Leaf spring bushing recommendations?

My leaf spring bushings are starting to squeak so it's time to replace them. It sounds like polyurethane is the way to go. Do you have any recommendations as to who has the best ones or where to buy for the best price? How much of a difference will there be between polyurethane and worn out stock units?

 

Are you sure its the bushings that are squeaking? It could just be your leaf springs need some cleaning.... Spray them out good with a power washer - especially at the ends.

I don't know what the tacomas have currently, but most vehicles I've experienced (1st gen & jeeps), the bushings have a metal sleeves in them. The sleeve & bolt often become rusty and an fuse together over time. Taking them apart and lubricating with grease would be good. You have a 2011....too soon for your bushings to need replacing.

If the bolts are separate from the shackles - I would highly recommend getting greasable shackle bolts. These bolts have a grease zerk on the end and allow you to lubricate the bushings without taking them apart. I would recommend getting a KIT that includes the greasable shackle bolts & Poly bushings together. Many options /brands out there. I've had these on my Jeep....

Do some google searching....

 

can't speak to Tacoma specifics on this topic, but poly bushings in other applications do at least 2 things...........

Make the ride firm (or sometimes harsh) as they can be a lot stiffer than a new OE part

Make a lot of noise once the assembly lube dries. Unless you get fancy ones with zerks

But unless your vehicle has a lot of miles/load hauling/rough roads or weathered deterioration, I'd guess the squeak may well have another source.

 

Energy suspension makes great bushing kits.

 

Energry Suspension bushings. The black colored ones. As they are graphite infused.

Try cleaning between your leaf packs first. I pulled mine apart and applied antiseize to them. Really helped.

 

I just got new Alcon springs with polyurethane bushings and they started squeaking right off the bat. If I had to do it again I would go with the OEM bushings. Just my 2 cents. Anyone know what is the best grease to use on the polyurethane bushings?

 

I have found that a die grinder and a 4" wheel may be the fastest and easiest way to remove old, stuck bushing bolts, and them remove the bushings on a big press...and when reassembling, use PLENTY of grease on the inside of the metal sleeves.

Howard

 

i'm going with Allpro std leafs, anyone know off hand part numbers or info for greasable bolts that would fit?

 

The bushings they come with will accept an 18mm greasable bolt, which All-Pro carries, but you'll have to drill your hangers out slightly since the stock ones are 14mm I think.

 

hmmm... so I just need to order bolts, or new sleeves as well? (or maybe could drill some holes in the sleeves that came with it?) thanks for the info!

 

The sleeves are meant to reduce the inner diameter to the stock bolt size, so they aren't needed with the 18mm greasable bolts that All-Pro offers, but the stock mounts won't accept that large of a bolt, so you'll have to drill them out slightly. Adding a lube system to the 14mm bolts may compromise the strength. I'd call All-Pro for more info.

 

interesting. thanks!

 

I also would not drill.
I would worry about compromising the strength.
Contact All Pro.

 

Drilling the hangers would only be 2mm on the radius... very minimal. Drilling a 14mm bolt to make it greasable is questionable, which is why they use 18mm.

 

hmmm this one is interesting, anyone tried this stuff? I was thinking of something similar but that one with the lip looks better and easier than buying sheets of plastic and cutting it up

 

I have a new set of AP STD's I'm waiting to put on... I figured I should do it now and never worry about the squeaks again. how many rolls you buy?

 

Ding,those liners look perfect for building your own spring pack.
Any plans on adding a Chevy spring to your pack like Old Man Doug recommends?

 

AP STD's are 11 leaf with no overloads so I think i'll have to do all the layers. might end up being 3 rolls

 

Did you ever use those and did they eliminate the squeaking