What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

This guy tried to attack me on the way home today. Scared me pretty bad.

 

New valve cover gasket and plugs

 

I went back and forth with them for a couple weeks about resolving the issue, but once they were making the new uppers, it was quick - like less than a week from doing it to me having them. So, if you go straight to "I need new top leafs," then it would be quick...assuming no backlog in the shop.

When/if you talk to them, you also need to get new versions of the torque leafs (the "half" leaf on the very top of the pack that wraps around the front eye) since that has a hole in it too.

And my previously linked post has the measurements in it that I used, so you can check there for those.

Only happens on some trucks, which is why it took me a week of working with them before I got new ones.

They covered shipping but not the new leafs as a "compromise." Actually, they didn't really want to compromise at all, and claimed they'd never heard of this issue before. Whether that's true or not, two things were true for me:

1. I walked around my neighborhood looking at other 1st gens when this happened, and sure enough, it was about 50-50 whether the axle was centered in the wheel well with factory springs. So, there was definitely some mfg difference that doesn't matter when you run 31" tires. And it wasn't the usual 98-00/01-04 difference because I found trucks in both ranges that had axle-too-far-back syndrome. So, Alcan's leafs were "right" for some of the trucks.
2. I really like Alcan, the quality of their springs, and supporting a small business, so even though I'd have liked them to 'make it right for free,' I was willing to pay.

I paid $200 for the new top leafs, they paid shipping. Initially they only sent the long leafs, and I had to call them again for the torque leafs, which they weren't happy about having to send out separately and "for free," but it was hard for them not to at that point...

All in all, I'm still a happy customer and I don't think there's a better leaf pack out there. I'm about 5 days away from ordering another pack just so I have it on hand when my current pack wears out. Don't want to risk Alcan getting sold and me not getting the same quality.

 

Thanks for the explanation.
I'm really tempted to get a set before they sell to another business owner, although was curious about the whole "new top leaf" ordeal.

Wish there was a way to account for this axle centering discrepancy before delivery.
Although it seems like it's just one of those things with first gens quality control at the factory on certain things.

 

Honestly, I think that you can account for it beforehand, you just need to do a couple things (so there's some homework to do):

1. Get a ~33" wheel/tire installed (borrow one if you don't have one already) and get it stuffed up into your wheel well with the OEM leafs. Note if it is centered/going to rub on the front or back if it stuffs further. Note: with OEM leafs, I this should be easy, since they are easy to get to frown (fully stuff).
2. Remove the OEM leaf and measure from the center of the front eye to the center pin. Take a measurement where the tape measure is a straight line between the two, and one where it follows the curve of the top leaf, just so you have both measurements.

With that info, call Alcan and tell them what you want those measurements to be - either exactly what you measured if the tire was centered, or adjusted however you need to if it wasn't. They will make the leafs to your spec and you will be happy. But yeah, a couple hours of homework first.

Well, I don't know, but mine have already lasted as long (3 years) and many more miles (73K) as each of Mike's sets (he's now on his 3rd set, as I understand it) so I feel like I have maybe another 2-3 years with them at most given the amount of miles I put on the truck.

And, as I said, it's not about them wearing out as much as it is about Alcan going out of business or getting sold to someone who does a bunch of cost reductions. I don't know of a similar quality leaf spring out there compared to the current product. Deaver is closest, maybe?

 

Lol. I will have you know that I've purchased no TP or stocked up on anything since all this started, and I went to the grocery store today. At least here, the stores themselves are now overstocked with TP b/c they've done the same fear "stocking up" that their customers did a month ago, hahahaha. Actually, I've found grocery shopping to be great the last month, as there are fewer people in the store to contend with.

I don't blame Alcan for the sizing of my packs - I mean, their packs do fit some (50% of or so) 1st gens, so I put it more on Toyota. And, I don't know why Mike's wear out more quickly...because for me they seem fine. So, I still don't know of a higher quality spring - happy to hear if you do know of one.

