Rear leaf spring squeakiness -- Dakars, Alcans or all?

When I mentioned to the mechanic who is doing my frame replace my interest in a Full OME setup, he immediately brought up squeaks. Several people he knew that were running OME Dakars all had rear end squeaks. He suggested All-Pro Expeditions.

After talking with Lincoln @ All-Pro yesterday, I've ruled out Expos because they are not going to handle my daily load of upwards of 900lbs.

After searching and reading several 1st Gen squeaky threads, I've kind of come to the conclusion that most, if not all, Tacoma rear ends squeak. One poster said, "It's a Tacoma thing."

My questions include:

1. Do all aftermarket, lifted, rear leaf spring packs squeak, or end up squeaking at some part?
2. Does anyone have OME Dakar's that do not or have never squeaked?
3. Do Alcan custom packs squeak?
4. This squeakiness that I read about... is it just little squeak-squeak-sqeak... or is it REALLY LOUD?

Has anyone run both Dakars and Alcan customs? Did they both squeak? Or was one noticeably quieter than the other?

 

I run dakar heavies on my 2nd gen. It's a subjective thing but is is really pretty bad. In the cab is fine, but with the windows down or to a bystander, it is pretty horrendous.

 

Am hearing from a fellow with Alcan customs that they squeak like a mofo if he doesn't liberally spray them with some sort of lube regularly. Sounding like it really is a "Taco thing."

 

Just put OME's on this past weekend. No squeaks yet but I've only put 100 miles on them...

 

Didn't have any issues with the dakars until I installed the AALs. I am 100% convinced the squeaking I have is due to the lack of isolators/friction pads (whatever you want to call them) on the AALs.

Had someone suggest to me (sorry, can't remember who it was) to try using this:
https://pilotshq.com/dow-corning-molykote-321-anti-friction-coating-p-12905.html

At least one person has had isolators added to the AALs
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-adventures.362772/page-130#post-13393533

Going to try the molykote next but yeah, its a PITA. I love the OME ride but damn noisy. FWIW, some don't have any issues apparently.

 

My Dakars squeak over every bump. I've had them on for 28k miles so I just live with it.

 

Call these people.
www.nationalspringinc.com
Good luck.

 

My Dakars do not squeak at all and its been 8 months of daily driving and 2 off road trips.

Here is the trick before installing the Dakars.

1. Buy leaf liners and double sided tape. Take apart the leafs its easy. I did not even need a C clamp to remove the leafs or needed C clamps to put them back on. Install the double sided tape and place the leaf liners ontop of them. Repeat on each leaf.
2. Go to Toyota buy 6 OEM bushings for the leafs. They are $8 each. Do not use the recommended poly bushings. Since there is no zerk fittings in the Dakar Leafs I did not want to use squeaky poly bushings.

Look at my build thread of the part numbers.

There you go. Quiet OEM leafs. Super happy I did the extra work since I want my truck OEM quiet just like a brand new truck.

 

Appreciate your post. But am not finding your build thread... link?

 

Mine took about 9 months of sporadic offroad trips and a Utah winter. Give it time.

 

My observation, after being on this site for a number of years, is that all leaf springs will eventually squeak (stock, aals, dakars, deavers). This has been a recurring thread theme, and that tells me no one has yet found a permanent solution. My sqeaking tends to be due to the leaf pack shifting left or right and rubbing against the metal retaining clips. I've tried many of the 'solutions' i've come across on this site (rubber bicycle innertube, toolbox liner, liquid silicone, white lithium grease, etc) but the best solution i've found so far is just a lubricating oil. It penetrates well and sticks to the metal well, especially in those pesky friction spots. I get underneath and apply it once every couple of months and my springs are quiet as a church mouse.

 

Buy grade 8 bolts with zerk fittings. I grease them every oil change which is extremely simple and haven’t had any sounds from the leafs since I did that. I believe I got the bolts from wheelers (not sure)

Edit: I also fluid film the entire underbody often, including the leaf packs, I’m sure it helps.

 

My icons don't squeak

 

My hd dakars got the squeakers after 10 months an one good muddy wheeling trip. Now I spray it with fluid film an it’s good till next good pressure washing.

 

Yeah man, fluid film is amazing. Love that stuff. It gets into everything so I never have to pry the leafs apart

 

I have Alcans, had em for years. The only place they squeak from is the front eye. I put in rear greasable shackles when i did the install so no squeaks there. Next time I install rear springs I'll put in front greasable bolts. For now, when it starts squeaking, I just add a few drops of oil to the front eye bushings. Lasts for several months...

 

Those teflon pads they put between the leafs are wear parts. They wear out and need to be replaced periodically. How long they last depends on how you drive.

Just about every wheeling trip I've been on there's at least one guy with squeeky leafs, it's not really a "tacoma thing". It's just a "haven't gotten around to lubing or replacing the anti-sqeak pads" thing.

 

My dakars have around 30k on them and they don't squeak. However, I pulled out the pressed in front bushings and replaced them with polyerythane.

 

Replaced my rear leafs with General HD springs recently. Have about 4,000 miles on them so far. No squeaking whatsoever.

 

Had custom Alcans for about 60k with no issues. Great ride too. A friend advised me to order them after switching from Dakar to Alcan because of how rough a ride the Dakars had (no load in the bed).

Now I run DMZ Deavers and the worst I get is lots of creaking during articulation which I see as normal.

Deaver or Alcan will build you springs to your exact needs.