Squeaky Shocks/Leaf Springs

[mdmarble]

I took my full stock 2WD offroading a little while ago, now my front end squeaks like a bitch. Everytime I go over a speed bump something is squeaking as I go up and down. I'm guessing the shocks? Its not one of those high pitched squeaks, like squeaky brakes (those squeak too), a low pitched one, if that helps at all. I'm pretty sure its my shocks. I'm getting a lift with new shocks anyways so I could care less. But why I bring this up... What causes a squeaky shock, and what I squeaking, just out of curiosity.

Also, I think my right leaf spring is squeaking. It creeks and squeaks the whole way down and you keep adding pressure, not just at a certain point. What is the most likely cause of the squeeking? Could it be the leafs rubbing up against each other, or is it the shackle, the one that moves outward as the leafs bend down, that is squeaking? I hate shit that squeaks.

Heres another thing. I'm putting on 3" Fabtech spindles. I'd love to do the 5.5" thing, with new control arms and coil springs, I just can afford that now. I want to do that lather though. I'm going to get new shocks now, front and rear. I'm assuming once I go to add the extra 2.5" with new control arms and coil springs, I'll need longer shocks as well, right? I dont know when I will do the 2.5" thing. Could be a year, could be longer or sooner, or never. I dont know. But anyway, I want a good enough shock for now, but not waste my money on Rancho RS9000's and then have to replace them once I get another lift. I'm considering just getting the standard fabtech "performance" shocks, and then upgrade to something bitchin later when the time comes. Yet the again, I dont want to get stuck with a crappy shock that will end up squeaking, and getting rusty shafts.

any opinions??

Thanks. We were all new to this world one time or another.

 

[Sunk]

If you just went 'wheeling' it could be just dirt stuck in between moving parts.