So how bad is the ride without the leaf spring TSB fix?

Hey gang. I was reading the towing bible, which lead me to several post concerning the rough ride when loaded TSB. I bought this truck used from a guy who was meticulous with the service, but did not get the leaf springs\shocks changed. I checked and there are only 3 leafs on each rear spring assembly.

The truck is way out of warranty, so I doubt screaming to Toyota at this point will not do much good. I checked prices and it is over $500.00 a side for just the springs.

I will be pulling a trailer that will have a total weight around 4000lbs. I am going to put on a tranny cooler, but I am wondering how bad the ride really is without the TSB fix? Anyone got experience with this?

Thanks as always

 

I used to haul a 400 lb sport bike before I got the TSB and I bottomed out hard on every little bump in the road. With heavier loads, the truck would just sit on the bump stops.

 

You'll probably want to get it since you'll be towing so much weight. I've never towed without the extra leaf, so I can't testify to that, but I hear it's pretty bad.

 

where are you buying at 500 a side?
alcan leafs can make you an awesome set of custom leafsprings for 650, mine are 7 leaf and they are awesome... i got 5inches of lift and pull an 18hp kubota probly close to 3000lb and it squats maybe an inch

 

Screw the TSB, it's not that much better for towing and hauling. Alcan can make you a custom leaf pack for a little over $500 total, both sides. Check out their website. Another good option would be a set of air bags. For variable loading requirements, the air bags aren't a bad option at all.

 

Thanks everyone. I will not have anything in the bed of the truck, just the trailer. But the tongue weight I imagine will play into the leaf springs. I will contact Alcan Spring. About how much does a shop charge to put swap them out?

 

probly around a 100 bucks, i wouldnt pay anymore than that.
if you know anyone that has a body lift, i would ask them

 

Personally, I'd hook it up and go for a drive first to find out if I needed an upgrade or not. You've already siad it above, but it all depends on the tongue weight you end up with. The stockers may end up being fine. Find out _if_ it needs an upgrade first.

 

If you bought a Tacoma for any use beyond fashion accessory, you need new springs.

 

Ditto on the airbags, it's really cost effective, pretty easy to install and allows you the options to tailor the stiffness to the load when you need it and deflate them when you don't. I don't have a compressor, I just ran the stems to either side of the 7 pin, drilled right through the plate, I keep a bicycle pump in the truck for this purpose. Unloaded I run around 10lbs, loaded I've gone up to the limit on the bags which is 125lbs, you won't believe how stiff that is.

 

How do we get the TSB leafs? Don't mean to jack the thread, but if someone could PM this info I would appreciate it. I haul an 18ft boat and a trailer loaded with 3 dirt bikes, a quad, and tons of camping gear. Thanks!

 

If your vehicle is still under warranty, take it to a Toyota dealership. I've heard stories of people having trouble getting warranty work done, but I went in for the squeaky blower motor TSB fix and they had no issue doing the fix that day.

 

Thank you for the quick reply Jux. My 09 is still under warranty since I purchased the extended warranty when I bought the truck. Now I just have to figure out which Fox shocks to get for the rear and possibly an AAL. THANKS!

 

AIR BAGS!

 

AIR BAGS! Firestone RideRites, easy self install. Better end result. For me it was one of those things I should have done along time ago.

 

I know a guy that can help with stock leaf performance and hauling...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/194386-tacoma-spring-refurbishing.html

 

the leaf spring tsb is usually only covered under the 3year/36k mile coverage but it doesn't hurt to try.

 

The key word is harsh ride that may help but it is a tab not a recall.

 

Hopefully the 100k warranty I purchased will make things easier...