Another Squeaky Suspension Question

[Hunter450]

My lifted DS sounds like an old bed spring going down a trail. The timing is wrong for me to rattle can all the suspension parts with smelly sprays or greases. Can anyone provide me the correct torque for the rear leaf spring bolts? I remember cranking down on these and I probably have them too tight. Most of the squeaking is in the rear when the cart's suspension is traveling up and down.

[NCPW]

You're more than likely hearing squeaks from between the springs and not the actual mounting bolts/bushings.

Dry lithium can help this or I've even seen some people use old leather remnants (like an old belt) between the leafs to kill the noise.

[Hunter450]

Originally Posted by NCPW

You're more than likely hearing squeaks from between the springs and not the actual mounting bolts/bushings.

Dry lithium can help this or I've even seen some people use old leather remnants (like an old belt) between the leafs to kill the noise.

I only have a 2 leaf stack and the top leaf is just a homemade shorter leaf to act as a helper. I cut some poly??? thin kitchen cutting board material and placed between the leafs. It really doesn't sound like metal. I'm going to loosen the bolts and do a test ride just for my curiosity.

[DaveTM]

FWIW......I had several squeaks coming from my Jakes front Lt heim joints. An application of chain oil......chainsaw oil or even bicyclist's chain oil did the trick. No more squeaks.

[Hunter450]

Originally Posted by DaveTM

FWIW......I had several squeaks coming from my Jakes front Lt heim joints. An application of chain oil......chainsaw oil or even bicyclist's chain oil did the trick. No more squeaks.

Copy that Dave. I'll may hit the front heim joints with some chainsaw bar oil. My only reservation with sticky oil is that I operate my cart on sandy loom soil and I don't want to create the sandpaper effect.

[DaveTM]

Originally Posted by Hunter450

Copy that Dave. I'll may hit the front heim joints with some chainsaw bar oil. My only reservation with sticky oil is that I operate my cart on sandy loom soil and I don't want to create the sandpaper effect.

I hear ya on the sandpaper effect. I drive thru a lot of mud and get that fine gritty silt on everything. OTOH, a quiet cart is (as you know) key to being undetectable by woods critters.

If I have to replace the heim joints every two years or so in order to be quiet.....so be it.

[jclark138]

The heim joints are the culprit? My Jakes LT can be heard over just about everything else here. ( and I manage a kids’ summer camp - it’s loud! ) I tried squirting some various lubes but no help. Haven’t tried bar oil, or bicycle chain lube yet. If the joints get replaced, I think it’ll be nylon/delrin or at least a grease fitting. And then the ride at the back end is worse than my water truck - and that’s saying something . . . Next time a 3 or 4 link rear, or IRS ? ha ha

[Hunter450]

Originally Posted by DaveTM

I hear ya on the sandpaper effect. I drive thru a lot of mud and get that fine gritty silt on everything. OTOH, a quiet cart is (as you know) key to being undetectable by woods critters.

If I have to replace the heim joints every two years or so in order to be quiet.....so be it.

You're spot on with that

[DaveTM]

Jclark....If you have a squeak coming from the rear (txt I assume) then you need to replace your rubber bushings in the front and back of the leaf springs. It's not a difficult task to do. When ordering the rubber bushings I recommend replacing the steel tube insert that is found on the rear bushings. The front bushings do not have that steel tube.