3rd Gen Rear Leaf Sag: Need Opinions

I want to make sure I'm not overreacting. I didn't plan to upgrade the rear, but I've been noticing that "whoops" are hitting a bit harder than they used to.

(lifted) 2nd gen from work:


My stock suspension (with sumo helper springs):



Is it just me, or is this pretty flat?



I really don't want to be spending money on a rear supsension right now, but if this isn't right I want to fix it properly.

AAL? DAKARs? Need some advice.

 

3rd gens rear leafs look like that from factory. Went to the dealership with an inquiry about this. Their techs inspected a couple of 17s' and 18s' and they're all the same. Best bet is to upgrade to some Dakars which I plan to do whenever money decides grow on trees.

 

Well in that case, anybody mind uploading pics of their own when you get a chance?

 

Try this...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/6247945/?q=flat+leaf&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=186

 

Thanks man, I hit the first search page and it was nothing but 1st and 2nd gens. I guess I should have narrowed it down a bit more.

 

Go to the 3rd gen forum area. Then when you use the search bar make sure to select the "search this forum only" option.

 

That second Gen looks like it has airbags???

 

I think it does.

 

I mean. His springs aren't anything to smile about. Yeah they are not flat like our third gens but if you get rid of those air bags and put the weight of the truck on the leafs, I bet my paycheck that they will be close to or flat like ours.

 

Right on. That's what I needed to hear so I didn't go off the deep end and spend money when I don't have to yet.

 

I had just noticed this about my brand spanking new TRD OR this weekend. It might be by design, but it sure isn’t confidence inspiring.

 

No reason to get angry. Those springs will work fine for whatever you do. Its not a heavy duty tow vehicle nor has a lot of carrying capacity. Ive thrown tons of shit in the back and yeah it sags a little but it could be worse. I finally ordered new tires for my truck and have my suspension sitting in the living room. Med load OME leafs will be going on as well.

 

Nah. Not angry. But my expectation of a truck is that I can tow and add weight to the back. I do plan on having some weight back there continuously, not a ton, but seeing flat springs is motivating me to upgrade my suspension a bit quicker than I had wanted.

 

Weight carrying ability has nothing to do with the shape of the spring, if the initial design for ride height and load capacity was met. If your truck is sitting at it's proper ride height and the spring is flat, then it was designed that way. Arched springs won't carry any more load than flat springs. Ride height and load capacity are the two things that determine:
Shape of Spring (arch, flat, negative arch)
Thickness of leafs
Number of leafs (more is better to a point)

If you put a 2" arched spring on the Tacoma that had the same spring rate as stock, then all you get is a 2" lift in the rear. No more capacity. Conversely, if you put a flat spring with a higher spring rate, then you get no lift and more capacity.

 

I understand what you are saying, but here are two observations guiding my conclusion.

1. Toyota’s are the only trucks I’ve seen with factory designed flat rear leaf springs. Yes, there may be more out there.
2. These particular trucks are not good at supporting much added weight.

To bring in a quote from another current thread in this forum:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-me-add-load-capacity-conservatively.552154/

It may not be that the leafs are flat, but something in the design of these trucks make them poor at handling extra weight.

I plan to add a RTT and have a little gear in the back continuously and expect I will need to strengthen my suspension before doing this.

 

My original springs were pretty flat. My new rear leafs courtesy of the rear end howl tsb are probably as flat.
The hd dakars sitting on my garage floor have a nice arch though.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/flat-leaf-pack-on-2018-sport.542371/#post-17535844

Mines saggy. Putting in a 1-1/2" AAL in a few weeks

 

It's a midsize light duty truck. You can put around a half ton load total. Hopefully you checked out the load capacity before you bought it. The above post talks about the Dakars and would probably be a good solution. Good luck!