Help choosing rear leaf setup

So, here is where I’m at.

2021 DCSB 4x4 20,000 miles
Eibach pro lift kit
-coil over set at middle & rear shock
Wheelers 1.5” AAL
265/70/17 BFG
TRD 17” matte wheels

My rear suspension is creaking so badly I am at wits end. I had the setup installed at 10k miles and that week it started creaking. Over the next 3 months I had it back at the shop that installed it 3 times to stop the noise. My suspicion is over or under torquing. It’s embarrassing loud! Each time all they did was grease the friction pads and I kept telling them that I thought the noise was coming from the shackles. I’ve lost it with them as I brought them the parts as opposed to buying it from them and despite all the grease they stuffed in there the creaking persists. Also I have gone through two cans of spray grease in different places to try to quiet it myself. At this point I don’t want to dump any more money on the current setup chasing this noise. My rear suspension budget is $1000 or close to it. I’m looking to get about 1-1.5” lift and I do not regularly carry weight but a few times a year. I’d like set it up for a good ride and noise free. Should I replace the shackles and bushings as well as the leafs? Has anyone else f-ed up and had a jeep-centric shop do an install? Are there springs known to be quieter? This is my 5th Tacoma and I worked as a new car manager for a Toyota store for a lot of years so as you can imagine this situation is more than frustrating.

 

Dobinson rear leaf pack and greaseable shackle kit.

 

Most the full leaf packs are going to give you 2” of lift. I ran a 3 leaf icon aal on my truck and then added the overload to get to 2”. Just the other day I swapped it out for a deaver u402 leaf pack and it is much more comfortable than the icon with the overload in. The 3 leaf really isn’t designed to be ran with the overload so it contacted pretty early and increased the spring rate substantially when engaged.

 

Have you tried pressure washing between the leafs? Obviously tried to avoid stripping paint, but every time I do a water crossing my leafs squeak up a storm until I spray them out. Grease attracts dirt.

 

I have tried keeping them clean with a pressure washer but I only really do off road maybe once per month max

 

I’m trying to figure out the difference in the icon rxt 3 leaf with aal and the icon progressive aal myself. Anybody?

 

Do you have any added weight to your rear end like a bumper? You're saying the Icon was more harsh than the Deaver?

 

The icon aal was harsher on bumps because it would engage the overload spring. Think of it like a progressive spring, the initial 1-2 inches of suspension travel were fine but once the overload spring was engaged the spring rate would go up substantially. No major added weight in the back, truck has a stock tonneau cover, bed mat, 4 recovery boards, arb compressor and sliders.

 

Look at the lighter duty (R-110/R-111) Dobinsons leaf packs. @Crikeymike is who you want to contact.

Info here.

 

That's odd that they couldn't get the noise to go away.

It's SUPER common for shops to install rear shocks incorrectly, not tightening down the top nut properly, and this allows the stud to move and rub against the frame, making a horrible sound. You can check that yourself with a wrench and the truck on the ground to make sure that's not the noise culprit. I had a customer just last week that claimed "the best Toyota shop in all of Colorado" did his install (he wouldn't tell me who), and from the photos I could see his rear shocks weren't installed properly. The best shops don't always have super experienced techs it would seem.

Since they only added a leaf to the setup, it seems pretty crazy that you'd be having back leaf spring noise from just that, especially when they were greasing it like you told them to.

The L59-110-R are definitely a good option for you, new leaf set with the added lift built in, and new bushings. There shouldn't be a single noise from them once installed.