Squeaks too much and a knocking noise

[jgermann]

I've had my leaf spring lift on for about 6-7months now and it squeaks everytime I turn, hit a bump or anything. I know lubing the whoel thing up will help, but do I need to drop the leaf spring down and get in the bushings and everything?

I am also noticing a slight knock in my feet when I hit a certain spot in a turn. I can hear it a little but and I can feel it. It only does it once after you turn to a certain point then it will do it again when straightening back out. I have tightened every bolt up to steering box and greased every fitting int he front end. Any ideas?


'94 YJ 4" Leaf spring lift 35" tires

[LEVE]

What type of bushings? If they're poly, they will squeek more than rubber. Lubing won't help a lot with poly bushings.

Have you looked at the motor mounts and transmission troqure arm?

[Jim_Lou]

My idea for your squeaks is that you shouldn't have to lube leaf springs. They should have plastic (Nylatron or similar material) spacers between the eaves. If the sliders are squeaking it may be because they need a little more time to wear in to their mating surfaces. But if you do want to lube them jask the Jeep up by the frame. Then spread the tip a little and spray a teflon dry lub in there.

Nothing should be sliding at the bushings. The motion is taken up by the rubber part of the bushing twisting. There really shouldn't be any sound coming from them. If there is the likely culprit is that the inner steel tube is rotating on the through bolt. Tightening the bolt should cure that. It's OK to spray the rubber bushings with silicone as a preservative, but that shouldn't change the squeaking.

If you get the knock in the steering while sitting still, crawl under and watch and listen while a buddy turns the wheel. Sometimes you can feel the source with your fingertips when you can't locate it otherwise. If it doesn't happen except when moving it will be hard to track down. It could be a cracked recirculating ball in the steering gear, worn ball joint or tie rod end, or something else.

[jgermann]

They are poly bushings that came with the kit. I was going to spary white lithium grease on them to see if that would help. THe reason I think its the springs is because when I was checking rear axle U-bolts for being loose (this is the same jeep that was/is a little pulling left when I accelerate and right when I let off) I was rolling it front and back in gear and the springs where moving a little and squeaking.

I haven't checked the motor mounts or the tranny torque arm, but that is a great place to start because sometimes when I take off the shifter will shake back and forth. I can also do as Jim suggested and feel while I'm under there for any knocking. I guess I'll have to get the wife to help and turn the wheel for me.

After I tightened and grease everything on the front end, its not pulling anywhere near as bad and helped with the play in the steering. It only pulls a little when using excessive acceleration.

Thanks again...I'll check this weekend and update probably Tuesday. I appreciate all of the suggestions and advise I get on here, its helped me out quite a bit so far.

[Jim_Lou]

NO GREASE! It will definitely eat rubber, and will probably eat polyurethane also. Look for a Teflon dry lube. It's not real common but a great product - perfect for sliding windows, weather strips and the like. It goes on wet but dries quickly leaving a thin film that lasts a long time, won't bother rubber or anything else I've ever found, won't hold dust and is slick as - well, Teflon. I get it at Grainger.

[jgermann]

OK, thanks for the tip. I was just going to use the lithium grease because it is readily available to me.

Do you thinkthe shaking of the shifter has to do with the motor and tranny mounts?

[LEVE]

The lithium won't hurt the Poly bushings... I've been using it for a decade on mine. The shifter shaking has everything to do with motor or tranny mounts unless it's a manual transmission and the tower components are worn out.

[JeepDawg]

Ditch the poly and go with rubber...less road vibration and no squeak....been there and done that....no more poly on my jeep...

As for the knock...I'm betting eithe the front stabilizer shock is 'kissing' the pumpkin or your leafs are slipping. Have the wife/mistress turn the steering wheel back and forth while you are underneath watching the front axle. It will usually be obvious. My old front leafs would kind of 'fan' out as I turned the wheel causing the noise you noted.

[jgermann]

I would have rather used rubber instead of the poly but I wanted to get it done and that is what came with it. I will prob look into getting rubber and changing this winter. First I want to find source of the noise and squeaks and fix that....it is driving me nuts. I definately need to check the mounts, i can feel it shaking underneath and it does it really bad going through the field. I'll print this forum and and take it home so I don't forget any of the suggestions.

The shift doesn't shake everytime I take off, if you take off easy it doesn't do it. When you take off from a stop and give more than gas than usual is when it starts to shake but it stops when you press the clutch it. I guess its the torque that is causing it.?.?

[LEVE]

When you take off from a stop and give more than gas than usual is when it starts to shake but it stops when you press the clutch it.

That seems like a problem with the clutch...