2018 Raptor rear end squeaking

[970rap]

Mine started making this exact noise from the rear at some point in the month after taking it off-roading that included a few mud puddles. At first I barely noticed it but it steadily got worse, to the point where you could hear every little flex of the suspension in the cab with the windows down. I had cleaned/sprayed off everything you could see from just standing next to the wheels but had never gotten down and looked from the underside - which looked like a mud bomb went off. Today I took it to the manual car wash and sprayed the leafs and all the connection points with soap and water, heavy on the rear section from underneath the bumper. Tons of muddy water came out and now the sound is completely gone (for now, hopefully for good).

Sorry to grave dig here, but I'm still experiencing a squeaky rear end. I have an 18 SCrew with 35,000 miles on it, fully stock.

Spraying the rear suspension components with water quieted things down for only a day or two. Since then I've tried spraying everything down a number of times, including twice jacking the rear from the tow hitch as high as I could get it with the stock jack and a a few blocks/boards (so quite a ways up but wheels not fully hanging), letting it air dry some, then blowing out the remaining water with the leaf blower. Each and every time the noise would go away and then come back within a few days and then steadily get worse as time goes on. Obviously, and for whatever reason, getting the suspension components wet temporarily helps.

I scheduled a service appointment with the local dealership and after waiting a month and a half was finally was able to get it in yesterday. They are still going over the truck and haven't given a definitive answer, but when I called just now for an update the advisor mentioned that he is aware of a TSB which claims the shocks on these model trucks do begin to squeak as they age, it's considered to be normal operation, and maybe it's that (he was also careful to say maybe it isn't).

I thought it was interesting that he mentioned the shocks and not the springs, as it sounds like it's coming from multiple places in the rear and on both sides (to my untrained ear). Anyway, I just wanted to gather thoughts from others (maybe @FordTechOne ?) to prepare myself for them to come back and tell me this is normal.

To reiterate, this truck has 35,000 miles and has been off-roaded some (at most 100 miles total) but is overwhelmingly a daily driver. Am I really to believe that driving down a nearly flat street should produce audible noise from the rear (from every little flex of the suspension) and I should wake my neighbors when I back out of the driveway (off a curb) or try and walk around the bed? Seems preposterous and frankly I am embarrassed to drive the truck as-is.

I am not trying to get out of anything that may be my responsibility here. If everything was super dirty and they clean it out, I am happy to pay for that service since it wasn't a failure/malfunction.

Thanks!

 

[FordTechOne]

Sorry to grave dig here, but I'm still experiencing a squeaky rear end. I have an 18 SCrew with 35,000 miles on it, fully stock.

Spraying the rear suspension components with water quieted things down for only a day or two. Since then I've tried spraying everything down a number of times, including twice jacking the rear from the tow hitch as high as I could get it with the stock jack and a a few blocks/boards (so quite a ways up but wheels not fully hanging), letting it air dry some, then blowing out the remaining water with the leaf blower. Each and every time the noise would go away and then come back within a few days and then steadily get worse as time goes on. Obviously, and for whatever reason, getting the suspension components wet temporarily helps.

I scheduled a service appointment with the local dealership and after waiting a month and a half was finally was able to get it in yesterday. They are still going over the truck and haven't given a definitive answer, but when I called just now for an update the advisor mentioned that he is aware of a TSB which claims the shocks on these model trucks do begin to squeak as they age, it's considered to be normal operation, and maybe it's that (he was also careful to say maybe it isn't).

I thought it was interesting that he mentioned the shocks and not the springs, as it sounds like it's coming from multiple places in the rear and on both sides (to my untrained ear). Anyway, I just wanted to gather thoughts from others (maybe @FordTechOne ?) to prepare myself for them to come back and tell me this is normal.

To reiterate, this truck has 35,000 miles and has been off-roaded some (at most 100 miles total) but is overwhelmingly a daily driver. Am I really to believe that driving down a nearly flat street should produce audible noise from the rear (from every little flex of the suspension) and I should wake my neighbors when I back out of the driveway (off a curb) or try and walk around the bed? Seems preposterous and frankly I am embarrassed to drive the truck as-is.

