I just started bending again after a LONG hiatus. One of the things I am using is a new JD-2 die with the aluminum shoes. Just like always, I've been liberal with the white lithium grease. There is no damage to the tube or the die/shoes, but when the tube pulls through it CREAKS (LOUD), like something is wrong. I'm using the home-brew full hydro on a JD-2 model 3, and on my old dies (steel shoes), no sound.

Tube comes out fine.
The dies are fine.
There's no sign of stress on other areas of the bender.

Is this normal with this "new" style shoes?

Mine made noise until they were worn a bit. They will still make some noise when it reaches a certian degree of bend.

No issues and still on the same followers 4 years later...and I use it fairly regulary and even do some production work every now and then.

I use gear lube instead of grease. I find it cleans easier for me.

Mine doesnt creek nice and smooth no sound at all.
I use the lube from vansantenterprizes.com (http://www.vansantent.com/)

Mine doesnt creek nice and smooth no sound at all.
I use the lube from vansantenterprizes.com (http://www.vansantent.com/)

hydro or manual bender?

I get the same thing. Built an entire cage for a Mustang, and you can't tell where the bender dies touched the tube. Very few wear marks on my dies too. I'm also very liberal with the lube.

I just started bending again after a LONG hiatus. One of the things I am using is a new JD-2 die with the aluminum shoes... Inserts are not alum. From JD's website "Inserts are made from a non-galling bearing material to prevent scratching of expensive material. "

:)

Got pics?