I got squeaks.... lesson learned

*cliff notes: shackles squeak, shop didnt lube bushings and over tq, I fix, also had to trim frame bolt = great victory!

I am quite mechanically inclined, but lack a proper workshop and specialty tools. Thus, I paid a local shop $350 to install shackles and rear shocks during COVID (neighbor owns the shop, I cannot press out the leaf spring bushings, and business was SLOW)

Shortly after, I got squeaks. Every small bump, the bed was squeaking. Its unbearable. I got under there and diagnosed the noise coming from the shackles. Great. Today I pulled it all apart. Guess what? NO LUBE!!! WHO INSTALLS POLY BUSHINGS AND DOESNT LUBE THEM!?!?



Well now they are properly lubed. I re-torqued everything and got it back together. I STILL HAVE A SQUEAK on the top bushing, passenger side. I did not see anything about lube on these bushings/bolt. I just sprayed white lithium grease and worked it in a bit. It seems to have minimized the squeak.

UPDATE: dropped the spare again, it looks like the frame bolt is contacting the shackle. After removing and trimming the bolt, no more squeaks!!!

 

Can’t speak on the washers but $350 to install? Damn... I did it myself In my driveway and took a couple of hours. I rented a bushing press from the local auto store that was the hardest part.

I used the supplied grease. What kind of shackles did you install? Toytec shackles can rub on the bed bolts at the lowest setting, you just have to saw off the bolt a little using a grinder or dremel, takes 5 min.

 

My brand new Dakar leaf packs had a squeak on the driver side, drove me nuts! It ended up being, what I suspect, is small amount of friction between leafs once they deflect upon load. I sprayed some aerosol grease in there, and that has solved the issue.

Also, for the top nut on the shock, I'm not sure. Mine is squished down like yours, and I installed shocks myself. I can't fit my torque wrench on that location, so it seemed like the best I could do given the circumstances.

Also, for what it's worth, you can use a properly sized impact socket and 3ish lb hammer to remove the bushings (so long as you don't want to save said bushings).

 

Mine squeaks, but its 13 years old, out of that same area, but driver side... Haven't been able to find it, but I'm stock height and stock suspension which I will swap out this weekend.. hopefully.

 

Glad you got it fixed.