Question about throwing in greasable bolts on Dakar leaf pack.

I used the Daystar greasable bolts/bushings kit for my 1st gen, I'm sure they make them for the 2nd gens as well

 

Dobinsons Greasable Pin Kit for Toyota Tacoma and Tundra 2005 to 2018

Dobinsons Pair Greasable Pin Compatible with Toyota Tacoma and Tundra 2005-2018 - SP59-060

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKFHPT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9WbECbW7SB0M2

 

I plant to get the Dobinson's pins eventually.

I recently replaced the wheelers bushings in my Dakars with Dobinsons. I got them second hand-but new from another member so they were a lot cheaper than buying new (they're kind of expensive). Since swapping I haven't had to regrease my leaf pack or otherwise address squeaks. The bushings are noticeably different in visual comparison and have wide channels cast into them to capture more grease in the spring eye. I'll post pictures when I get home, but if you get a chance to find some Dobinsons cheap I'd recommend them. I don't know if the compound is any different, FYI and there really wasn't anything wrong with the Wheelers bushings, but I was doing a refresh on my suspension and figured I'd just swap everything out.

 

What grease do you guys use? I know Daystar has their own 'brand' grease for their bushings but I've been told any lithium based grease is good for poly bushings, I've been using that on mine and it seems to work well.

 

I have this in my grease gun now. use it like franks red hot (put that shit on everything).

Super Lube 41150 Synthetic Grease (NLGI 2), 14.1 oz Cartridge

$15 Super Lube 41150 Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease, 400g, Translucent White Color

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042FG74W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XgcECbYSZ1VYJ

Next cartridge will most likely be Prothane supergrease:
Prothane 19-1751 Super Grease Tube - 14 oz.

$74 Prothane 19-1751 Super Grease Tube - 14 oz.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JMEC0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MicECb9V8PZ47

It’s a lot more expensive but if you’ve ever worked with it it’s worth it. Super thick and doesn’t move/run/melt which means it’ll stay where you want it. It’s so thick it takes a lot more force to push it through a grease gun.

 

I have a squeeze tube of super lube in the shop for general use and love it. I did some research into grease a while back and ended up with Lukas marine. Its a calcium sulfonate base, which is typically very good against water wash out and has a very low separation value. So in theory it doesnt piss oil all over your shop floor while the grease gun hangs on the wall..

But the biggest reason I went with a C.S. based grease is because its compatible with lithium complex greases (the standard 'red' stuff). Not all greases are compatible with other types, fyi. In this application its probably not critical, but something to consider in the future on drive shafts or other bearing surfaces. Most manufactures provide a data sheet on their grease that will list the type and some other properties. No idea what "Prothane" grease is though, that was never on any of the charts I saw.

Below is a pretty good article (with chart at the end) about different types of grease.
https://www.mobilindustrial.com/IND/English/Files/tt-grease-compatibility.pdf
https://lucasoil.com/pdf/TDS_Marine_Grease.pdf
https://lucasoil.com/pdf/TDS_Red-Tacky-Grease.pdf

 

Prothane is not a high speed bearing grease. Only meant for articulation joints like leaf springs, control arms, steering rack bushings, etc.

 

Good to know.

 

Yeah, it doesn't seem to be the leaf pack itself in my case. It appears to be coming solely from the forward leaf mounts. and that's with OME bushings. Seems to resolve every time I hit it with a spray on lubricant. So I think it's the bushing face on the mount that's the problem.

 

hey, I picked up a pair of the Dobinson's greasable bolts. I'm currently running OME bushings that I installed with my Dakar pack. Would you recommend new/different bushings as well? The current ones aren't old at all. Just installed them last summer.

 

You don't need to. They should be okay

 

I was thinking of snagging the bushings as well. Did you do greaseable pins in just the front or in the shackle as well? Also, did you swap out all 6 bushings on either side?

 

I may just try the greaseable bolts in the front first and if that doesn't work I may have to just get a Dobinson bushing kit and swap out the OME's. Hate to have to tear my rear suspension apart multiple times but worse thing that happens is I get mo betta at it

 

I know the dobinsons ones were recommended for the front only

 

I can do it in my sleep haha

 

Yeah I saw that but also read somewhere they would work for the rear shackles as well.

 

Excellent haha

 

Do you have pics of bolts installed? Looking for the correct length of greaseable bolt for the leafs. Particularly near the gas tank. These are listed at 2.75”..

 

https://www.dobinsonsdirect.com/pro...it-for-toyota-tacoma-and-tundra-2005-to-2018/

 

Has anyone run Dobinson rear springs? How do they compare to the Dakars? It seems odd that the OME are so popular while simultaneously being noisy enough to be bothersome to many owners. Are they that much better than other options?