Squeaky Trailer

[Trux]

My trailer squeaks when I go over a bump and the boat bounces. I assume it's the springs, but I'm not particularly handy. Do they need oil or grease? Where exactly, and do I need any special tools for this?

Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Trux

[Bender]

Last year after I launched the boat I sprayed some of that white lithium grease (99% sure that's what it was) from an aerosol can onto the springs and it took care of it. Also it didn't seem to come off in the water like oil would. I need to do it again this year, but it lasted a long time.

[Trux]

Sounds like I have a plan. Thanks for the advice.

[Lightningboy]

Be careful of those squeeky springs.  I've got a 2000 MFI double axle that's squeeked since I got it in '05.  Sprayed it with white lithium grease, but didn't work as well as I'd liked.  Started using WD40 instead, which worked well to quiet her down.

Had one of the springs break last weekend on the way home.  Luckily it was at low speed and I was able to drive it home.  Did some research to replace the spring, and found out the squeek is a sign of wear in the spring hardware.  Could be worn out spring eye bushings, or elongated (oval) holes in support hardware like the spring straps.  I'll bet besides the squeek, hitting bumps with the trailer is pretty harsh, like mine was.

Keep an eye on those springs.  Breaking one at highway speeds can cause a lot of dammage, they're the only thing holding your axles in place.