Leaf spring failure

Hello all,

I have a 2007 tacoma access cab trd package, for a couple days I have noticed a significant rattle coming from the rear end. I didn't really think to much of it as I thought my newly added flowmaster exhaust had come loose. That was not the case. My left leaf spring has completely failed snapped in half. I do not put any significant amount of weight in the back, has anyone had or heard of this happening?

Secondly, I want to fix this properly, does anyone have suggestions on what replacements I should do as I will have the truck apart anyway?

Any feedback or info is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

Same thing happened to me last year, i have a 2005. The leafs springs on these trucks are laughable at best.

 

What happened to you is semi-common, but there is a fix.
You can go with aftermarket leaf springs (most will give lift) such as OME dakars, all-pro (standard or expo), or you can go with refurbished springs, when you refurbish the springs you take some chevy, ford, or dodge springs that are the same width as your leafs and add 1 or 2 to your pack.

I went with the refurbished springs and I'm really happy, here's a link
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/194386-tacoma-spring-refurbishing.html

 

I'd recommend searching on here for someone who is getting rid of their leaf springs. Or maybe junkyard. Or you could buy a new leaf pack but, then you'd have 1 new pack and 1 that's 7 years used. Maybe having one used and one new pack isn't that big of a deal, but I'm unsure.

 

I don't really want to lift it, the suspension is getting a little loose. I believe you are right about just getting all of it done now though.

 

Thanks I agree

 

Just curious OP, how many miles do you have on your truck? My leaf snapped around 75000 miles.

 

i just hit 80000, what did you do for a replacement?

 

I had a local spring shop replace my broken leaf last year for $200.

 

I have the 3 leaf non-tsb springs. I went to a local shop who replaced the broken leaf and added a leaf between the primary and secondary leaf. It's a stiffer ride and I like how it handles. I ended up with a 1.5" lift from it.

/As an aside our leaf springs should not be snapping with such little mileage on them. I had a Dakota for 110,000 miles that I beat the hell out of and the springs were fine when I rolled it into the Toyota dealer to buy a Tacoma. The rest of the truck had fallen apart but not the springs.

 

You can look into the General springs . Guys on here have used them with great results. I have not used them so I cannot speak from personal experience. I understand that they make once that are stock height. Those are the ones I'm going to look into when ready . Hope this helps .

 

That's what I have in mine. Stock 3 leaf replacements. Rides just like stock but it did pick the back up about an inch. Old springs had likely sagged a little though. In hindsight I wish I had gone with the 4 leaf they offer. Any significant load and a bumpy road equals lots of bottoming.

 

My drivers side snapped while turning carrying a ~450# motorycle. I went to Palmer Spring in Providence under a friends advice and they knew what it was as soon as I said Tacoma. They replaced the broken spring and added an additional leaf so it did jack the rear up by ~2.0". Later one of my rear shocks exploded (i.e. separated) because I think it topped out as it was designed for a stock static height. Something else to think about.

 

Check out dorman leafs. They're supposed to be decent for an stock replacement style, and they're cheap

 

this just happened to me the other day except i have 35000 on my truck, snapped right in half, just bit the bullet and ordered the dakars.... sucks though cause i am TDY down here at ft rucker al, and have to drive to az next week..... hopefully i can get them in and installed here soon...

 

That's good to know thanks for that . When you say significant load how much weight are you talking about ?