My 2007 H3X has a lot of creaks and moans coming from the rear. My dealer looked at it and thought it might be the fiberglas spare tire cover. He put a piece of felt tape around the perimeter of the cover to stop the fiberglas to fiberglas contact. He tightened up my tow hook. Then he lubricated the leaf springs. He thinks this is the biggest cause.

It was a temorary fix as the squeaks are back. I can lub the springs but I'm not sure what to use.I have lithium and silcone sprays. Anyone else solve some of their squeaks and groans?

 

In my experience, once you start lubricating leaf springs, you create a viscious circle. The lube attracts and traps grit, the finest of which can get sucked into the gaps and spaces between the springs, creating more sgueeking etc.. noise, which will temporarily go away when the lube is freash, only to return again and again with continued vigilence every time.
This is what I do, works for me??? (1) Clean the leaf springs really well, at a spray wash, or with a power washer and soap. Stop at this step and repeat when needed if you prefer.

Then (2)use an old wash mit or rag.... and with dishwashing soap in a bucket, wipe the springs clean as you can, this is THE fun part cuz you probably will have to get partially under there to do it good. You do not have to do #2 immediately after #1 so you can move the truck or wait b4 you get under aroud the back with wet ground etc...

Do 1 & 2 when you expect the weather to be good for a couple days following. (3) When good and DRY, spray the leaf springs a good coat (two is better), no need to gob and cause drips runs...., with your favorite rubberized undercoating. I like Dupli-Color http://www.duplicolor.com/products/undercoating.html. You can skip #3 if you like, but you will probably be repeating #1 (and maybe& 2) more often if you don't.

 

They have several products Doc. Do you think the sound eliminator version would help? I don't want that thick textured stuff.

 

Sure. That should work. The idea is to try and seal up the gaps/spaces between the springs withthe flexible variety of undercoat, so it won't crack so easy and let more stuff back in. If it is sprayed on a clean dry spring it should work really well. Also makes the springs look good, bonus.

 

So, you think the tire cover fix has taken that out of the picture? I would take it off for a while and make sure.

 

Everything is really tight on the spare. When I push like Hell on it I get no squeaks. One member used sound deadner inside his rear door.

 

We do a lot of heavy off roading here and I had the same problem. Tried greases, oilsand sprays which only helped for a few days and the noise returned. Tried the extra dry route after 6 cans of Gunk cleaner and it was even more noisy. The other day on closer inspection I noticedone of the spring bushings/pads/spacers located between the individual leafs had lost it's button that holds it in place and the pad had moved back on the leaf causing the metal tipto rub the leaf above. My other bushings were wore down flatter than flat allowing the leaf tips to touch the leaf above. Just received a new Teflon set from 4 Wheel parts (Jackit also carries) made by Skyjacker that will have to be modified a littleas the button on the Skyjacker is oval versus round on the original. Should be able to trim a little off so they snap down in place. I got me a weekend project ahead spreading those springs apart.

 

Buzz,
Cool post. Please keep us up to date on the teflon spacers. Do you have to remove and disassemble the leaf springs?

 

just get a rancho 4" lift and it will include new back springs

 

Holly crap..I don't want to lift it!! It corners like a hay wagon as it is!