Will I weaken my leaf springs if I drill holes in them ?

As the thread title states , I would like to drill an approx 3/8" hole in my Dakar leaf springs near the front and back to install some OEM leaf isolators to combat my Dakar squeak once and for all , but I am worried that I may weaken them , any thoughts ?

Holes would be here , same size as the existing holes , but in the two leafs you can see that lack holes and isolators

 

I would think if the holes are close to the ends, there wouldn't be much to weaken.

On my old truck, I took a heavy duty plastic laundry detergent jug (bright green is best) and cut up 2x4" pieces to use as isolators and smeared them liberally with anti-sieze for good measure. Held them in place with zip ties. Still working after 15 years when I sold the truck last week.

 

NAAAAAAAAAAA Drill away.
Better start a thread on how these springs suck so bad because they squeak

 

If you drill a hole in anything tempered you alter the temper with the heat created by the drill bit. It will also weaken the area of the spring you drill in,and may cause it to crack. Leafs distribute the weight they carry all the way across,so i would advise against it. Just use something like canoeski said. Far more simple and easy to do.

 

Thanks for reponding

I was worried because this is the military wrap end at the front of the leaf pack , also wondered why ARB didn't think it was a good idea to carry on with isolators there .

I use strips of EPDM rubber between the leafs in this location , you can see the remnants of one in the pic , I was getting ready to replace it and that got me wondering about using isolators

 

You should contact the manufactuer of the leaf springs for the answer to this question.

 

Lol

The springs are great , and they only squeak during the summer or when I get grit in there

 

Good call

I'll email ARB tonight

 

That's what I was worried about .

I use a similar set up as posted above

 

I agree............

 

Duly noted
Duly noted

 

If it was mine I would drill away.

If it was near the axle I would not due to the stress it sees there.

 

Manufacturer's? What manufacturer's? We dont need no stinking manufacturer's

 

That's exactly my point though , I think it sees more stress on the outside of the leaf due to leverage than inboard near the axle location

 

hehehehe sorry about that. Wrong mouse click..

 

I read somewhere that somebody was using some lawnmower side wall to keep thier springs from squeaking. They just glued them on. Said it worked great and they have been on there for a good while now and hasnt lost any. I will see if I can figure out who it was. That would be a lot better than drilling.

 

I'm already using a variation of the DIY Squeaky Leaf fix

 

I WOULDNT DRILL HOLES IN THE LEAFS......
DRILL HOLES IN YOUR HEAD ITS EASIER

 

Did somebody just fart in here ?

 

It was 4WD in his spring refurbishing thread.



And I might have a little bit of gas.......