DIY: squeaky leaf fix

i have 128k on my 05 tacoma and it squeeked like crazy. This fixed it completely

 

I'm a little squeeky so i'm gonna go ahead and do this!

 

Almost 2 months and this fix is still working!

 

ok so i havent done this yet but want to tonight, so if im correct its in front of where the ubolt is, theres like a little clamp holding two of the leafs together? is this right?, and i just spread em apart and but a piece of bicycle tubing in between

 

Just stick it between where the steel leafs touch each other. On my OME drakars, they touch at the ends and only one place in the center where the thick leaf resides.
You'll need a pry bar or a thick screw driver to separate the leafs and then stick in the bicycle tubing where the leafs touch and you're done. I left the tube "round" so that there were 2 pieces of rubber between each leaf. Should last longer before wearing completely through.

 

didnt work on mine :/ o well only out like 10 min of time

 

Did you put it exactly where you have steel to steel contact and keep the steel from touching? If you did it would HAVE TO work because the steel can't rub together and squeek.

 

Yeah, I've got to be 6 months in and no squeaks at all. Love this fix!

 

I need to do this. You can hear me coming from a mile away and I have to crank up my radio or i'll go insane from the squeaking.

 

Had the same issue. Fix it before you go insane like I did. I couldn't put up with it any longer.

 

well i put it in the spots that the op put his, and i made them pretty long, but my leafs do touch at each end but i tried to pry that part apart and theres no way because thats where the pressure seems to be

 

Great thread! Very well written.

 

I did this a almost a year ago and it started making the noise again right after I drove on some dirt. I ended up doing it all over again with a piece of the actual tire rather just the inner tube. it has help up great so far

Thanks

 

Cant wait until some nicer weather to do this. My truck squeaks even if you just simply touch it.

 

If you get underneath and listen real close while pulling down or have someone else rock the truck you can trace where the sound is comming from. I thought it was my bushings, but then I took a broom handle and put my ear on it and touched the broom all over and found it was louder on the springs. Here's the fix. I jacked it up, spread the springs apart, pulled the plastic inserts out and covered them in black RTV silicone, put em back in, spread the spring area with the silicone, lowered the jack, then spread more silicone to provide a barrier to keep the grit from getting between the springs, smoothed everything out so it wasn't noticable. Done. It's been over a year, and it hasn't sqeaked yet. The silicone provides a little cushion and flex's just enough to prevent sqeaking and it also keeps the grit out. It's an easy fix with one tube of silicone and about 30 minutes of your time.

 

This works great. Thanks

 

Just hit 100k on my 07 Taco and it was squeaking from the slightest movement. Did this yesterday and no more squeaks!

 

Nice write up. Very easy solution. Tried this but didn't work for me. I think my problem lies in my shocks.

 

Did you try the broom handle trick? This should help you determine exactly where the sound is coming from. The sound will be loudest at the problem area.

 

I did not. I got underneath and listened. It sounded very close to the shocks and I had my brother listen also, but I will try the broom handle trick.