Getting Level

Help! Please guys, I need some good advise. I spoke with a local off road center guy. I told him of my problem with a droopy rear end when loaded and or hauling a trailer. He told me to stay away from air bags and suggested a helper spring type assembly. I want to keep my truck pretty much stock. I don't really want a lift but need the support for heavy loads. Also, I am thinking of upsizing my tires from 265/65/17 to 265/70/17, will I need to lift or can I get by as it is?

 

Add a leaf in the rear. You can go to the dealer and talk to them about the TSB and hope fully you can get it that way.

Go HERE

 

Im out of warranty

 

Then you can get one from toytec or wheelers for $70.

 

I just did this with my truck last week. I added a 2"AAl from Toytec and leveled the front with Bilstien 5100's set @ 2.5".The rides a little stiffer than factory but the ride feels more like a truck to me than a car (Like it should).Go for it you won't be disapointed.

 

I feel like a dummy for asking, but what is AAL?

 

It's a ADD A LEAF spring which piggybacks to your leaf springs. Kind of the TSB solution that Toyota is doing for the harsh ride.Once it's in place the rear will be a little higher than where your out now so you might want to lift the front to level it off.

 

Got it, thanks. Does the added lift destabilize the vehicle? I don't mind a subtle lift, as I intend to go a bigger tire.

 

Mine didn't destabilize the vehicle it only raised it 2 inches,you just have to align the front end if you change the front struts/shocks out. Mine are just fine I will be changing the tires and rims to fill the wheel well out a little more probably when they wear out I only have 8500 miles on them so it might be a while. The only reason I added the leaf pack was to reenforce the rear of the truck which sagged when I towed my boat, it has the towing package and all and it still would sag on me.This was a quick fix to that issue.I also tried to get the TSB done at the dealership and they refused it because it was a 2009 and they didn't see any bottoming out.

 

why??

 

I don't know. I took my truck to the local Firestone who basically does all my maintenance for my vehicles and they first told me to put the airbags and after talking to the actual mechanic he agreed to stay away from them and just add a leaf to the pack. After I purchased my leaf and showed it to him he said that it was well made and that was all that I needed.I had purchased the front shocks from a member the Bilstein 5100's that adjust from 0 to 2.5" and per Toytec they recommended that I adjust it to 2.5 so I did and it looks good, I have no regrets so far.

 

Here's the pics after my actual lift, I didn't take any measurements the first pic is prior to the lift(Before):


After:



the AAL:

The Billies:

 

^^^How's the sag with a trailer??

 

The first picture above was taken with the boat attached.the rear sagged about 2-3 inches the boat while trailering it sat with the bow angle downward and when I cleaned it the water wouldn't drain to the back unless I unhooked it from the truck and jacked it up higher. I pulled up to the trailer and hooked up to it and it didn't really move/sag and sat at a better pitch than before.

 

Look into Hellwig 981 - EZ-990; Medium Duty Load Leveler; 990/1200 lbs. Capacity; type AAL I got the and work great, easy to put on! heres a link http://www.streetsideauto.com/products.asp?PTID=3398&brand=BFDQ&series=EZ-990;%20Medium%20Duty%20Load%20Leveler&partnumber=981&Skip=True&LookupType=YMM&Reset=True

 

Nice. A little less than half the price of bags. Hmmm....

 

Its what have on my Taco! And I love em! totaly makes up for the Crappy stock leafs!!! They are an AAL but they are adjustable!!! If you to know anything about them let me know!