Squeaky OME Dakar Leaf pack fix/solution?

Pic from thread mentioned above.

 

Would you recommend to treat the leaf springs with energy suspension grease prior to first installation? Take them apart and grease the whole leaf spring or just contact points? Thanks for any info

 

You're gonna be waiting awhile for a response from ol' Smitty. At least from that Smitty...

 

I had the squeak of death.

I flexed the axle with a jack on one side to spread the leafs, then put a large flathead screwdriver in to spread the leafs one at a time, giving me daylight to the yellow poly separator pads, then using a pinpoint head grease gun pumped NLGI 2 onto the poly separator and did that for each pad/leaf.

No more squeak.

 

Wait till tomorrow!


Kidding of course. I had the squeak about a year I to having the Dakars, and then it just stopped and has never come back. I guess I got lucky. 2nd gen dakars with no plastic pieces.

 

Sorry, I've been meaning to respond to this thread but work and home life has been very busy.
Some weeks ago, I picked up the phone and called ARB USA's tech line. Talked to a useful bloke who knew EXACTLY what I was talking about. He said that the newer leaf packs with the spacers tend to squeak more than the previous generation and the reason for that is the spacers they place between each leaf. The spacers are very hard plastic designed to be resilient over a longer time period than those used in previous generations.

The tech sent me the TSB to address squeaky leaf packs. I've attached it here.
HTH

 

This is it. Thanks for posting!!

 

Great share thank you for posting this

 

One more thing, ARB guy said any NLGI 2 grease will work provided it's a marine grade grease; they are easier to find. He uses this SKF brand but I can't find any less than $150. If y'all can, let a brother know!

 

Good info.

For WIW, I used this and seems to work great so far through snow, water, mud, and dusty roads. Only been a month or so however. Time will tell how long it lasts. But I trust it and use in my ag tractor and mowers for over a decade.

https://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Multi-Purpose-HD-Lithium-Complex-Grease-TY24416.html

Edit: it's only a few $

 

Thanks for pointing this out. It's an NLGI grade 2 so that should work fine.

 

So just greasing those yellow plastic spacer/inserts will cure the creak ?? Struggling with this atm

 

yes. thats it. 10 min job and very easy to do.

 

Did you read the TSB? It gives specific instructions around prying the leaves with a pry bar and squirting grease in there. The tech also told me that it helps to raise the rear end so there isn't any weight on the springs (i.e. springs are hanging), that is, when trying to pry between the leaves.

[sorry for leaving y'all hanging. posted too soon by accident]

 

I went out and bought some fluid film from O’Reilly, jacked up the back of the truck with my Hi-Lift sprayed in between the leafs and on and around the plastic inserts. Silence, blissful silence

 

Yea I think I've heard FF mentioned amongst the TW halls...
Thing is, it won't last long. You'll be back to full squeak pretty quick. That's been the consensus I've read. (I was considering FF before I finally called ARB and talked to someone.)
But hey, please make a 'liar' out of me -- Go out, get dirty, wash down your rig, and report back!

 

Remove what? You left us hanging man.

 

oh I'm sure the squeak will be back as soon as I hit the trails this weekend. I just wanted to try it out to see if it actually worked and it did. What are you guys learning from ARB? Is there a part I can order to fix the squeak permanently?

 

I jacked up to sag the springs, pryed the leafs apart one at a time and squirted some NGLI 2 synthetic grease all over the yellow pads. after a few months of dirt, dust, mud, water, snow, and flexing, still no squeak.

 

Do the TSB like @Rocco-Taco said.