How much flex in leaf pack at rest?

Compadres,

Was under my lady’s rear end today...

...anyway, happened to notice the leaf pack is almost perfectly level when she’s at rest with no weight in the bed. 2015 DCSB OR, 62K, no reason to believe the suspension is anything but original stock.

Is this normal geometry? Are my springs starting to sag? Is this my opportunity to say, welp, no choice but to upgrade the suspension!

I tow a 23’ bay boat locally and occasionally. I sometimes feel like the rear suspension is compressing more than I remember when towing, but it’s a general feeling with no point of reference. Otherwise I rarely have significant weight in the bed. Everything is pretty much stock, no heavy steel bumper, just a one-piece undercover tonneau. Couple reference pics below. I know the tires are getting heinous, new AT’s in the garage waiting.

Opinions?

 

Normal, OEM Tacoma springs have no arch, they sit flat. 3rd stock leaf packs are a direct bolt on and can be found super cheap. They were updated to provide a better spring rate.

 

I’m kinda shocked that they’re flat. But thank you, everyone else I know with a Taco has a 3rd Gen so no reference point.

 

I have a 3rd gen with no added weight in the back and this could be a picture of my leaf springs, I actually considered posting this exact same question because I have no point of reference either. Thanks!

 

Yes, Normal.
Mine look the same.
They were designed that way.

 

Thanks fellas.

I assume then, that leaf packs designed to provide suspension lift along with upgraded shocks, will sit with an actual downward bow in them from the ends to the middle?

 

You may have a slight arch with a leaf pack for a lift but, in my experience, it will still be relatively flat and you get a good portion of the lift from the additional thickness in the leaf pack.

 

Just add an AAL to those & your good. They’re still nice

 

They are sagged, and when you have load and accelerate, it will "wrap" upwards. It makes for poor ride quality.

If you feel like trying the economical route you can install an add-a-leaf to get a few more years out of them.

New rear shocks like 5100s will make it much more pleasant to tow with.

 

5100s have been a thought for quite a while, I think I was waiting to be forced to do it.

 

3rd gen with 11,5xx miles. Nearly flat. I’m guessing it’s normal.

Gonna be selling the whole stock suspension next month if you’re interested in a cheap replacement/upgrade. I’m near Asheville.

 

Same thing here, 3rd gen looked like that @ 3500kms

 

Appreciate that, but a 3rd Gen setup isn’t under consideration for a future upgrade.

On the other hand who doesn’t want to go drink beers in Asheville? Love that area.

 

Tacoma's don't have enough leaf springs in them to hold anything. Don't waste your money on cheap internet suspension junk. Find a local suspension shop and have them add another leaf. Professionally. I had two leafs per side added to mine.

 

My concern with add a leaf is it’ll be great under load when towing the boat, but will be stiff as hell the rest of the time, which is the vast majority of the time. Am I wrong?

 

It won't be that bad if adding just one leaf. It will also lift it a bit in the rear. Mine has two leafs added and 10 ply rated tires with 50 psi. Still not too bad unless it's a bad road. You have to decide if you want a truck or a car.

 

Eh, I don’t think it’s a truck or car question, it’s a load question. If I had a heavy rear steel bumper, or a rack/RTT, something in the rear with significant weight that was on all the time, there would be no question. Adding a single leaf and upgrading the shocks economically is probably a decent middle road to travel so I’m in better shape under load and not under load.

 

They also make (like i have on my truck) a progressive AAL. Not just one thick piece of metal but 3 smaller leafs that give you the lift but retain some of the comfort of the OEM leafs as well. Mine is from HeadStrong Offroad. Lifted my rear 1.5" and I kept the OEM overload leaf out. If you leave it in you'll get 2" of lift. Just a thought.

 

Yeah stock springs suck. I have a Decked system and Softopper on my access cab. My rake was gone after that so I had a spring shop add an additional leaf to fix the rake.

 

I have a message in with a local place, I’m in a small area and need to take some time to figure out who around here does suspension work and actually knows what they’re talking about. Aside from putting in spacers on everyone’s trucks.