08 Rear Spring TSB?

Hello all.. first off I want to thank you for a great site. I have learned a lot reading over the past few months.

I bought a 08 Tacoma (Access Cab, 4x4, TRD Off Road) one week ago Saturday. Before I even talked to a salesman, I verified the spring part numbers on the truck are the same as the "previous part" listed in the TSB. The only difference I can tell is they have the letter "G" after the part number, where as previous ones (07 and before) have F or E or D, etc. From the very beginning I informed my salesman about the TSB and that I would be using my truck to haul a motorcycle around and that I wanted it to work properly for what I was buying it for. He personally promised me, after talking to their service manager about the TSB, that if the truck did not perform as expected, that they would replace the springs. Once I got the truck, I loaded my bike in the back and took a look (I did not drive it because I had no straps at that time). The bump stop appeared to be about 4-5 inches from the bump stop. I informed him that I wanted the TSB done, and the service manager agreed to do it.

On Friday, I got this email:

I promptly loaded the bike in the truck that afternoon and borrowed a friend's straps to tie it down. The bike has a dry weight of 377 lbs. I drove over bumpy roads and curbs and speed bumps for about 15 minutes and could not get it to bottom out. My friend and I stood in the back of the truck and literally jumped up and down as hard as we could to try to get it to hit the bump stop, and we could not do it. I weigh 190 and he weighs about 165. At that time I decided the truck rode well enough and performed well enough that I could buy the story about the part being changed, and I informed my salesman accordingly. However I am still very skeptical about the fact that TOYOTA would ever phyiscally change a part and keep the part number the same, AFTER actually issuing a replacement part that was physically different (4 leaves instead of 3).

I would appreciate any insight on this that anyone has to offer. Should I go back and push for the TSB again? Is this "G" on my part number sufficient to indicate it is actually a different spring that will handle the 1300+ lbs payload rating?

 

Dang that was a long post for a simple answer! I am happy about that, though. Thanks!

 

I never really hauled anything heavy when I posted whats below. I don't feel the dealer, and not the one I purchased the truck from, would have done the TSB on my F coded springs if they were part of the production change on the 2008 models. Not sure when the G coded springs came into the production line as I think KLOWN and a few others have had their trucks longer than me and seem happy with the 3 leaf setup even hauling heavy loads. That's the part that bugs me is the inconsistency of the upgrade, as in what model and time period, by Toyota.

Below was a previous post:

My 08 had the letters ++CHI-48210-04550-F-RH and ++CHI-48220-04190-F-LH (old parts) on the original three leaf total rear springs. I was thinking F for new firmer ++ springs as well. Not so. I have a Jan. 08 built truck and 3 leafs at that time still meant not right in my book and apparently with the dealer as well or they wouldn't have done the TSB.

The 3 leafs were replaced with the four leaf total rear springs. I never hauled anything heavy with the original 3 leafs. I just got the TSB done before I actually would be towing and hauling with the truck. I think the truck rides better with the TSB springs. I haven't seen addition of the 08's to the TSB yet. Nor anything in writing that heavy duty 3 leafs were implemented into production to do what 4 leafs will.
Last edited by 4x4x4trd; 06-05-2008 at 06:02 PM.

 

Yup...It's not worth fighting them over it. I tried cause I haul my bike around regularly(Roughly same weight as yours).
After talking to everyone and their mother at Toyota- The part looks the same- but the different part numbers (even just one letter) means that the part has changed to address the concern in the 05-07's.

If it's not actaully bottoming out with a light load they are going to tell you to pack sand.

 

Sounds like they tempered the springs different and its no longer a issue that it was .
Three springs can be as medium duty as four if they change the way the spring is made?
part number may be the same sizes but letter denotes different strength?

 

Everything in the PN is the same but the last letter. The last letter denotes the devision of the PN. You have a "G" earlier revisions of the part were "E" and "F". Changing the last letter means they revised the specs on that spring. The PN is not going to change, because when the factory assembles the truck they refer to a rear leaf spring as that particualr PN. The "G" at the end states the revision of the spring.

