Talk me into the spring TSB.....

My truck had 48k on it when I got it. The ride sucked ass empty & the ride sucked even more when loaded. Going around freeway interchange ramps or pretty much any curve doing over 15 was skittery wavy gravy body rollin bullshit without any load in it. Any load at all and everything was stupid feeling. Enjoy your fresh leafs then when the honeymoon is over, you're past warranty & wanna start using the truck like a truck then you'll wish you had done the TSB. As was stated...go gitcha some TSB leafs, shocks and alignment for free then if for some odd reason you don't like it then you can make money off of people like me that would love to have the right parts that should've been there to begin with. All those justifying the company's business model as an acceptable practice, send me 100.00 now because Toyota said so.

 

Since I'm new here, I have a few questions.

Are the new shocks the 5100s? (probably too good to be true)

Is it only the rear shocks?

Does the back end up looking even higher than the front after the TSB?

 

True perhaps, but a new complete spring set is different then a AAL.
It was over $2000 for the new spring sets, TRD factory bilsteins, alignment, etc. installed by the dealer with this TSB on a non TRD model.

 

-Not 5100s
-All shocks (unless you have a TRD... then they don't replace the shocks at all)
-The back is raised by the TSB.. it settles a bit, but mine's been 6 months and it's still higher than the front.

FWIW, I know you're new, but there is a TON of info on this particular TSB if you search and read a bit.

 

Thanks for the input. And yeah, I know there's a ton of info on here, and it's great. I have searched for the answers, but sometimes more is not always better when you're just looking for a simple answer to a simple question.

Thanks again, TW is awesome!

 

To me it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I want the extra strength the new TSB springs afford. It should be an option at purchase time, rather than if you find out and want it, then we'll do it. For what we pay it should be included from the get go. If not, then reduce the price! It has to be a cost cutting measure for Toyota not to include it. My question is whether or not they, at one point in time, will do away with offering this upgrade irregardless of warranty? I'm very glad to have mine done.

 

Question: Is your truck lifted or has oversized tires? Mine doesn't act like at all. It's very tight. As a matter of fact a friend of mine borrowed it to haul some stuff from Home Depot home. He couldn't believe how nice it went around corners on the freeway. He said it was smoother than his BMW X5, which I find hard to believe. I am pure stock right now on my TRD OR.

 

Who said anything about acceptable?

But I'd probably do the same if I was Toyota's Tacoma product line manager...it's all about getting market share.

 

It's not as much cost cutting as it is being able to get good reviews for "nice ride" unloaded. No one tests drive it loaded with 800lbs of stuff. I can't imagine it costing too much to have 4 leafs instead of 3. Keep in mind, 90% of tacoma users will never haul anything other than their camping/outdoors gear. The TSB only applies to Prerunners and 4x4s also. If you need a work truck, Toyota probably figures you are more likely to get a base regular cab model.

Also, irregardless is not a word.

 

I'm starting to think there's a huge difference in ride quality between TRD models and the base models. Mine is a TRd OR and it rides like a dream as well.

 

I just went through an ordeal where I didn't actually found anything wrong with my TRD Sport, but wanted to TSB. My dealership wanted to verify everything was ok, so I borrowed 1200lb of concrete mix and drove it to the dealership.
While driving it handled excellent. I was surprised how easily it cornered, accelerated and handled the brake. Do I need the TSB? Hell no.

They offered to order the springs because I asked them to (basically). I'm now just doing it for the lift it gives. Check your ride: you may simply not need it like me.

 

Don't TRD's come with bilstein shocks? I'm pretty sure the TSB doesn't cover replacing shocks on TRD's and they provide the "ride control".

 

I would do it, as it is a TSB for a reason.
First off, I want everything I can get for free, of course.
After all, we did pay for our Tacos.
Then, going behind Toyota's " curtain ", there is probably a major safety concern behind it.
That is my opinion.
I don't have to drive your truck, I drive mine, just wanted to add my 2 cents to help.

 

Thanks for the lesson in grammar. The interesting thing it that most people have not experienced a more harsh ride even unloaded with the added TSB leaf spring. Myself included. I do agree that most will only use for camping and light hauling. Mine however bottomed out with a light trailer and a couple of four wheelers in tow. Even those who do not haul heavy loads may still want to consider the TSB for the occasional cleaning out the garage or helping a friend move. Hey, it's your truck and if your happier without having the TSB done, then more power to "ya". BTW "ya" is not a word either. FWIW

 

My truck had 18' rims with 285/60/18 NTGs when I got it but no lift. Had the base model Tokicos all around. Before anyone starts with the that's why......I put TRD Bilsteins on it before lifting and they made no difference in how shitty the rear acted. After doing 5100s at 2.5 and adding the Toytec 1.5 AAL it felt magically better.......and still feels great.

That's the short-term business model...make all you can in every aspect of the business at consumer's expense then fail/bail. It's not all about GETTING market share. Successful long-term business KEEPS market share by treating customers as future money while providing quality that will bring people back, not run them off after annoying bullshit corner cutting greedy shortsighted nonsense...can only ride on past rep for so long doing shit that way. How far does Toyota really expect to go with this? Won't get away with it like the big 3 did, people done been edumacated from all that crap. We demands quality and safety and longevity.

 

I had 80 miles on it, and had around 2k in the bed, because I didn't want to make multiple trips. The truck did fine, the tires and brakes hated it. I drove real slow, and regret it. And my Taco isn't an issue, but I wish it was, I want heavier duty springs, shocks/struts and tires on mine. And for free too. Again, I believe there were some safety concerns at the helm of this.

 

Bullshit is a word and irregardless is a word........

ir·re·gard·less

   /ˌɪrɪˈgɑrdlɪs/ Show Spelled[ir-i-gahrd-lis]

–adverbNonstandard.





Origin:
1910–15; ir-2 (prob. after irrespective) + regardless


Irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir- and -less. It was probably formed on the analogy of such words as irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis. Irregardless first appeared in the early 20th century and was perhaps popularized by its use in a comic radio program of the 1930s.

 

I think you miss the point: it's the soccer mom's and softball dads they are more concerned about bailing. That's the far bigger market who are far less likely to look for solutions to make their vehicles more to their liking for arguably extreme uses, i.e., they don't do mods. And if you think I'm wrong: just look at how many people in this forum, a backwater of enthusiasts for extreme uses, are STILL content with the ride of the un-TSB'd setup.

I don't think anyone has claimed the current spring setup is 'low quality', or unsafe, or lacks longevity.

 

I banned myself from too many mods until I am outta warranty.

That said, I will do the fog lights asap, Polk Audio speakers asap, a real radio asap.

After 3 yr/36k, better tires possibly a different size, Cherry Bomb Vortec muffler or two, some type of ram air set up

The whole reason I got the Caprice wagon was to have something to mod keeping me busy until we wore out the warranty on the Taco, of which I may end up trading in and up to the mac daddy 4wd dbl cab long bed soon, and before mod 1 goes about.
Besides the tonneau of course.

 

Not missing the point. Sheeple that don't care about anything other than putting gas in it and wouldn't notice the difference anyway are who companies target in this fashion and agreeably are the vast majority. That doesn't justify the practice. People have their own opinions of this practice, how their own truck rides and they are welcome to them. IMO, flat and backwards arched lame ass leafs are low quality for this vehicle, are unsafe in certain driving conditions & haven't lasted like they should. Glad you're happy with yours...Enjoy.