Fluid Film squeak

I had fluid film applied a weak ago. It smelled awful, but gradually dissipated.

This morning I drove it and no smell, but now my truck squeaks and creaks over every little bump.

WTF? Is that from the FF? It never made any noise before now.

2015 TRD OR w 3” Toytec lift and 33” Wildpeak tires.

 

Should be just the opposite...ff will stop squeaks if you had one.

 

Yes I know. It doesn’t make any sense… except I read that FF attracts road dirt and grime and if it gets into flex points it can cause creaks.

So it’s either that or an unfortunate coincidence.

 

Dirt attracted in the leaf packs?

Do your Toytec shocks have exposed shafts? FF on those could attract dirt and chew up the seals.

 

Interesting, this will be the third year I’ve had my truck fluid filmed, and I go to Krown where they stand under it lifted, and spray hose every nook and cranny, and not a squeak coming from my truck.

 

My truck is 17 years old as is quiet as a church mouse after 4 or 5 years of fluid film applications. Just looked it up....4 applications in 5 years. Missed one year due to the COVID shut down.

 

Do they spray every nook and cranny of the shocks too?

 

Like someone else said, FF is sticky and attracts grit, my guess is your leaf springs are holding some gravel

 

That’s how mine looks after. But they don’t use the same coating, it isn’t red, so there may be something to your suspensions.

 

Toytec shocks are red from the factory.Here’s how it looks pre application.

 

Did it ever squeak? If it’s not FF, then why would it start creaking all of a sudden?

 

I don't think FF would attract very much dirt in only a week. It takes awhile.

 

I wonder if the combination of the plastic bushings on the Toytec shock mounts and FF can cause the suspension to squeak?

 

This will chew up the shock shaft seals (though it's good for the rest of shock). Take a Spray Nine spray bottle, reach between the coils, and clean off any Fluid Film on the shock shaft. Use a toothbrush if dirt has caked on there already.

 

https://fluidfilm.com.au/faq/


Will Fluid Film adversely affect plastic or rubber?
No. It is safe to use on trim with no adverse effects. On 100% rubber, some swelling can occur.

 

I use fluid film on everything except the coilovers, shocks, and leaf springs... attracts too much dust and dirt. On those components i use Boeshield T9... waxy/less greasy and clear compared to FF.
https://boeshield.com/why-boeshield-2/

 

FF is just lanolin + a quick evaporating solvent + their terrible scent formula. It's just sheep's wool wax.

Once it dries, it has a tacky/waxy feel but it's not like adhesive residue or anything.

OP do you happen to have a gravel road or driveway to get home? If you think the squeak is from dirt, you should be able to use a hose to rinse off the underside without affecting the FF coating.

 

Hose down your leaf packs with something like WD-40. I do this a couple of times a year when I'm spraying my frame. I use FF and the cheap, Dollar General WD-40 type spray. It's a little thicker than WD-40 so it has some hang time but it wicks into the little sandwiched areas really well.
If this quiets the truck, you've found the noise. If not, it's in the front suspension. I might guess that it's something to do with your sway bar bushings. When they are installed dry, they don't move relative to their mating surfaces. Once some FF migrates in there, you may have some movement you didn't before. Try spraying those next.