Disassembly and Servicing Emu Dakar Plate Pack Questions

I have 40k miles in a year and a half on my OME suspension kit. In the last month of so, the rear pack started to squeak, which is no surprise for you guys here..... I reached out to ARB and they sent over a servicing kit that includes new yellow leaf wear pads and black leaf wear plates.

The included instructions say that I need to completely disassemble the entire plate pack in order to install the new pieces and stop the squeaking.

Questions as follows-

*is this necessary?
*can i just jack up the truck and use a pry bar to separate the leafs and install the parts?

Any guidance short of complete breakdown would be supper helpful! Thanks guys and happy Friday!!!

 

You can use a pry bar. I’ve done it but it gets a little tight in there. Still, less work than breaking down the whole pack.

 

Thanks! what cleaner did you use? Or is any degreaser okay?

 

My recommendation is completely remove the pack from the truck and fully disassemble it. It is not hard and you will be able to do a more complete job. You'll be able to clean each leaf it's entirety, and also regrease the bushings which are probably contributing to your squeak as well. I've torn mine apart and cleaned and regreased them a few times. A dry lube between every leaf helps too. I use WD40 dry lube.

 

So full disassembly or pry bar? What have you guys done? sorry to keep bringing this up, just want to make the right call since one requires a lot less work and more time to drink beer.....

 

I can almost guarantee you that if you do not fully disassemble the pack, you will still have squeaks. I've had multiple Dakar packs for years and have a pretty good idea of what it takes to deal with these squeaky packs.

Edit: I've done both methods. Once you break it down and get a good baseline, then you can use the prybar method in the future to maintain the lubrication in between the leafs.

 

I would remove, disassemble, clean, lubricate, and reassemble. You will get the best results this way.

 

OORRR, do nothing and live the squeaking. Its great having a late model truck that sounds like its as old as you.

 

Sounds like a “cast a vote” thread. I’ve done the pry bar before too. I’d highly recommend removal and disassembly too. Reassemble with good grease for urethane bushings (superlube) and make sure you use a C clamp to release the pack and squeeze the pack when reassembling.

 

Since Dakar’s don’t have a bunch of arch you can get away without a C clamp. Once you undo the centering pin, they maybe expand 1.5”-2”. To put it back together I just kneel on the pack and rebolt it. I’m a whopping 165 lbs.

 

I only mention that for safety sake. When you get to that last thread you just never know how much energy is being stored. Also not worth the risk of damaging the center bolt not to use a clamp if you have one.