I have an 2008 DC 4x4 with a build date of Jan 27 2008. I have hauled over 2000 lbs of rock in my bed with absolutely no bottoming out issus. You don't have anything to worry about. The rear leaf TSB issue is resolved in '08s as far as I can tell.

 

Klown what is the letter on your rear leafs? I recall having this discussion before and you had the F springs like me. Holmer J, as I recall, isn't happy with his '08 DC bottoming out. Maybe that's part of the answer, DC verses AC and the letter on the leafs. But I think this has been discussed as well as having no bearing on which trucks were good and which weren't. As stated above that's the problem, the inconsistency of the upgrade, as in what model and time period it was done. Also most in Canada and Mexico are getting the 4 pack?

Edit: Just PM'ed by Holmer J who has also had the TSB done on his 08 DC and likes the results.

 

I would have to double check, but from what I remember my springs were rev. "F"

 

I'm hoping these "G" leafs are indeed an "issue solved" to the problems on some of the 2008 trucks implemented somewhere in the production year.
Because the 09's are still coming out with the 3 leaf rear springs. In the US anyway.

I might not have had problems with my "F" 3 leaf springs on my 08. I hadn't even hauled anything heavy and only had 800 miles on the truck when the TSB was performed. The fact that the dealer did the TSB tells me that there was still a problem at that time or it would have been denied. The way I look at it is if the problem wasn't there on mine with the 3 leafs then it surely isn't there with the 4 leafs. I don't regret having the TSB done before really putting it to the test. Hopefully it will also hold its amount of lift longer with the 4 leaf before starting to sag as they all will do eventually.

 

I had the suspension TSB done on my truck (08 DC 4x4) and I am very happy with the ride now. The easiest way to tell if the TSB is done on a truck is to simply look that leaf springs and see if the truck has a 3 pack springs or new 4 pack.

 

So does anybody have a 2008 double cab TRD sport 4x4 with the "F" springs? And if so have you noticed any bottoming out?

Has anybody with any type of taco noticed any bottoming out with 3 leaf pack of "f" springs?

I'm almost positive that I have "f" springs.

4x4x4trd, did you stress your rear suspension with the stock configuration? I'm guessing you didn't notice any bottoming out. As far as I can tell, the dealer will perform the TSB if you can prove to them that there is an issue. They won't just take your word on it like the the other years...Unless you just have a really good service manager.

 

You are correct Klown, I had to prove my problem to a Rep "Field Technical Specialist". We took my truck for a ride with 5 people total in the truck and it bottomed out very easy and they guy was cool about it, he called Toyota HQ and got the approval.

 

I have a really good service manager. I never came close to bottoming out stock. Never tried. Told him I was concerned about the horror stories I'd been hearing and wanted it fixed before I tried it and it turned into a problem. I also had the TSB in hand. They took the bait. Like I said in a previous post, I got lucky getting the TSB done. Just luck and timing. But the horror stories on some of these 08's bottoming out are still out there. I hope the "G" leafs are the answer.
I'm curious if Holmer J had the "F" series or not?

 

Dat's cool that you got it taken care of! You wouldn't happen to remember if you had the "F" springs would you?

 

Sorry man that I do not remember, all I remember is that is was a 3 pack leaf springs. I bought my truck in April so you might have different springs in your truck than I had in mine.

 

I have an '08 DC Sport 4X4 long bed and mine are "F". They suck..If I hook up my 16ft car hauler tandum axle empty. It drops my tail end about 2 inches. Thats about 200lbs on the hitch. I need to throw my ATV in the bed and see what happens. It's about 400lbs

 

You bought in April 08? Or april 07?

I bought mine in Feb of 08.

 

I'm starting to think that it's a long bed vs short bed issue. How could I have "F" springs, and mine are great. But the guys with long beds are shit springs.

 

I bought mine this past April 08. Not sure when it was built though, for all I know it was sitting on the dealers lot for 6+ months.