Dakars and Squeaking

Hey Everyone,

been a little while as I haven't posted in a bit as I thought I was settled on my mods but now itching to get 33's and new wheels.

Anyways, I want to kill this annoying squeaking / creaking I'm getting from my OME Dakar Leafs. They are not the HD, but the mediums or regular I believe. Purchased from Headstrong Offroad. For a 1.4 years I've had them on my truck, but in December they started randomly squeaking and creaking over any serious bump. Even just driving you can hear them a little. I've taken a wire brush with some fluid film over the places where I hear it. Still nothing. They all have surface rust (I live in New England) but overall in good shape and only a year old.

Reading around some say this is normal, but aside from taking everything apart and cleaning (which I can't do myself, I'd have to pay someone) do you guys live with it or what can be done? Am I missing something? They were installed professionally by someone I trust but with this Corona thing, I can't meet up with him.

 

Many people have success blasting a pressure washer in there every few weeks or so.

 

Dakars and Squeaking.

That's correct.

 

You can put a flat head or something in-between, spread the leafs and put grease in-between them. I do that and have no squeaks.
Mine even had plastic pucks at the end that looked like pinholes in the middle to inject grease and it spread it out. never did it that way though

Don't use your fingers when you do that. If something slips, bye bye finger.
Had the guy do that when I installed them and didn't have any squeaks for over a year and a half.

 

I greased the poly bushings. They still squeak. When it gets warmer I plan to jack the truck up a spray some lithium lub on the pads. In the meantime I keep the windows up.

 

Darkars are known for squeaking. Most I do i spray white lithium grease in the bushings and stuff. That works till the next big rain or water crossing. Its apart of the game.

 

At least yours didn't break!



The squeak never really goes away until you swap them out for non-Dakars...

 

Lucas motorcycle chain lube. Soak it and let it sit for a bit. That should get you by for 3-6 months depending..

 

It's criminal that OME doesn't have a POV on a reliable way to combat this (at least not that i've read). This product has had this reputation for a while now, you'd think they'd try to address it.

 

Haven't seen that before on Dakars.... oof

 

Hmm this may work better than white lithium because it is less viscous but still tacky. Goo idea! If i remember, I will try this after my can it out.

 

Buy Motorkote. Put it in a spray bottle. Spray your leafs. I did this over a year ago when I moved into an apartment complex with speed bumps. The squeaks were really bad. Since I sprayed them with Motorkote, no squeaks. Been over a year. I forget where I read this but it truly works.

 

This seems like a pretty good option https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ripcords-spruce-mica-build.552033/page-14#post-22284329

 

Wow thanks guys! At least I have piece of mind knowing this is common. I'll try some of those things. Until then, guess its part of the game.

 

You guys put the lube in between the leafs or you put it in the bushings? I am going to install Dakar heavys soon and want to know what I can do before installation

 

Leaf liners. Setup the leafs right before you put them on. Take em apart, paint them, dollop of grease on each anti squeak pad and a full length leaf liner inbetween each main non overload leaf

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Leaf-Spring-Liner-with-Lip-2-1-4-Inch,39823.html

EL095R's Been on my truck for over 2 years, no squeaks.

 

You've certainly got some options!
I tried a few and nothing worked. Then I found the Motorkote option. Multiple washings, bitter cold Gunnison Colorado winter, scorching hot Texas summer, wheeling in the sand, mud, etc and still no squeaks and no visible residue on the leafs. I just sprayed both connections, the rubber washers, and between the leafs, anywhere there was contact.

Good luck with whatever method you choose!

 

I lubed those bastards (the bushings) generously and still got squeaks.

 

What technically is the squeaking? the leafs rubbing against each other? Or the bushings?

 

I honestly don't know and couldn't find a solid culprit so I just hit everywhere there was contact with the Motorkote and it worked.

Edit - I originally thought it was the pads, but I'm still not sure.