Hey gang, with the help of my wife, finally found a noise that has been bugging me for a while. It wasn't loud, but still annoying. Yesterday, I was able to easily duplicate it by pushing down on the bumper by hand. Got my wife to do it while I was under the truck, and traced it to the left leaf spring assembly. Found out by just squeezing the 2 upper 2 leaves (separated by a few millimeters), they'd make a metallic 'TAC' noise, and it'd be repeated when releasing the pressure. Wonder if somebody else here has that.

At any rate, lubed the crap out of the space between the 'leaves' with Fluid Film to no avail. It's actually the second leaf, since the first is the one hooked up to the truck (the right assembly is quiet). It's really weird why metal behaves that way, but it's obviously just an isolator issue; probably not enough for the lazy Ford tolerances. Anyway, I fixed it, at least temporarily, by making my own isolator, out of an spare motorcycle seat rubber bumper. Cut it in 2 pieces, rubbed them with oil, and inserted them between the 2 upper leafs, while separating them with a large screwdriver. The thinner half closer to the end of the second leaf, and the larger one closer to the C clamp, where there was a bit more space between them. No more noise now, but with the suspension movement, the rubber might lose the tension it's exerting between the 2 leafs over time. We'll see. A better solution would be to clamp the 2 leafs down together to avoid that little movement that makes the noise, maybe with a large worm-gear clamp? Suggestions welcome . And no, I'm not taking my truck to a dealer just for that, so skip it . Thx.

 

if it can be duplicated easily, just take it to the dealer, that is why your truck has a warranty on it.

My truck doesn't do it

 

Are you missing the OEM spring isolator. This picture is from the WSM showing how to cut the old one out if it needs to be replaced.

 

Thanks brother. But that piece is there. Unless there's a piece of rubber that should be glued on top of that plastic part, nothing seems to be missing. The adjacent metal 'C' clamp with plastic inserts is also there. That's the weird thing. Looks exactly the same as the right side, which is quiet. The isolator just needed to be a little thicker, I guess.

I don't see how you could insert a new isolator without removal, but since my truck has the isolator, it'd need a new assembly, and hope it doesn't have that issue too. But again, I'm not going to let a dealer mess with my truck just for that; not worth it to me, when it's perfectly functional, and noise is minimal. Anyway, how about fixing that by prying the end of the leaf a little, and inserting a thin rubber piece on top of the plastic isolator? That'd fix the creaking permanently, no? But I'm not going to mess with it unless it starts making the noise again. It'll be more likely when I haul my motorcycle again; with the added weight, it might destroy the rubber pieces I inserted there. Only time will tell .

 

with the exception of that plastic piece/and the bushings in the bolt holes there are no serviceable items in the spring pack. If it needs anything other than that, you need a whole spring. Which are nice and cheap too

 

From the WSM

Installation

NOTE: Two leaf spring tip isolators are available for replacement and are based on vehicle payload.

Black — Base payload vehicles
White — Heavy duty payload vehicles (greasable)

1. NOTE: If necessary.
Trim leaf spring tip isolator post to aid installation between the leaves. Use the General Equipment: Knife
2. Install the new leaf spring tip isolator and remove the non-metallic wedge.
3. Wash the leaf spring assembly to remove any remaining dirt or debris using a power washer or direct
stream of water. Using shop air, dry the leaf spring assembly thoroughly.
4. On heavy duty payload vehicles (white leaf tip insert), apply a thin coat of grease to the leaf spring tip
isolator surface.
Material: Motorcraft® Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound / XG-3-A (ESEM1C171-A)
5. Repeat the procedure for the remaining leaf spring tip isolators.

 

Thank you for the instructions, in case I ever need them. But since the isolator is there, doubt replacing it with an identical one would fix anything. By the way, my isolators are GRAY, not black or white. Hmmm. I might order one of each, and if noise returns, consider which one to use. It just needs to be thicker than the current one. But I'd try to add a thin rubber to the existing one before cutting it out. Need to look for a sheet of such material to also quiet the cup holders, and other future noises. Thanks again for all the help .

 

The instructions really deal with cleaning and lubricating as if that is the important aspect. Never have had any spring issues with my truck.

Hope your solution works for you in the long run. Nothing more annoying than a noise you can't isolate.

 

Thanks brother. I can barely hear it only when going super slow, like when backing up the truck into the garage. And since it doesn't affect functionality at all (similar to the cold deceleration rattle not affecting the engine), it'd have to be WAAAAAAAY worse to even consider taking my truck to a dealer . I'm just baffled what's actually making the noise, since leaves don't seem to be touching. Probably a harmonic issue with the metal. When you start applying pressure to the leaves, nothing. Then at certain point, you hear the 'CLACK'. And after releasing pressure, the same 'CLACK' again. But in one or two occasions, I had to pull down on the leaf a little to hear the second 'CLACK'. It's not loud, but transmits thru the frame enough that I can faintly hear it from the cabin. I initially thought it was fuel sloshing inside the tank, but when noise was still there with tank almost empty, I knew it was something else. Thank you for all your help. Have a great weekend.

 

Crank the B&O up higher