Drilled bolts that have a zerk fitting in the end allow you to grease your bushing assembly, manufactured for this purpose. Commonly purchased at a trailer supply store.
I am so old I may have forgotten but I think this is the first time I have heard "rented mule". As a kid in the 60's, working in a new car dealership, I was directed to spray rubber spring eye bushings with rubber lub when I was changing engine oil.
In Phoenix we have one of the oldest businesses in the state, Dunbar Spring. They have always fixed every spring issue I have run into in 40 years. At one point I was even selling heavy spring stacks to them that I was buying locally on eBay for 99c + 1.49 local pick-up. Apparently UPS and Fed-x "frequently lose" 200+ lb stacks of leaf springs in the warehouse (because the driver doesn't want to f with it when he can just slide it under a pallet. Then 6 months later they go to auction and I get them for a buck. After about the fifth 1 only stack I brought him I asked if he could go $50 on any size spring stacks...he said I need to know where you are getting them. Okay I said but I spend 5 hours a day bidding on these items and I assure you, you don't have the time. Not to mention they have stores in Germany and Australia, and a 300lb spring stacks for 1$ is no deal if the shipping was $3944.56. He never bid against me. ;)
Being on the Gulf Coast and dealing with a bunch of boat trailers I was told way way back to put your springs in a pan of used oil and let them soak for a few days then install them. I haven't tried that method yet but might just to see the results. As for my recommendation to customers and my trailers I leave them as is but make sure to hit them with a soap and the pressure washer after each launch in salt water. The rest of my trailers the springs get that treatment when I wash them.
I love these videos!! When you are showing something you are going to work on, you have black hands or greasy hands.....just like I do when Im working on stuff. Way to go!
I single axle trailer has a boat on it. It goes in fresh water. I will get the bouncy leaf spring noise about once, maybe twice a year. I use a Dry Lube or a spray of lithium grease. Both do not gather grime or grit. It leaves a white film, which is annoying. I spray between the leafs to penatrate as much as possible. So far, it has worked for me.
Leaf spring lube......WD40, Motorcycle chain lubes, & /or Fluid Film. Runner and plastic bushing are dry.....noisey they are replaced!! When needed...... the battery powered grease guns are a great tool!!
Love the channel man! Found you awhile ago but I've got a single axle bass boat trailer that squeaks to high heaven. I recently changed out the bearings using yer info because I was putting new bunks on and saw that both inner seals were leaking so we just went ahead and changed everything. But now, I'm concerned about the springs and mounting points. There are no grease zircs anywhere. My fear is I could end up having worn out shackles which means I will be cutting and welding new ones. I really like the idea of the bronze bushings. And yes, they are bronze because brass and steel will gall/seize and we know that ain't good either 😢. Given the fact that the wheels get dunked in the water twice a day when I go fishing, is that harder on things?
Just asking 😊 has anyone ever drills holes in LEAF sping and tapped a ZERT fitting for grease 😊 again just asking like my Backhoe has a zero on the cylinder pins 😊 again just asking as that is a totally different PIN grease type. Or can you grease them like a big rig has on trailer saddle. I am just thinking of a way to not have to disassemble your LEAF every time you want to lube it. Your videos are wonderful for LEAF maintenance and that pesky noisy sound. That band is so important, like you pointed out, that LEAF would be like a big knife on tire sidewalls 😊
That's what I've always been told with brake pads. Lubricant on the exposed contact areas just turns to a grinding paste. The grease in a wet bolt design acts as a sealant in addition to a lubricant. New grease in the middle pushes the grit out and keeps it from getting in in the first place. I have seen race teams grease and wrap leaf springs. But that's SUPER SPECIAL applications.
I use wet bolts and bronze inserts on my travel trailer. Grease them every time I am going to drive it for 500km or more. Otherwise once a month. I carry one of those small grease gun in the trailer.
I’m installing new front springs on my peterbuilt truck. Thinking about wrapping them with fire hose to keep the water of from rain and condensate. Then I can grease them too.
I'm surprised you didn't mention how to tighten the shackle bolts. Most suspensions use shoulder bolts, but a lot of single axle trailers use a regular bolt, that if you over tighten, you will lock them from being able to pivot on the hangers. That is in effect a solid suspension (or no suspension). I leave the nuts loose to move freely and spot weld the nut (hard to remove in the future), or replace with shoulder bolts ($$).
Had my shackle straps fail on fith wheel tandem axle.looking at upgrading bolts,shakles,and equalizer. Moryde suspension Do you have suggestions on brand
Instead of WD40, how about a dry lube like CRC or Boeshield T-9? Can you replace just the spindle on an axle? I'd love to send you a pix, but I don't do fb or Instagram.
There are shops/people who will replace spindles. For liability purposes, I don’t. In my opinion, if there is a spindle failure, then the axle is usually compromised, too. For what it costs in labor to replace the spindle, you can usually replace the axle. If it’s a weld-in spindle, there are companies that specialize in spindle fabrication & replacement. That option is often cost prohibitive unless it’s for a larger axle.
I've been dragging trailers around for 40 years and have learned a lot of things I didn't know from watching you videos.
Disassemble the spring and insert strips of teflon between each leaf.
Use teflon 1/16 thick.
Did this on a 36 Ford Hot Rod to eliminate squeaks.
In the oilfield I used a dry lubricant due to sand and dust in Texas. Regular use prevented ware on metal surfaces.
Great point on the dry lubricant!
Drilled bolts that have a zerk fitting in the end allow you to grease your bushing assembly, manufactured for this purpose. Commonly purchased at a trailer supply store.
I am so old I may have forgotten but I think this is the first time I have heard "rented mule".
