Leaf springs - grease or pads

Hi
I have a 2013 Tacoma - 4 door with the TRD Off road package model.

About 2 months ago after I went through a car wash I found that there’s a squeak under the bed. I looked and it seems like it’s the leaf springs.

It only has about 49k on it for mileage. I don’t tow anything, no off road (sadly), and don’t haul anything.

I am wondering how to tell if the pads are worn out or if I just need to grease the springs and if anyone has any good links on how to grease them that would be great. I can google it, but wondering how long the pads usually last? I live in the Northeast if the weather matters.

Thanks much in advance!

 

First of all. The 2005 to 2011 Tacos had rear leaf spring issues and were recalled. Yours seems to fall outside those model years, but you might have your dealer double check for you anyway. Second. Tacos can develop "loose bed syndrome". So double check it isn't your bed loose instead of your leaf springs. Third, you mention "pads". Do you mean the thin flat nylon spacers between the leaves? If so, you could try silicone spray to see if that makes the noise go away. But that won't last. It's just a test. Avoid petroleum based lubricants (like WD 40 or Lithium, or Vaseline). The noise might be coming from the round bushings in the shackles. Again try spray silicone on those as a test (separate from the spacer test, so as to isolate the source from the two different tests). It may be that you need new bushings.?

 

See my post here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/thought-i-had-squeaky-leaf-springs-wrong.612828/#post-20852002