bushings, all of the rubber was replaced upon rebuild and only has about 10k on them.
It started after I oiled them and it appears to have loosened some old rust/grit so I'll do the PBB thing and reoil.
Thanks

 

[DrEntropy]

ah. New bushings... no oil then. Gotta be those springs. PBB should eventually wick into the dry bits.

 

[Tinkerman]

Back in the mid fifties I worked at a service garage and when any lube job came in we routinly sprayed the spring leaves with aomething the owner called obscene. I'm really not sure what it was. Today I would figure a silicone spray would work just fine. Wouldn't hurt the rubber either.

Tinkerman

 

[19_again]

My mistake of omission, my bushings were poly. Back when I was a teenager, I worked for this great old guy, a Frenchman named Lafayette Chartrain. When things got slow he'd have us clean the windows in his apartment building. He called them "scream" windows. We could never get him to use the right word, but then again he spelled our names right on payday, so it was just a fun thing to deal with every spring.

 

[TR3driver]

my bushings were poly.

Ah yes, a different story entirely. Poly bushings are famous for squeaking, and a little oil or grease won't hurt them at all.

 

[prb51]

Ok, sometimes the most obvious is the hardest to figure out.
I used the pb blaster and believe me, I've some well oiled springs, OPEC would love these springs...but they still squeeked and even more so.....
How about tighten the 4 cage nuts that secure the springs to the axle. They were not 'loose' but once tightened no squeek.
I believe the initial heavy oiling loosened grime/some rust etc between the leaves and allowed lateral movement (very slight but enough) to cause the squeeking.
Man, that drove me crazy and thanks for the help.