VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Leaf spring lube

I detect a pretty noticeable squeak from my leaf springs, how are they lubed? The manual states use a cup grease with 15% graphite? Where do you get something like this and where is it applied

Are the springs open or wrapped. Also it's quite likely the squeak is coming from the shackles.

There are some of the covers left,not all

That was then...This is now...I personally would invest in a can of LPS ( lay some newsprint or cardboard below ) and spray liberally...Unless of course you are republican...grin

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

Kevin I guess that is my best option so far????
If it is that simple,why would the manual state the addition of graphite to the grease???

Graphite is a very good lubricant, but very messy. I would take the rest of the spring wrapping off. Raise the car with a bumper jack to relax the springs and spray them as Kevin47 stated. Also place a jack stand under the frame if your going to be under the car while it is on a bumper jack. I recently removed the rear springs from my '54. Took them apart and ground the steps that had worn in to them with a disc grinder. Greased the leaves and reassembled with new shackle bushings and pins. rides nice and no squeaks yet.

As a younger man, I would have gone with the manuals suggestion...In fact I've done it that way...Including repainting the leaves, too....But as Cleon will attest...You will get good and satisfactory results with the spray method...I wouldn't "empty" the whole can at once, though...Using the "straw", spray between the leaves, both sides...just 'till it starts to drip, then come back later and do it again...and again, 'till the cans gone or you think you've made a sufficient "mess" of things...wipe off excess...

If it is the shackles does one use LPS on them also ??? So far I have used WD40 on them with little luck. My springs have fully intact covers and I have used the adapter for grease gun to springs and pumped grease into them until it ran out so what little noise I getting must be from the shackles.

Good info,thanks guys.I guess no reason to over think this one.I guess with an interior soon,I will no hear alot of the sounds I've come acustom to

You might give LPS a shot ( grin ) can't hurt...WD-40 isn't much of a lubricant...It's primary use is displacing moisture...

LPS? What do those letters stand for? I'm not familiar with it.

It may be a good practice that when using an unfamiliar acronym to state the full title first. After that if the item occurs again the acronym can be used. For instance:

AA Alcoholics Anonymous

AA American Airlines

AAA American Automobile Association

AACA Antique Automobile Association of America

VCCA Vintage Chevrolet Club of America

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps (Tiny may know about this one)

STP Scientifically Treated Patrollium (For all you who want to add something)

WPA We Poke Along (MrMack may know about this one)

JB Jim Beam (Eastern Ed may know about this one. Spirits of choice in South Vietnam)

JD Jack Daneils (Steve may know about this one, but, given his location, may be more familiar with NTPL = Non-Tax-Paid Liquier)

Aside from the safety issue, is it a good idea to use a bumper jack. I just don't like the way the bumper is distorted when one is used to lift a corner of the car. I'm always amazed that the bumpers return to the same place when the jack is taken out. At least I think it does. I'm sure if we can, all of us would use a floor jack.

A small bottle jack works well. Even a 4-6 ton one is small and reasonably light and will pop the old car up to change a tire in a heartbeat. Carry a piece of wood for support and a towel to lie on. Selection of a place to put it under the front-end seems to be the only downside. Any comments?

As to the instant problem. I think I would recommend pumping some chassis grease into the spring shackles first.

Charlie

BTW: Kevin, et al, please don't take my suggestion on the use of acronyms too seriously. It is merely a suggestion and not intended to be anything more. No offense intended.

I didn't know, 'till I tried to look it up, that your question as to what LPS stands for would be so difficult to answer...What I did come realize is that heck, it's not much in the way of a lubricant, either...! It might silence the squeak temporarily but there must be something better to use ( spray wise ).

Anyway, I never could determine what LPS stands for...Thanks for the "trick" question, Charlie....grin

My shackles have no grease fittings. They have rubber bushings and really don't make that much noise. I only hear it when pulling slowly in/out of garage. I suppose I should be thankful that my engine is so quite I can hear the shackle/spring squeak.

Maybe the addition of graphite"recomended"is better for the rubber?Yes no grease fitting

Graphite is a "dry" lubricant and useful for some rubber applications. There are also some liquid rubber lubricants that are not mineral oil based so don't deteriorate the rubber.