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Hey guys. So I'm reading the manual on rebuilding the leaf springs and I saw on page 218 that I needed to place powdered graphite between each spring while reassembling it. 2 questions for you.
1: Where would I be able to find powdered graphite? Adavanced Auto?
2: What is it used for? I'm thinking maybe it's an corrossion proventitive but dissimiliar metals would cause corrosion. Then I thought maybe it was an anti squeak but again, that doesn't make any sense. What was the use of powdered graphite for?
Thanks for the help.

It's a dry lubricant, often used in padlocks and other moving parts likely to be exposed to weather, due to it preventing ingress of dirt & moisture. It is, however potentially corrosive to aluminium.

If you search on Google for "Graphite Powder Lubricant" you should find loads of places to buy it (I think even Amazon.com sell it).

Owen.

would it be possible to replace that with a solid film lubricant that is used in an aresol can? I have access to PLENTY of that. I'll research the graphite lubricant specs online and see which one is better. Also, thankfully the leaves are steel so I'm not too worried about it being corrosive to aluminum.

All I've ever used is plain old grease (the same stuff you'd use on the spring shackles). Never had any problems. Solid film lubricant should be fine; many are graphite or Teflon based.

Owen.

Search any subject on this forum, and you will find differing views! In my own case, I used a dry molybdenum spray (aerosol) from www.grainger.com as an alternative to graphite. I also primed the springs, others say don't, leave them bare, with just an external (after assembly) primer & OD. In any case, the lubricant is to allow the spring leaves to 'slide' on each other when compressed/released. Lack of some type of lubricant can cause 'galling' of the metal surfaces. You'll be able to tell how well it worked in another 60 years!

capescw wrote:Search any subject on this forum, and you will find differing views! In my own case, I used a dry molybdenum spray (aerosol) from www.grainger.com as an alternative to graphite. I also primed the springs, others say don't, leave them bare, with just an external (after assembly) primer & OD. In any case, the lubricant is to allow the spring leaves to 'slide' on each other when compressed/released. Lack of some type of lubricant can cause 'galling' of the metal surfaces. You'll be able to tell how well it worked in another 60 years!

Well, we use solid film lubricant on helicopter blade pins to keep them from galling like you said. I think that it should work, but I'll check on the MSDS whether it is a teflon or graphite based. I asked a buddy and he thinks its graphite as do I. I just need to double check and make sure. Even if I go the powdered graphite rought, I'm sure it'll be inexpensive. I also have access to MolyB in a brush on form which would probably work as well. Thanks for the help!
-Dave

I found that a couple of tubes of graphite from the auto parts store will go along way. But in the spray can might be better.