squeaky leaf springs

Hi gang...the leafsprings on my '93 4WD ec pickup recently started to squeak
real bad. Is there anything I can do short of replacing them?
Thanks!

Liberally douse with WD-40 or some other penetrating lubricant. I'm sure
some one else from this group will supply the equally better part.
Meanwhile, wd-40.

"BTF" <faddisb@wustl.edu> wrote in message
news:e1gir7$t2l$1@newsreader.wustl.edu...[color=blue]
> Hi gang...the leafsprings on my '93 4WD ec pickup recently started to[/color]
squeak[color=blue]
> real bad. Is there anything I can do short of replacing them?
> Thanks!
>
>[/color]

"Brad Taylor" <BradTaylor@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:123oct53l2jd3e1@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> Liberally douse with WD-40 or some other penetrating lubricant. I'm sure
> some one else from this group will supply the equally better part.
> Meanwhile, wd-40.
>
> "BTF" <faddisb@wustl.edu> wrote in message
> news:e1gir7$t2l$1@newsreader.wustl.edu...[color=green]
>> Hi gang...the leafsprings on my '93 4WD ec pickup recently started to[/color]
> squeak[color=green]
>> real bad. Is there anything I can do short of replacing them?
>> Thanks!
>>[/color][/color]

.... except that WD40 isn't a lubricant, and you'll want to keep it off of
the rubber parts in any case.

Assuming (danger! danger!) that the squeaks are not caused by a broken leaf
or damaged bushings, you can use a spray lubricant with graphite. The
makers of Liquid Wench make a relatively inexpensive one.

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Mike Harris
Austin, Texas

I know there have been gobs of discussion on WD-40 here. Okay, so it's not
a lubricant as lubricants go, but I've used it on the bottom of my truck for
ages (20+ years) with no apparent harm to rubber or synthetic parts. In
other words, I haven't had to replace them. It works great on squeaky
things, but isn't a permanent solution. Give the fellow a name brand item
to go buy, instead of making him read every bottle on the shelf. I know
somebody here knows. Don't be so quick to shoot down ideas.
[color=blue]
> ... except that WD40 isn't a lubricant, and you'll want to keep it off of
> the rubber parts in any case.[/color]

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:36:17 -0700, "Brad Taylor" <BradTaylor@ev1.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>I know there have been gobs of discussion on WD-40 here. Okay, so it's not
>a lubricant as lubricants go, but I've used it on the bottom of my truck for
>ages (20+ years) with no apparent harm to rubber or synthetic parts. In
>other words, I haven't had to replace them. It works great on squeaky
>things, but isn't a permanent solution. Give the fellow a name brand item
>to go buy, instead of making him read every bottle on the shelf. I know
>somebody here knows. Don't be so quick to shoot down ideas.
>[color=green]
>> ... except that WD40 isn't a lubricant, and you'll want to keep it off of
>> the rubber parts in any case.[/color]
>
>[/color]

It's certainly cheap and easy - I've used it for a long time too on
rubber parts.

"Brad Taylor" <BradTaylor@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:123to83iv4j43cf@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
>I know there have been gobs of discussion on WD-40 here. Okay, so it's not
> a lubricant as lubricants go, but I've used it on the bottom of my truck
> for
> ages (20+ years) with no apparent harm to rubber or synthetic parts. In
> other words, I haven't had to replace them. It works great on squeaky
> things, but isn't a permanent solution. Give the fellow a name brand item
> to go buy, instead of making him read every bottle on the shelf. I know
> somebody here knows. Don't be so quick to shoot down ideas.
>[color=green]
>> ... except that WD40 isn't a lubricant, and you'll want to keep it off of
>> the rubber parts in any case.[/color]
>[/color]

Okay, Brad. I did in fact name a brand but here's a link to what I was
referring to:

[url]http://www.gunk.com/prod_photo.asp?img=LG_L512.jpg[/url]

I didn't mention anything more specific as there are many products on the
market, and maybe on the shelf in BTF's garage, which will perform the same
function without him having to go out and look for that particular can. And
also because if I had mentioned something more specific some knucklehead
would have flamed me saying that many other products work just as well blah
blah blah....

You say the WD "works great on squeaky things, but isn't a permanent
solution" - exactly my point. Not to say that it's not great stuff. It's
got a jillion uses (just visit their web site), and doubtless does a fine
job protecting your truck from cancer, but it makes for a poor lubricant.

Lastly, WD *is* hard on rubber parts, although not in a "melt them like the
Toxic Avenger" fashion. It will dissolve plasticizers added to "rubber"
lines, insulation on electrical wiring etc and make them more brittle over
time.

BTF is free to use any damn thing he pleases on his leaf springs, but if
someone suggests a less-than-appropriate solution I'll certainly "shoot it
down" or at least toss in my opinion on why it's not the best solution. I'd
expect nothing less were I the one posing the question.

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--
Mike Harris
Austin, Texas