Squeaky Dakars : Any advice from others with the Dakars ?

After having another look at page 31 - about 3/4 the way down( https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-with-the-dakars.156353/page-31#post-10669474 ) I saw this photo:



I neglected to put zip ties in this area...maybe that will do the trick.
I will also look into the front end of the leafs as well per your comment OZ-T.

 

I thought this was a picture just showing that the zip ties walked their way down.

 

Ya know, that could very well be. For some reason, I didn't think that they could have "walked" down that far on the leafs...
That and I'm tired...and sick so, my head is in a fog.
Glad you pointed that out to me.

 

No worries I'm in the same boat- and trying to figure out what method I want to use before I install my leafs.

 

If you have a set of Dakars new, I would just install them without any "fixes" first. If they begin to squeak and/or make a bunch of noise, then go from there. I have a buddy who's been through 2 set of Dakars and never had either pack squeak.

 

Thanks for starting this tread @OZ-T, just stumbled across it. going to try the zip tie method and see if my dakars will quiet down.

 

5 years later and still no real fix for the Dackers?

I didnt read through all 5 years worth of threads but has Dakar actually acknowledged the problem?

RJM

 

I can always call ARB and see what they say on the matter....

 

What a great thread to stumble over! Installed less then two weeks ago and I got me a bad case of the squeaks. Will try this.

 

Great. I would recommend trying it the way Cape Codder did his. He wove the zip ties around the second leaf. I don't know if he off-roads, but in his report, his zip ties did not move in 7 months.

I did mine a slightly different way by only wrapping the main spring. The issue with that is, the zips will walk down the leaf when the spring pack flexes. I solve that by tying the zips to the bushing eye. The issue with that is they don't hold forever, and will break.

Cape Codder's example:

 

But you better not cut the ties like he did or else you'll get internet flaming. Make sure to use the twist method!

 

I just got off the phone with a tech guy at ARB USA.

He recommended that if your pack is squeaking, you should back off the nuts to the bolts that hold the pack to the truck(Do Not completely take the nut off, only loosen them) and then bounce the rear end of the truck by standing on your bumper. Then re-torque the two ends to spec. The other stuff we talked about has already been discussed in this thread. I am going to do this, apply Dry Moly Lube between the leafs, and put zip ties on the other end. I'll post my results.

 

lol that shit made me laugh pretty good when he posted it.

 

Anyone have a good estimate of life span for the Dakars? I am loading up a Camper real soon, and they are looking a little played out under there so was considering getting a new pack with the extra leaf

 

I've studied up a little bit on springs and it really comes down to how you use them, and how much you use them.

Generally speaking the life cycle of a leaf spring depends on how many times its been cycled. Also a factor is whether the spring pack has been abused (stretched beyond elastic limits).

A friend of mine who is very hard (4-wheeling trails with expo weight) on his Dakars, said his lasted 5-6 years or so. I would imagine that Dakar would last a long time like 10 years, for most Tacoma owners.

I love mine.

Compress.


Tension.

 

Crom- was just in your build thread reading about your Dakars. Would you recommend prophylaxis for the squeak or install and see how they work out? Which method you recommend?

 

I will answer but first some background information.

As far as I can tell, all leaf springs will squeak by virtue of their design, unless something stops them from squeaking.

The squeak is caused by the metal leafs vibrating against each other, when the leaf pack is contracting or expanding. In my very limited experience with the Dakar, it has been the main spring working against the second spring making the noise.

The Dakar's squeak because ARB was cheap on the design, and didn't fully isolate the leafs with a non metallic object, like rubber, plastic, or molybdenum molecules.

So to answer your question, Yes, absolutely treat the leaf pack before you install because it will be easier for you.

I've said this before, but if I was doing this again. I'd cold drill the ends of the leafs and

$13 Dorman 924-070 Rear Leaf Spring Insert Compatible with Select Models, 4 Pack

install leaf spring spacers. Many OEMs do that. My Toyota Leaf pack which I ran for 5.5 -years 55K miles never made one squeak in it's entire useful life.

Here is an example of an All-Pro leaf pack. See the hole drilled?

Photo Credit @tyfoon11


Spacers / Silencers go into the holes. Look at All-pro disassembled leaf pack, every leaf's end has one.

Photo Credit @tyfoon11


The Dakars squeak because they are missing that in their design / assembly, specifically, the leaf under the main spring.

If drilling holes is too much, Zip tie / ty wraps method and dry molly lube spray.

 

Thats what I said

 

Prefurbishing FTMFW.

I'll be able to do the next set even faster. If they aren't as horrid with mill scale as the 1st gens were, I will still dismantle them and coat all with dry spray moly lube and apply some thin, adhesive-backed UHMW plastic (1/16th or less) between leafs in the Specific Area Of Concern on 2nd gens near the front hanger.