As a kid in the 60's, working in a new car dealership, I was directed to spray rubber spring eye bushings with rubber lub when I was changing engine oil.
Outstanding. Great information. I’ve done springs the same way you teach. Always worked well for me.
I like using PB Blaster on my leaf
Springs. It works
In Phoenix we have one of the oldest businesses in the state, Dunbar Spring. They have always fixed every spring issue I have run into in 40 years.
At one point I was even selling heavy spring stacks to them that I was buying locally on eBay for 99c + 1.49 local pick-up. Apparently UPS and Fed-x "frequently lose" 200+ lb stacks of leaf springs in the warehouse (because the driver doesn't want to f with it when he can just slide it under a pallet. Then 6 months later they go to auction and I get them for a buck. After about the fifth 1 only stack I brought him I asked if he could go $50 on any size spring stacks...he said I need to know where you are getting them. Okay I said but I spend 5 hours a day bidding on these items and I assure you, you don't have the time. Not to mention they have stores in Germany and Australia, and a 300lb spring stacks for 1$ is no deal if the shipping was $3944.56.
He never bid against me. ;)
Being on the Gulf Coast and dealing with a bunch of boat trailers I was told way way back to put your springs in a pan of used oil and let them soak for a few days then install them. I haven't tried that method yet but might just to see the results.
As for my recommendation to customers and my trailers I leave them as is but make sure to hit them with a soap and the pressure washer after each launch in salt water. The rest of my trailers the springs get that treatment when I wash them.
I love these videos!! When you are showing something you are going to work on, you have black hands or greasy hands.....just like I do when Im working on stuff. Way to go!
I single axle trailer has a boat on it. It goes in fresh water. I will get the bouncy leaf spring noise about once, maybe twice a year. I use a Dry Lube or a spray of lithium grease. Both do not gather grime or grit. It leaves a white film, which is annoying. I spray between the leafs to penatrate as much as possible. So far, it has worked for me.
Great info! Thanks.
Leaf spring lube......WD40, Motorcycle chain lubes, & /or Fluid Film. Runner and plastic bushing are dry.....noisey they are replaced!! When needed...... the battery powered grease guns are a great tool!!
If you're going to keep your trailer for any time at all, put bronze bushings in and wet bolts. Small cost for good results.
Love the channel man! Found you awhile ago but I've got a single axle bass boat trailer that squeaks to high heaven. I recently changed out the bearings using yer info because I was putting new bunks on and saw that both inner seals were leaking so we just went ahead and changed everything. But now, I'm concerned about the springs and mounting points. There are no grease zircs anywhere. My fear is I could end up having worn out shackles which means I will be cutting and welding new ones. I really like the idea of the bronze bushings. And yes, they are bronze because brass and steel will gall/seize and we know that ain't good either 😢. Given the fact that the wheels get dunked in the water twice a day when I go fishing, is that harder on things?
thanks for that info
Just asking 😊 has anyone ever drills holes in LEAF sping and tapped a ZERT fitting for grease 😊 again just asking like my Backhoe has a zero on the cylinder pins 😊 again just asking as that is a totally different PIN grease type. Or can you grease them like a big rig has on trailer saddle. I am just thinking of a way to not have to disassemble your LEAF every time you want to lube it. Your videos are wonderful for LEAF maintenance and that pesky noisy sound. That band is so important, like you pointed out, that LEAF would be like a big knife on tire sidewalls 😊
Would you recommend nylon or bronze for a boat trailer? I'm probably going to change my spring bushings and shackles next season.
That's what I've always been told with brake pads. Lubricant on the exposed contact areas just turns to a grinding paste.
The grease in a wet bolt design acts as a sealant in addition to a lubricant. New grease in the middle pushes the grit out and keeps it from getting in in the first place.
I have seen race teams grease and wrap leaf springs. But that's SUPER SPECIAL applications.
I use wet bolts and bronze inserts on my travel trailer. Grease them every time I am going to drive it for 500km or more. Otherwise once a month. I carry one of those small grease gun in the trailer.
I’m installing new front springs on my peterbuilt truck. Thinking about wrapping them with fire hose to keep the water of from rain and condensate. Then I can grease them too.
Wrapping them
Will
Hold moisture in
I'm surprised you didn't mention how to tighten the shackle bolts. Most suspensions use shoulder bolts, but a lot of single axle trailers use a regular bolt, that if you over tighten, you will lock them from being able to pivot on the hangers. That is in effect a solid suspension (or no suspension). I leave the nuts loose to move freely and spot weld the nut (hard to remove in the future), or replace with shoulder bolts ($$).
What are your thoughts on adding shock absorbers?
Had my shackle straps fail on fith wheel tandem axle.looking at upgrading bolts,shakles,and equalizer.
Moryde suspension
Do you have suggestions on brand
Slso, why don't the leaf springs on my truck squeak?
I wish somone built wagon style cargo trailers with a turning axel in the front.
Instead of WD40, how about a dry lube like CRC or Boeshield T-9?
Can you replace just the spindle on an axle? I'd love to send you a pix, but I don't do fb or Instagram.
Any trailer shop or good pro welder can cut an existing spindle off a trailer axle tube and weld on a new one.
There are shops/people who will replace spindles. For liability purposes, I don’t. In my opinion, if there is a spindle failure, then the axle is usually compromised, too. For what it costs in labor to replace the spindle, you can usually replace the axle. If it’s a weld-in spindle, there are companies that specialize in spindle fabrication & replacement. That option is often cost prohibitive unless it’s for a larger axle.
are you sure you are a mechanic? you use a lot of words that have more than 4 letters?? good video thanks 🤠
WD40 is not a lubricant...
Just don't EVER use any kind of silicone spray on any rubber parts!
It will shut it up temporarily and make the problem worse.