There are two causes of leaf spring squeak: tight eye bolts or shackles, and mis-torqued u-bolts.
You’ve just installed a new set of leaf springs, and you hear a squeak!
The squeak could be coming from the springs, or they could be coming from somewhere else. But for now, let’s focus on how leaf springs could cause squeaking.
There are two ways new leaf springs could squeak:
- The eye or shacklebolts are too tight
- The U-bolts are not tight enough
Fixing Eye and Shacklebolt Squeak
Take out your eye and shackle bolts and, before reinstalling them, coat them with Never-Seez. When you reinstall them, just snug up the bolts. Don’t over-tighten them.
Fixing U-Bolt Squeak
With the full weight of the vehicle on the springs, torque them to standard spec as outlined in this chart. Then re-torque the U-bolts after 50 miles, then again after 100 miles.
If you’re still hearing squeaks, chances are it’s not your leaf springs.
