DIY: squeaky leaf fix

Beautiful fix and still helping people 9 years later. Looks like I'll be buying a bicycle tube this week.

 

Thats a great idea! It's nice to hear that the fix is still working so many years later!

 

I had the leaf spring recall done in 2017 on my 2005 taco. The springs started squeaking like a impotent mouse a few weeks ago so I took my taco into the dealership that did the recall fix only to be told that the squeak was due to the isolator pads which have been updated. But the isolator pads are not part of the recall so wanted $300 to replace the isolator pads. In my book the isolator pads are a part of the leaf springs and Toyota admits to a problem with the isolator pads , which are a part of the leaf spring recall, by updating the pads. Does anyone else feel like Toyota is giving to us with a red hot poker and no lube? I ordered the the updated isolator pads and told them I would replace them myself. The updated isolator pads cost $76 pre-paid and they will in tomorrow. Toyota can kiss me where the sun doesn't touch me.

 

Both my OE leaf springs and the recall replacements squeaked within ~ 2 yrs. I didn't read this thread but the <$10 and <10 minute fix is to jack up one side of the rear of the truck by the frame so the leaf spring fully sags, blow out any dust between the leafs with compressed air (wear goggles), and spray white lithium grease in between the leafs. Then repeat on the other side. This will last a few years and then repeat. I'm still on my first re-grease of the recall springs with no squeaks

Edit- I've owned my truck since new, 11 yrs, and think I've done this three times total

 

I’m glad I stumbled across this! Great job!

 

Mine lasted about 25-30k. They're squeaky as shit again but I don't really care anymore. I'll just go back to spraying motorcycle chain lube between the leafs every oil change.

 

If your truck is under 36,000 miles they'll put in the new pucks for free:
Here's the Warranty info for those who want to print it out and bitch at the service department like I tried to do:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10142877-9999.pdf
Of course, I thought I was good to go at 44,000 milles since I paid for the extended 50k warranty but they changed the warranty just for this to be 36,000 miles which was Very "un-Toyota like". Pissed. Will try the black plastic oil bottle and RTV glue or heavy duty silicone method after the next time I take "Sandy' muddin'

 

I’m not having a squeaky problem because I live with there’s no rust. On the other hand, the warranty service that I got when I bought this truck (used) was basically crap.

My left rear spring has sagged over 10 years, just with age (It does not appear to be cracked) and I have a set of airlift bags that I keep pumped up….on the left side pretty high to compensate.

To boost up the springs on both sides, I cut some pucks that were T-shaped and stuck them in behind the metal clamps so they wouldn’t push out.

I used 3/8 thick black high density polyethylene cutting board from Walmart and I cut it into pieces with a saw.

With the car jacked up off the spring as much as possible, I Took one in the vice grips and heated with a propane torch. You don’t want it smoking hot…that ruins the plastic.

Heated them up until they are slightly pliable, then I stuck them into the slot and left the truck down on them. I jacked the truck up and down about eight times because I did this one at a time.

This adjusted my springs from side to side (I put four on one side and six on the other.) And it lifted the whole back of the truck a little bit.

It was like that for about 20,000 miles and then recently I noticed they had spit one out and had to replace it. Probably from doing a burnout in the dirt or something…pounding the spring.

I think maybe I needed to make them a little fatter and hit the center more so they form up around the edge of the spring.

I put new front springs in this truck a couple years ago but I really should’ve done the rear springs first. Meh.

With the OME front springs, BS-5100s all around, plus a rear anti-sway bar, I have been very happy with the handling of this truck, both loaded and unloaded. And I have never had problems with squeaks from the springs.

But I reached the end of the road with this left spring and I am going to change both of them. I hesitate to look up the price of OEM Toyota springs and I will probably buy aftermarket.

 

just wanted to say thanks for this. worked great!