Leaf springs -flat or "bent" - what does this mean?

Sorry if this is common knowledge - I'm new

Went and got dirt today for the yard without thinking much about having too much weight in the truck bed. Now it seems like I've bent, or flattened the leaf springs.
My basic question is - what does this mean going forward? Do I need to be looking into replacing the leaf springs, or anything else? Will this just mean a compromised "ride feel"? Any concern for frame or anything else? Or am I just wrong and the leaf springs are fine?
I hope the pics show what I'm seeing.

How much dirt (decent topsoil) would you put in the back of your truck? A yard, half yard, what's safe.
I have a stock, 2007 access cab 2.7 4x4

 

I'm not an expert as well but from my experience, that looks a little off. Looks like you should try and get your rear TSB done from the dealership. If you dont know what that is, they add an extra leaf to raise the rear end about an inch because many people were complaining about bottoming out there trucks with heavy loads so Toyota put it on their TSB list as a non-mandatory service type deal.

 

I still trying to figure out what the hell the little mouse toy thing is under your truck.

 

Man of War - Ha! That's a dog toy and I believe it's a blowfish

Vacountryboy - have not done TSB.
I started reading a little about it when I came on site today. Any idea what the cost is? Do they replace the existing leafs as well as add one, or just add one? Is anything else done when they do this?

 

Has your truck ever had an AAL installed or blocks ?

 

I don't know what an AAL is, nor do I know what blocks are - sorry...
My guess is that the answer would be no (everything looks completely stock).
This is the first truck I've owned and I purchased it used ("certified") last October.
I am not mechanically inclined
Thanks for all the help/advice

also...GO CANUCKS!

 

An AAL is an Add A Leaf , it looks to me like someone may have had a short AAL in there before , because it looks like your leafs are creased at an odd spot forward and rear of the axle

 

Did you ever look at the leaf pack before you loaded it up? It may have been flattened out a while ago.

 

I just happened to go get a 1/2 cu. yard of dirt last week and my springs looked the same in my '11 off-road. Once the dirt was removed from the bed, the bed popped back up to where it should be.

 

I put a full yard of dirt in it a few weeks ago. I do not have the leaf spring TSB. It barely sagged and popped back up without any issues. Yours looks like it needs some replacement.

 

For you guys with 2011's give it time, after a while they won't pop back up, they will just be flat.

Its well known that the stock springs on Tacoma's are basically junk, I drive a ton a mile and my truck was out of warranty before I knew about the leaf spring TSB, toyota said they would split the cost of job which they quoted me at $1800. I said no thanks.

I am bringing my truck in to a local spring shop this week to have my springs replaced with new heavy duty springs. I didn't go aftermarket becuase I didn't want a lift.

So as far as going forward, you have options, either leave it as is, you can get the TSB, new aftermarket lift springs or go to a spring shop. I would stay away from AAL as I've heard they can cause the already weak springs to break or bend even more.

Oh yeah............ GO BRUINS

 

Spring shops can re-arch springs, re-build leaf packs with more or thicker leaves, or basically any other custom thing you want done.

 

Well lets see you Have a used 2007 right. Know my question is did you buy an extended warranty? I am asking cause I have a 2005 that I got in the end of 2009 and I bought the extended warranty. I was able to get TSB done now they ONLY replaced the rear springs not the shocks nor did they do anything with front end.

 

Thanks, appreciate everyones input.
I did get the extended warranty, so by the sounds of it I'll probably talk to the shop about the TSB.

 

Mine weren't quite that bad but yeah, that looks just about "normal". I went the AAL route and it's worked out fine for me. I'll see what happens over time but since I rarely carry anything in the bed, I expect it will be fine for quite a while.

 

OP, where are you located in Washington? There is a great spring shop in Tacoma if you're near there.

 

Dakar's FTW

 

Agreed

 

X3 get a set of Dakar leafs. My leafs looked similar to yours and its an '09.
When you see a side by side comparison of them to the stock leafs you will wonder what the hell Toyota was thinking putting those crappy leafs in.

I just installed mine yesterday and I love them. The ride is great! My stock leafs used to sag with just me sitting on the tailgate. They barely move now. Granted they are brand new but I can't see them sagging as much as the stock ones do even down the road.

 

^How much lift did they give you?