Help!

I have a 1997 F150XL with 190000Km on it (yes, 190K)

The rear springs squeek like a sunofagun and are driving me nuts. I hose them down with WD40 from time to time, but that only shuts them up for a few hours.

Anyone else out there having the same problem or knows of a sure fix? I would hate to tear it apart and replace the wear pads if that is not the problem. The truck is used daily for my business and CAN NOT be down for any period of time.

Thanks in advance,
Kris Taylor
Winnipeg, MB

 

This is an age old problem as I have a 1929 Ford pickup truck that did the same and several newer ones that have squeeaked. Best solution I have found is. Take large screwdriver and wedge between the spring leaves and get yourself the best waterproof grease you can buy for wheel bearings on boat trailers, now put the cartridge in the gun and pump grease in between the leaves, the newer leaves have plastic bushings but they still squeek. There again I use a good grade of synthetic grease and it stays in there for a year or better.Then next year repeat it only takes a few minutes. It is especially bad in the cold areas where the road salt is bad. rk

 

Would changing the bushings to urethane and replacing the plastic shims on each leaf work, or is the squeek from the entire length of the leaves rubbing?

Your comment about salt and cold is interesting. Here in Winnipeg it is both for 8 months of the year!

Thanks for humoring me...
/Kris

 

Try wet graphite spray on the bushings. You will still have to do it about every 1 or 1 1/2 months but it keeps it quite.

 

wd-40 evaporates in about a day or two.
Just use something heavier. like the grease
mentioned above.

Rand

Note: Wd-40 evaporates so fast we use it as electrical contact cleaner

 

Mine squeek bad too