Are my leaf springs shot?

Yes, paying attention. Saw the extension.

Posted this in my "axle wrap, help me beat a dead horse" thread.

Does axle wrap still happen if you stop in neutral? I noticed that when in neutral the thump when braking goes completely away. Tested this at 30 down to 10mph.

Any input?

 

Dude, I'm not sure. Axle wrap is clearly associated with hard torque/acceleration, but I am wondering about braking, too. I watched like 30 youtube videos to see if it happens while braking, meaning that the wrap "S" would go in the opposite direction as the typical acceleration wrap. Theoretically, if the springs are really weak, if you brake hard, the axle would rotate forward, pulling the diff/driveshaft down, and when you release the brake, the diff (along with the springs and driveshaft yoke) would clunk up into its neutral position. Just a theory.

Anyone else? Proof would be nice.

 

Thank you.

I only get "axle wrap" on braking. Never on accelerating but then i do not mash my foot into the gas either. It just seams strange that out of gear it goes away. Like it is something else.

If i bring my speed down slowly and come to a very gentle stop then the clunk is minimal to nothing. If i stop normal then i get the clunk along with the shifter shifting. Again out of gear and nothing. I drove my buddies 03 DC/V6 with 60K and his did this too but not as harsh as mine.

More input if you got it please.

 

Hmmm, OK, first, more input from you, please. You don't have any spec listed for your truck (you should fill that out in your profile so people can see it under your avatar--at least year, type/cab, eng., and tranny), and I am guessing that you have an automatic? Your buddy's must be automatic because his is a DC.

Don't know if you already know this, but a major clunk contributor is a dry rear drive shaft yoke, which causes the drive shaft to bind up at the sliding yoke. When was the last time your driveline was greased? Search the forum for this easy DIY service. I believe it is stickied under maintenance How Tos for both gens. This should be done every 15k, or more frequently if you offroad alot, especially in mud /water.

 

to be sure, you get axle wrap when accelerating as well as braking. the reason you only notice it when braking is because the brakes hold the wraped axle in place all bound up ..until you let off the brake ...that's when you get the "clunk" noise.

 

HA! That's what I thought! Thanks.

 

Thank you.

I have a 04 DC TRD V6 AT. I did the yoke grease fix about 4 weeks ago. It helped for a week or so. Thank you for the explaination on why it happens when braking.

 

Hey guys. How do my leafs look? I think they look pretty bad but im not sure after looking at the OP's leafs which look way worse than mine.
They have 158,000 miles on them.

 

Mine look the same! Do we need new ones??

 

yes you do.

check the group buy in my signature!!!

 

my leaf springs looked exactly like yours when i had my blocks in the back

 

OMG! Mine do too!

The real question is does the rear end feel sloppy and do you get axle wrap when starting from a dead stop (feels like hopping or lurching, at least with a manual) and when braking to a stop?

Here are pics of mine. 105k miles, and a Snugtop (~200 lb?) lives on it.

As a reference, there is 1.75 inches between the top of the overload spring tips to the bottom of the bottom leaf, both front and rear. I'm getting new ones.

Lots more discussion on this thread:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/gr...heelers-offroad-1st-gen-leaf-replacement.html

 

Yeah, I've been following your guy's group buy. I still need to think about it since im a somewhat poor college student.
SO HARD TO DECIDE!lol

 

I hear you. One way to look at it is the same reason you bought the truck in the first place (I am guessing), you wanted a long-term realiable vehicle that holds its value. Think about all the other POSs that your fellow college students are driving, and how often they will get raped for expensive repairs to crappy cars, while you will be able to go out and turn you key on your Toyota every day and...guess what! It works! Every day. In that scenario, this is a pretty good deal. They will last you a long time, and we are having such a hard time just getting people lined up for a group buy, I don't think discounts will come along too often.

I truly am annoyed about the wrap thing, but that is just an annoyance, really. But when I was driving 70 on a badly paved stretch of interstate a few weekends ago, and the rear end felt like it just would rather mosey (well, actually, hop and shudder) on over into the next lane whenever I got in a big curve, it made up my mind...comfort and safety wise.

 

you offer good points for sure! the issue for me is getting these things over the boarder! and if i do get them and dog forbid i have any sort of warranty problem i will have more trouble to try and get any sort of international customer service.

 

If you go with the 5-pack leaf springs, you will also need to buy new rear shocks right? To accommodate for the 1.5" of lift? or will the stock shocks suffice?

 

Great points, I will def think about it. This is a great opportunity.

x2

 

get new shocks guys! if your springs are shot without a doubt the shocks are too. they are quite reasonably priced too. imo

 

Well I definitely will get new shocks, I'm just trying to see how much money Ill have to dish out once I buy these leaf packs. It just seems to snowball, which is not a bad thing because I'm investing in my truck with quality products.

First leaf packs, install pack, then Billys/OME all around, & other bushings that will need replaced. That right there puts me close to a grand!

 

I just priced it out and it will be near 1000 for the OME 881 coils, billies all around, and the 5 leaf pack. That is the same setup tacomaman06 has and he seems to really like it.