Yours lasted forever because your truck weighed like 37 lbs. when we put it on the truck scale. I hate you for that.

For me, it's that when I find something I like (and think is good quality), I want to make sure I've got enough of that thing - I do it with pants (you'll rarely see me not in my camo cargos, but it's not the same pair all the time), sunglasses, shoes, those types of things. In my mind, my truck probably only has another ~7 years of life in it before I'll be looking for something newer...and that's one more leaf pack, so might as well get one now (while the stock market is still up, mostly, hahahaha).

Actually, the only thing that makes me hesitate now - AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD DON'T TELL MONTE THIS - is that I could see myself wanting to go to LT in the next 7 years for the comfort of travel. And I'd hate to have leaf packs that aren't designed for that...

 

There's been issues with alcans for years. Their customer service is terrible. But people here get upset about it...

 

I would totally do that if I had an OEM leaf pack. On a set of Dakars now.

Might try to give them a call and see what they have to say about it.


Does anyone have any experience with Atlas leaf springs?
I haven't heard of anyone running those on a first gen before.

 

Took a volt meter gauge from a old mk2 Jetta build I was doing many moons ago and installed it in a slot on my dash

 

thats actually a pretty slick little volt gauge

 

Best 1st gen front bumper hands down!

 

I'd have to agree. That's the direction I'd be going if I built another.

 

IMO, Mike's aren't lasting because his springs are under specd for his weight, and his shocks were under valved. This resulted in the leafs working way harder than they should have been.

I bet deaver would build something for you. Their expo pack for the newer trucks is well liked. Ask them to build something similar for a 1st Gen.

 

debatable but it is super nice.
No home for a winch?

 

It's nice, but I personally wouldn't call it the best.

 

I'm curious to what his are spec'd for. He's the heaviest 1st Gen I know of.

Are his bumps allowing them to go very negative?

I will say mine are softer now than they were when new but they still support the weight. I just have more body roll and less fishtailing on gravel.

 

Changed my valve cover gasket and plugs because oil was leaking onto the plugs causing a skip. Still have a skip issue. Thinking plug wires???? Gonna have to test those when I get home

 

Anybody else having trouble ordering stuff?First my first set of wheels the order got canceled now the guy won’t call me back to let me know if he is going to have to refund me for the Bilstein cause he realized he has none in stock.Bout to just cancel it and order OME stuff I guess.My truck is a 4cyl should I go with the 881s and then when I get a bumper add the top spacer or just get stiffer springs from jump.

 

(fun little trip report for everyone's enjoyment)


...The day started off like so many others in the last several weeks - we woke up in our own beds. We didn't wake up early... or late, it was just the normal time. And, we knew - or at least, I thought we knew - what we were going to do today: like the days before, we were going to shelter in place!...

Keep reading the rest here
@mini.turbodb Steals the Tacoma for a Seattle Safari​

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Keep reading the rest here
@mini.turbodb Steals the Tacoma for a Seattle Safari​

 

Receiving and shipping goods has definitely been hindered by COVID 19 but, if it’s out of stock... it’s out of stock. Just cancel and move on to someone who has it, or something similar, in stock.

it’s also important to realize that some companies will use the current pandemic as an excuse. You often find this out AFTER you place an order.

The companies posting on their websites for the public to see, and being honest about delayed lead times prior to ordering due to COVID are the ones you’ll want to order from even if their lead times are longer, because at least they’re honest.

Also, I would call ahead to confirm availability. Phones still work at home and company phones should have been forwarded to a working line. Leave a voicemail, use email, use their online chat if their website has one. There are many ways to communicate effectively right now and if the company isn’t able to be reached through one of those avenues, I would avoid them and/or cancel orders. Just make sure you do your due diligence as far as trying to contact them and if you don’t get a response within 2-3 days max, move on.

Also, use a credit card when you can that way you can always call the CC company to dispute the transaction and not be stuck waiting on your checking/savings account to get reimbursed from a company that can’t be reached.