1 trip to the sand dunes pretty much wipe out my front suspension 
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Suspension sqeaking
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Suspension sqeaking
Hi to all, its been a while since I've posted, so I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place....But I have a 04 S.D. 4x4 with the V-10. I have a sqeak comming from the driver side rear bushing in the leaf spring, any clues on how to fix this? I still have an extended service plan, but thats $100 every time I take it in...Any help would be great. Thanks, Chopper.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 824
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Could be the sway bar, drag link or other front end bushings too. Try spraying each different one with WD-40 till you find the one that squeaks and then replace it. Best thing is to replace them anyway depending on mileage. I kept spraying mine till I had time to replace them. I drove it like this for almost a year.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Yeah, I've replaced pretty much traced down to the bushing in the leaf spring, if I lay under the truck and push up on the frame it squeak in the bushing that connects the spring to the shackle. I will try to get some WD-40 in there and see if that helps...Thanks, Chopper.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
Something else to check is the parking brake cable. Mine squeaked like crazy on my 05 untill I finally figured out what it was. It would rub up and down on the wire hoop it goes through on the side of the frame just ahead of the rear left wheel. Just put a little lube on it and all was solved. Drove me nuts untill I found the source.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts
I have the same squeek.. WD-40 lasts 2 days, silicone sprays last 2 days, dry graphite last 2 days, and low and behold PB Plaster last about 2 months. PB Blaster states restores life to o-rings so I figured it was safe to use on the rubber bushing.
My squeek is from the rear bushing on the passanger front leaf spring.
My squeek is from the rear bushing on the passanger front leaf spring.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Unless you put a lift on and they used polyurethane bushings for the springs, that squeek is because the rubber has seperated from the metal inner bushing, so the bushing is free to turn in the rubber.
It's only a matter of time before it wears out, it's not supposed to rub, the rubber is supposed to stretch and come back.
That is, IF it's really the leaf-spring bushing. With polyurethane bushings, the inner bushing is supposed to rotate freely. Which is why they sometimes squeek
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WD40 is not a lubricant. It displaces water. It happens to contain things that make it slippery, but it's really not meant for that. Silicone is better all around. PB Blaster? Never used it, but if it says it helps rubber o-rings, it can't be all bad.
It's only a matter of time before it wears out, it's not supposed to rub, the rubber is supposed to stretch and come back.
That is, IF it's really the leaf-spring bushing. With polyurethane bushings, the inner bushing is supposed to rotate freely. Which is why they sometimes squeek
--
WD40 is not a lubricant. It displaces water. It happens to contain things that make it slippery, but it's really not meant for that. Silicone is better all around. PB Blaster? Never used it, but if it says it helps rubber o-rings, it can't be all bad.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts
Yeah. PB Blaster is great stuff. It states the O-ring along with restores life to rubber seals. Heck I even used in it in a corroded rear plate light bulb. The bulb was burned out and the socket was all fuzzy. Cleaned it with baking soda and the new bulb was having a hart time staying lit. Cleaned it again and coated it with PB Blaster and perfect.
So a couple times a year, usually at the oil change, and I just spray the leaf spring bushings and all is quiet.
So a couple times a year, usually at the oil change, and I just spray the leaf spring bushings and all is quiet.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
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Hey Chopper, I've dealt with this myself ,evertime it rains then dries up it seems i'm underneath the truck spraying wd, silicone etc. Well I finally fixed it. I got underneath and jacked the truck up high enough to take the pressure off of the bolts. First crack the nuts acouple of turns then begin to lift the truck. You will need an 3/4 impact wrench or a very strong 1/2, to loosen the nuts and back the bolt with a wrench. Once you do this remove the nut and drive the bolt back with a punch just far enough to expose the shoulder of the bolt. DONOT REMOVE THE BOLT COMPLETELY!!! Leave the threads in and Donot grease the threads. When you're done aplying the grease, use the punch to re-aling the springs as you tap the bolt back in to position. If you get greast on the threads be sure to remove the grease completely with carb cleaner or some other type of solvent before you put the nut back on so that they don't come lose. I did this on my truck a year ago and it has'nt squeed since. Oh be sure to recheck and tighten the nuts agian about 500 miles or a month and agian at 1,500 miles or 2-3 months. Just to be sure. I hope this helps you Take Care.
Chopper.
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