Question about throwing in greasable bolts on Dakar leaf pack.

Are people still using these?
(Dobinsons greasable bolts)

I think it's a set of 2. How many are needed?
I believe the truck has:
-top of rear shackles
-bottom of shackles, into leaf
(^at rear of truck)
-closer to front of truck, front leafspring bushings

technically that makes 6,
or 3 sets, $50/ea = $150

So far, I've only heard of people doing 1 set, into the lowers at the rear
because supposedly they don't clear the stock hanger when used higher up in the shackle
I wonder if a set of 2 (rear lower position) would even quiet down the squeak.
Maybe it would, since my rear wasn't squeaking until I put RXT on, so that is what changed before/after (the lower bushings) whereas shackle stayed the same as before, and did not squeak before

If a set of 2 is the answer, certainly cheaper
$50 for 2 vs 3 sets/6=$150

 

@TacoTuesday1 , I recently completed installation of a complete set of the Dobinsons pins / bolts. Since I also installed BAMF hangers, I ended up only needing two sets, since the BAMF shackle comes with one greaseable pivot. So far, I like them a lot, but am not sure if they work with the stock rear hangers - I have heard they do not, but am not sure why some minor trimming of the bolt length wouldn’t resolve that issue. Does the nut look like it will fit between the shackle and hanger? I installed the Dobs on the front pivot and the rear-upper shackle location.

One item to note is that some of the after market springs come with a 9/16” bushing sleeve, and our stock bolts and bush’s are metric, so there’s a very tiny size difference. If I did this all again, I would get TrailGear 9/16” greaseable bolts and drill out the front stock mount to 9/16” to get the bolt, mount, and bushing sleeve all in sync. This is notable for Alcan springs or any others that have 9/16” I.D. bushing sleeves, not stock (these bolts are also useless for stock application.)

I also found that the greaseable bolts are useless without modifying the bushing sleeves, since the working surface is between the sleeve and the poly bushing, not the bolt and the sleeve. Without that mod (drilling the bushing sleeve), the only thing the greaseable bolts do is allow you to pump grease into a void that is mechanically unused.

 

I have two sets installed, I intended to get a third set but I just haven’t made it there yet. Mostly because of the issue @TacomaSalad stated below.

After I put the first set in I sat there staring at it for a few minutes trying to figure out how it was going to do anything useful.
I drew up a design for new sleeves with holes and groves to allow grease to get into useful places, I’ll try making them myself one day but I think it’ll ultimately be a job for a machine shop with the proper tools. Unless I just stick with drilling holes and no grooves.

 

Check out the inside of your poly bushings - you might find that they already have grooves in them. The ones that came with my Alcan springs did have grooves, so only holes had to be drilled. Until the grease can get between the poly bushing and the metal bushing sleeve via holes, the greaseable bolts are only acting as bolts, and any grease pumped in merely fills the void. Grooves in the metal sleeve would be overkill, and would likely act as a cheese grater on the poly bush material. Definitely want to keep those smooth.

Image:

* After this image was taken, I spritzed them with a moly-disulfide film (basically paint) to help start them out nice and slippery.
** If I did this project again, I would not cross-drill in the center again -- instead, I would cross drill 1/3 of the way in from both ends. The center-line is where the poly bush comes together, and so grease likes to come out there, rather than penetrate out to the ends. It would be best if grease came out dead-center of the poly bushings so it can't escape easily.

A machine shop will certainly be able to drill the holes, but guessing at a machine shop price. I did it at home with a drill, drill press adapter (cheap tool), and added some extra credit with a bench grinder with a wire wheel attached to smooth out the holes.

 

Yeah I know it would be overkill I was just trying ideas. My bushes do have groves on the ID and thinking about it now it sounds like you’d be right that they’d interfere.

 

Bit of a thread revival.. I have the Dobinsons greasable pins and energy suspension bushings and sleeves. The sleeves do need an orifice added so grease can get into the space between the bush and sleeve.. I also considered drilling the center but had concerns that it wouldn't align with the narrow spacing between the two bushings. My solution was to zip cut a groove in the centre of the sleeves this guarantees it will line up wherever the bushes end up.

 

Just make sure you cut deep enough to see through and not cut so deep that it splits the sleeve. File off the burrs and you're good to go.