add a leaf do or don't?????

I just ordered a Wheelers 1.5 in aal. When installing can I take out the overload spring just on the passenger side to help compsensate for the "taco lean"? I dont plan on hauling heavy with this truck.

 

I have the Wheelers HD AAL in my truck, and chose to leave the overload spring. My truck is used for work as well as a DD, so this works for me. In my case I am glad I left the overload, the truck rides much better than with just the stock springs and I got about a 2" lift.

Now if I was using this as just a DD, did not have a rack and shell, and did not have the truck loaded with tools, I would have probably removed the overload spring.

 

Thank you for the advice.

 

Leaf the overload leaf on both sides... you will thank me later.

 

I just installed the Wheelers 1.5 aal. Installation was easy especially because the truck is brand new. The lift was exactly 1.5 inches and ride is better then stock, firm yet comfortable. One more benefit was the squeeking from the stock pack is now gone. The truck now sits perfectly with a slight rake with the Bilstein 1.75 up front. I decided to pull the overloads on both sides. Taco lean is a little less now. Love my new truck.

 

Before and after

 

I'm thinking about installing the same setup but I'm a bit concerned about the ride being too stiff. You say "better then stock, firm yet comfortable".

Would firm be smooth on good roads? How well do the AALs and Bilsteins isolate you from rough or washboard type roads?

Is firm also minimal body roll in turns? How does it handle?

Thanks.

 

Blocks ride better and if you get a 1.5 or less you won't have to worry about axle wrap

 

lol what he said....

blocks no mater their height are pointless, right there with coil spacers.

 

Plenty of trucks come fresh off the assembly line with blocks. You should call up the big wigs at GM and Ford and tell them you know more about trucks than them.

 

Blocks will ride smoother, add a leaf will stiffen up ride a little, but give you more load stability. Do not remove only one side of your overload spring, if you do bottom out the uneven stress may cause more damage to your rear suspension. On washboard roads you will bounce around more with an aal than blocks with no load in bed.

I switched from a single alcan AAl (1.5" lift) to the wheelers progressive 3 pack aal and much better/smoother ride.

 

X2

 

and those are trucks with leaf springs designed around having blocks and are usually very small blocks (like 1 in) Not the spaghetti they call leaf springs for the tacoma, that have bad axle wrap from the factory.

By simply putting a 1inch block on the leaf, you are giving the axle a solid 33-40% more of a torque advantage on the leaf which makes axlewrap even more of a problem.

 

Blocks dont cause axle wrap on tacomas until you start getting over 2 inch blocks though

 

Wow. Really?

 

yeah man, you dont know what you're talking about. Do some more research

 

That's pretty funny. Stock Tacoma springs are not capable of controlling axle wrap off the assembly line in completely stock form. You think that by distancing the tube from the spring with a block does not have a negative effect on the torsional control of the axle by the already overworked stock springs? Maybe I should continue my research and look into this some more....

 

so what your saying is that somehow by INCREASING the torque arm the axle has on the leaf (which makes it easier for the axle to torque the springs), you actually reduce axle wrap? because the stock leafs have some pretty bad axle wrap without blocks.

 

I went with an aal because the overwhelming advice was to stay away from blocks. Im glad I did. My truck is brand new, I just turned 2500 miles. The stock springs squeeked the day I drove it off the lot, they no longer squeek with the aal. The truck corners much better but part of that comes from a larger tire on a 4.5 backed space wheel thus the truck is wider. Ride is firm yet very comfortable, I felt that stock was a little sloppy but I come from a built Jeep with suspension mods so ride is very subjective. The only thing I would do differently, and may still do is replace stock front coils in place of taller coil. Bilsteins at 1.75 transmit a little too much "feel" for me. All in all truck rides and looks good. I have had many strangers approach me on how good the truck looks and want to know what I did to it.