Solved an annoying Sqeek, sharing for others

[AZEngineer]

After the last spirited off road trip my SCAB developed an annoying high pitch squeak that happened with every imperfection on the road. I spent several hours under the truck and could never find anything loose. Today we had another fun trip and the squeak drove us nuts.

On the way home I thought to check the bed bolts. Ah ha, they were all about 1/4 turn from really tight. After tightening them all the squeak is gone.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Another one i found was the bolts on ether side of the bed for the tail gate latches. it drove me nuts trying to find it thought it was the bed bolts then the leaf spring. Finally found out it was the tailgate latch bolts just sprayed white lithium on and under the plastic sleeves and still good to this day.

 

[richardhead84]

I'm going to have to try this. I only hear the squeak when my beer can window is open.

 

[hosseface]

I had the same problem and the front skid plate was rubbing against the frame. I took it down and put grease between the skid plate and the frame and no more noise!

 

[AZEngineer]

Well, the squeak is back, not quite and all-the-time but back. My wife sprayed the dust out of the bed and washed the undercarriage and we test drove after. the water stopped the squeak. I will have to try the other fixes here. It very much sounds like it's coming from the rear.

 

[AZEngineer]

Another one i found was the bolts on ether side of the bed for the tail gate latches. it drove me nuts trying to find it thought it was the bed bolts then the leaf spring. Finally found out it was the tailgate latch bolts just sprayed white lithium on and under the plastic sleeves and still good to this day.

My bolts are covered with a slippery plastic sleeve. Yours too? Seems like an unlikely place to squeak. You do mean the studs at the top where the tailgate latches?

 

[AZEngineer]

More updates.
1) Tailgate latch studs. Removed them and tried lithium spray under the plastic sleeve. I was optimistic on this one because it fixed others here and the black paint is worn off the stud under the plastic sleeve. NO JOY

2) Tailgate hinges. Tried lubing the hinges. NO JOY

3) Tailgate stops. There are rubber stops for the tailgate at the top of each side of the tailgate opening. The paint is worn off the tailgate where it contacts these two stops. I tried a thick layer of carnuba wax where they rub just to see. NO JOY

4) Spare tire. I lowered the spare tire so it hung free. The paint on the frame is worn off where the tire snugs up against it. I tried driving with the tire hanging down 6" and the truck squeaks even easier. No solution but another clue.

 

[AZEngineer]

5) Read a lot of stuff on the web, and a TSB on the prior F150 about cleaning and lubricating the tailgate hinges. Did that and used silicone grease. I have not driven it yet. Will report back

 

[Goofball]

Rear leaf springs are known to squeak. I did a rear spring swap to the national springs and it was gone immediately and never has come back. Must be something with the factory bushings.

 

[Captain Awesome]

My bolts are covered with a slippery plastic sleeve. Yours too? Seems like an unlikely place to squeak. You do mean the studs at the top where the tailgate latches?

Yes the plastic sleeve is what i was talking about. ya i didn't think it would help but i would grab the tail gate and shake it it would squeak. after i greased them no more squeak. I second the leaf springs theres a guy in our group that has the leaf spring squeak.