Ok to remove factory "helper/overload spring" from under leaf pack?

To preface this, I have searched TW and other forums and can't find a similar situation, most people are wanting to add an additional helper spring of some sort.

As the title states, I am asking for opinions to whether I can remove the factory overload spring (the inverted, thick, shorter spring that mounts between the leaf pack and the axle) from my truck. Here is the reason I am wanting to do this: I have 5100s up front set at 2.5" with the stock non-TRD coils and a .5" top plate spacer (to give me a full 3"). I put a 1.5" AAL and a 3degree shim plate from wheelers in the rear. For some reason this lifted the back of my truck about 3/4" higher than the front, and I would like it to be level or have the front just slightly higher than the rear. I would like to leave the 1.5" AAL and the shim in the rear and do not want to try and force anymore lift out of the front. I noticed that the helper spring only touches the leaf pack in the center right over the axle, and it's about 3/4" thick. I have a single cab 2.7 L and this is my "play" truck so I will not be towing or hauling anything heavy in the bed. So, please correct me if I am wrong in this assumption, but unless the pack is "overloaded" the helper spring doesn't provide any support to the pack and ultimately acts as a 3/4" lift block until enough load is applied to the rear to force the pack to touch the helper spring? Thanks in advance.

 

How long have you had the AAL in the back? If its new it should settle some and bring you back to levelish. If you took out the overload youd have the bro-lean if it settled.

But to answer your question, if you arent towing or hauling then you're probably OK to remove it.

 

Just posting because we're in the same town

 

Yea I was wondering if the AAL would settle any. I put the AAL on last weekend so, 4 days ago, and I've only driven it to work and back.

Thanks for your quick response. I would rather not change the front any because I like the height it's at with my 255s and I technically would have to pay for another alignment if I change the lift at all.

 

When I added my Wheelers 3-leaf progressive AAL pack, I decided to leave out the factory over-load 'spring'. My logic is the same as yours . I offroad, so flex/articulation is more important to me. No issues so far.

However, I rarely haul heavy loads. I still have it, if I change my mind in the future, or unexpectedly need to haul a heavy load for hundreds of miles.

 

In that case drive with it for a month or so and reevaluate. It could settle and be level in a month

 

Thanks Rick, sounds like I am in the same boat as you. Did you notice any additional axle wrap after removing the helper spring? I assume after adding the AAL and now having a 4 leaf pack (3 factory and 1 AAL) that it would be stiff enough to avoid axle wrap.

 

Removing the overload LESSENS axle wrap, than with it, since it lowers the lift by 3/4". I agree, that stiffening the leaf-pack with a SINGLE AAL should reduce axle wrap, but at the cost of harsher ride and additional stress on the other leaves.