I am not trying to get out of anything that may be my responsibility here. If everything was super dirty and they clean it out, I am happy to pay for that service since it wasn't a failure/malfunction.

Thanks!

I am not aware of any TSB for a shock squeak noise, but internal bypass shocks will be noisier than conventional shocks.

It sounds like there may still be debris trapped in the leafs; a pressure washer is required to get them completely clean. Compressed air should be used to dry them completely afterward. If those procedures are performed and the springs are still excessively noisy, the leaf spring tip isolators should be replaced.

 

[970rap]

Thanks for the input.

The dealership called back to clarify their comments and ask some questions. A year ago I brought it in for a front end 'clunk' that they determined to be the end links. I had thought I noticed this occurring again recently, which I told them when dropping it off (this was not the reason for scheduling the appointment initially). The dealership is saying they can't find anything wrong and the sounds I'm hearing from the front are the shocks, which will cause more noise over time (so they weren't saying this about the rear, which is what I thought they originally meant). Whatever, this was a minor thing anyway.

Then they said they rode around and couldn't reproduce the creaking/squeaking in the rear. This is partially my fault. When washing it last week I sprayed the leafs, just to quiet them down for a bit. I thought they'd be back to being loud by now, but I guess they aren't (while driving). However, you can still make it happen just by pushing down on the open tailgate (sounds like a bad mattress), which I relayed to the advisor and said he'd pass it on. Guess we'll see. I'm hoping I don't have to schedule another appointment for when they sound awful, but I'll take some responsibility here for not letting them be as bad as possible for the appointment.

 

[GordoJay]

...I’m going to lift the truck, pressure wash the hell out of them, WD40, and see what happens....

WD-40 isn't a good lubricant. It's more of a solvent.

 

[RussS]

WD-40 isn't a good lubricant. It's more of a solvent.

Went with Lithium Grease in the end. Helped a bit. Next week they will be in the bin as the Deavers arrive (which I’m sure squeak too!)

 

[IDontDoUrban]

Sand between the leaf packs will result in noise as the springs move. That is a maintenance item, the dealer shouldn’t have replaced the springs in the first place. The proper procedure is to expand the leaf springs by raising the rear end, power wash out the contamination, and dry it with compressed air. Applying WD-40 will only attract more dirt and dust and cause a repeat issue.

Likely stupid question here, but is a floor jack with max 24” lift height enough to expand the springs? What are the recommended jack points for Operation Stop the Squeak?

 

[FordTechOne]

Likely stupid question here, but is a floor jack with max 24” lift height enough to expand the springs? What are the recommended jack points for Operation Stop the Squeak?

Not likely, as you would need to lift it by the frame in order to allow the leaf spring pack expand. You’d probably be near the top of the jack’s travel by the time it made contact with the frame.

 

[MGA]

Also a follow up question, once we have lifted the truck, power washed and dried the leafs I saw that W-40 and such is a no go but how about the new drying silicone sprays that are supposed to dry, dry and not attract dirt and sand. My off road use is mainly looking good on the beaches of OBX, not really pushing it except the off season. Thanks

 

[IDontDoUrban]

Not likely, as you would need to lift it by the frame in order to allow the leaf spring pack expand. You’d probably be near the top of the jack’s travel by the time it made contact with the frame.

I’m imagining a Jeff Foxworthy meme with a floor jack resting on a stack of 2x12’s. If the truck’s too high, raise the floor.

 

[raptor556]

really easy

jack with 6 inch block of 4x4's lifted by the hitch.

then a can of white lithium grease on the leafs.

done.

and you don't even need to lift it. just have at it with the spray as is.

or maybe someone on the forum can suggest a $400 automatic leaf grease dispensing device manufactured by deaver.

Kidding. some solutions are not expensive nor complicated.

had this issue myself, didn't bother to lift the truck first.