Squeeky trailer....

[genre]

Hi all
Calling on your expertise once again.
When I travel with my 2005 Coachmen Clipper Sport 106, It squeaks something terrible. Almost embarrasing.
I have put ball lubricant on the hitch. I suspect that the squeak is from the leaf springs.
Any suggestions. Will I have to unbolt them to grease them? I hope not.
Would like to fix this one by myself instead of running to the repair shop!
 :confused:
Thanks

[mike4947]

Greasing is the last thing you want to do to leaf springs. The squeaking is caused by metal to metal contact between the ends of leaves with the next larger leaf. Grease only serves to help trap dirt/grit and make the matter worse.
What a spring shop will do is remove and disassemble the leaves and look for shiny spots indicating where the binding is and relieve the offending metal. Which usually amounts to grinding away at the tip of the spring.
Most also add urathane strips between the leafs when they reassemble them.
 
Call a local shop. They usually are very reasonable for this service.

[flyfisherman]

A not too uncommon cause of sqeaky spings is coming from the spring hanger/shackle assembly. Dexter Axle offers a heavy duty suspension kit that contains bronze bushings which will put a stop to the "squeaks" ...( i.e., until those bushings wear out!)

Good way to find out if the hanger/shackle bolts are the cause is to crawl under the camper with a spray can of WD-40 and give them a shot right at the contact point of the bolts and the hangers & shackles. You can then give the camper a little up & down shake by standing on the camper's rear bumper - if the WD-40 trick quiets them, then you know where the noise is coming from. Now the WD-40 lube job will only last a short time & distance on down the road, the only lasting cure that I know of is to install the suspension kits.


Fly

[genre]

Okay then,
Doesn't look like I'll be doing this one myself.
I will crawl under and try to see what's what. Be it rubbing or wd-40.
Then I'll take it from there.
Thanks again.
Looking forward to being able to supply an answer rather than just questions!

[mach8274]

Greasing is the last thing you want to do to leaf springs. The squeaking is caused by metal to metal contact between the ends of leaves with the next larger leaf. Grease only serves to help trap dirt/grit and make the matter worse.
What a spring shop will do is remove and disassemble the leaves and look for shiny spots indicating where the binding is and relieve the offending metal. Which usually amounts to grinding away at the tip of the spring.
Most also add urathane strips between the leafs when they reassemble them.
 
Call a local shop. They usually are very reasonable for this service.

Greasing the leaf springs will not hurt them. I used to work for a domestic auto dealer and that is how we stopped squeaking springs. Spray them with a good white lithium grease that will not wash off with water and you will be all set. It is a lot cheaper than taking it somewhere also. I did it with my pup 2 years ago and I haven't heard a peep out of them since.

Good luck.
Dave

[wavery]

You might want to check to make sure that you don't have any broken welds in the frame or tongue assembly. That sometimes is a common cause of loud annoying squeaks. It could also be a precursor to a much more serious problem.

[genre]

Thanks Dave
Am off tomorrow and was going to takethe pop-up in for the springs.
Will try your solution first.
No idea why the trailer is so squeaky. It is a 2005. Just over a year old...
Thanks again.

[genre]

Well folks.
I was under my trailer today to check out the source of the squeak.
I could see where there is metal to metal grinding.
It is on the right side of the trailer at the rear of the leaf spring.
It is where the spring is bolted to the frame hanger that there is fresh metal rubbing marks.
In the meantime I have applied the white lithium grease. This has dulled the intensity of the squeak, but as others have suggested,  will look into having a better attachment put in.
Thanks everyone for all for the input.