Dobinsons 2016-2023 Taco Suspension Options

I had this situation too. We ended up getting in there, and cut the bolt end with a sawzall tool while it was still installed. Not the cleanest fix, but it worked.

 

That rear shackle bolt should 1/4” shorter.

 

Anyone with mmr's have any real world experience that they are willing to share?

 

We are installing some this weekend on one of our buddies’ truck.

 

I'll be installing my front MRR/MRA on tuesday, have to wait for the rear shocks (backordered until the end of september) I have a set of shock extenders supposed to be delivered on Monday, just use the stock rear shock for now (onroad only). along with JBA offroad high castor UCA's and ECGS bushing, and archive garage U-bolt flip kit, with superbump bumpstops...

 

Seems like that's the case. Obviously more than just one or two people dealing with this.

Glad I didn't screw something up on install that caused this.

I really don't want to cut it because I know it's going to booger the end up. I'd rather pull the bolt, grind it and shape the tip so that I can get the bolt out without too much trouble if need be.

I've got a small, cordless sawzall with metal blades. Maybe i'll give that a go and then file the tip to clean it up and shape it.

Thanks for the feed back everyone.

Dobinsons, maybe time to adjust the length on that bolt?

 

Anyone have any experience with the Main Line Overland GTS kits? I've got the full kit (struts, springs, shocks and leaf pack). It came with the L59-11R leaf springs which are pretty damn rough with an empty bed. I plan on maybe running a bedrack with an RTT someday, should I have them swapped out for the 110s? Also, has anyone messed with shims after installing the Dobinsons leaf springs? Thanks!

 

Im pretty sure you can just remove a leaf from the 111R to be the 110R. Maybe someone else can confirm. I have 112Rs and know I can just remove a leaf to make them ride like the 111R.

keep the extra leaf in case you need it later

 

Makes sense to me. Haha thanks

 

So 2pts:

1. Heavy Leaf pack can be modified like above comment to give it the medium rated ~200lbs constant load w/ 2-2.5" I think of lift
2. I had to put in a 4* shim in to resolve some nasty ujoint working angle at the pinion.

I initially put the L59-111R's on with the OE suspension up front with a 1.75" spacer up front and 1" spacer under the rear OE leafs...these was done at the dealer.

I got 2.75" of lift out of the rear with my hardshell and daily bed load ~300lbs including the hard topper. Post shim install fixed the nasty grinding sounds during coasting.

 

Yeah having the 111s on there with an empty bed feels like I have no rear suspension lmao. I've gotta take some measurements and do some math to see what I need for shims. I feel like the Dobinsons leafs tilted my rear pinion up a decent amount. It's at roughly 5.5-6 degrees. Not sure if I want to shim it down (fat side of shim forward) or up a little... Also have to do more research. Lol

 

https://youtu.be/l68XpaIRBY8
That was what I had going on before taking the u-joint working angles

There's some decent write ups on TW, and this one has lots of info https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-by-step.244535/page-49

 

Weird that it hits on one side and not the other. Just add a washer or 2 under the head of the bolt, that will reduce how far it goes in towards the frame, and no cutting required then.

 

Borrowed this pic from @doubleb97 to warn customers with the super heavy L59-112-R springs that there is going to be the same shackle interference, squeaking and damage that happens with the terrible OME leaf packs.
The reason is the 2nd leaf from top extends inside the shackles, this is a design flaw and will require the 2nd leaf to be trimmed for proper function without interference.
Dobinsons L59-110-R 3/2 and L59-111-R 4/2 do not have this issue because the 2nd leaf does not extend inside the shackle.

 

Is this an issue people have been pointing out only with the hammer hangers? I've not had this issue reported to me or Dobinsons on any truck for the past 3+ years that they've been available, assuming they were all using stock shackles and hangers.

From the guy that designed these springs, Adam Dobinson:
"It's not a design flaw, it's the specific design of these 112-R springs. That 2nd leaf supports the main eye since these are super heavy load leaf springs, and an unsupported spring eye can bend and snap eventually without that proper support of the 2nd leaf, and with all the constant weight on the rear end. Anyone that modifies their 112-R's will not have a warranty will be risking the integrity and load support of the springs."

 

No one has pointed out with Dobinsons yet because they are pretty new to the scene, but this has been happening for years with OME Dakars, and from pictures, the 112-R is even worse than the Dakars. Trust me, it is a problem with the 112-R's, people just don't know it yet. Most people buying these aren't really qualified to diagnose the issues. I am the guy explaining the reason for the squeaking and popping, unless no one is turning into parking lots or using these offroad.
He's wrong. He is likely used to designing springs for the Australian market, which means the Hilux shackle style: 2 plate shackles coming down to the spring from the frame above.
The Tacoma shackle arrangement is opposite, and the normal leaf spring operation of the 2nd leaf sliding around under the main leaf hits the shackles. Adam's 112 design would work fine with Hilux style shackles.
Please ask Adam to fix the issue with 112-Rs. Hopefully he is better than ARB/OME who didn't want to listen, and didn't want to admit anything due to a warranty burden, and everyone keeps throwing money at them because they are cheap.
Thanks for actually taking the info I provided up the stream.

 

ARB/OME are cheap?

If you say so. Lol

 

What do you mean? OME is probably lowest priced option?

 

I guess for a full setup, they're pretty low. On par with the lower Toytec Boss stuff. Maybe one or two others.

Around $1300 for a full OME setup that's not too exciting lol.

 

The HD OME leaf springs can be had for around $500. That's really cheap.