2002 Toyota tacoma xtracab 4wd leaf springs????????? ANd weird smell From Exhaust!!!!!

I bought a 2002 Toyota Tacoma about a month ago and the back of the truck doesn't sag but it will go down like two inches with only 270lbs in the back the leaf springs are on it are General Springs and they don't look that old and the truck has no rust. I think I'm going to replace them any good brand or suggestions on what leaf springs I should get?
I also get a weird smell coming from the exhaust once I turn the truck on but it goes away shortly after.
Truck does have 194k miles on it.

 

Welcome to TW!

@Taco critter has basically the same truck as you...

 

These are the leaf springs on it.

 

$213 ICON Vehicle Dynamics 1.5" Lift Rear Expansion Pack

https://www.amazon.com/ICON-Vehicle-Dynamics-Inch-Expansion/dp/B01FN4XRHU?crid=2PARV6S8AK5NH&keywords=icon+dynamics+suspension&qid=1652320566&sprefix=icaon+dy%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-15

 

I’d look into Deavers. I got some universal group leafs from the parts store and had a leaf break within a year with very mild off road and no heavy loads. If anything stay away from universal group.


For the weird smell need to be more specific. But I’d check to make sure your brakes are ok. If it smells sweetish might have a cracked head or failing gasket and if it’s putting out blue smoke it’s burning oil. Could be a lean or rich fuel to air ratio. Good luck

 

I have had very Good luck with General Spring out of Kansas City.

I have bought a few sets of springs for my projects they beat the local spring Shops delivered to the shop.

Before the lock downs and price increases

 

It don't smell sweet and it definitely don't smell like burnt oil, I just got the truck a month ago and I noticed it the second week since I only use it to drive it to college so its just sitting most the time but ima have to pay more attention to the smell to try to explain it, it kinda smells like gas but it's really a weird smell.

 

An there is no smoke it just has water coming out of the exhaust when I start it from the condensation I guess.

 

Im not planning to tow anything heavy but how good are they with weight that's what's on it right now and I guess it goes down alot becuase they are worn out but I plan to tow a zero turn that weights 1000 pounds at the most with a small trailer and I hooked it up to the truck the other day and it went down quite a bit.

 

I don't know much about cars or trucks in general this is my first truck, I know it needs a 02 sensor and I found this online "If a bad oxygen sensor disrupts the air to fuel ratio mixture, or too much fuel is injected into the engine, your vehicle's gas mileage will be reduced. This excess fuel in the engine can produce a sulfuric, rotten egg smell, and may even produce black smoke from the exhaust." But I have also found forums and articles that say that 02 sensors have nothing to do with that who is right??

 

You can go with the stock replacements or the heavy duty I also go with the heavy duty.

The more weight the springs will support the rougher the ride will be

 

O2 sensors can cause a bad ratio. I’d be surprised if they are bad with no check engine light. Some instances you can also clean O2 sensors. I’d try that before you buy new ones without knowing if that is what it is. There is a number of other things it could be.

Make sure your air filter isn’t toasted
Run a couple bottles of injector cleaner through and change gas brands. A smog test could determine if your cat is bad which will could produce the sulfur smell as well.

 

The check engine light was on but it turned off like two days after I got the truck the code it threw indicated to bad 02 sensors.

 

how much is a lot? And are you sure it’s water?

 

yea its water it has no smell at all when you touch it an so far this month I have had it, it appears it hasn't lost any antifreeze, It drips for a few minutes when I first start it, I have heard that means the engine is strong I don't really know it just does it the first few minutes when I turn it on. The antifreeze appears to be completely full.

 

That’s good I was thinking maybe unburnt gas. Coolant would create a white steam usually. So yea I’d edited the post from earlier with a couple things you could try. If you get leafs that are harsh could throw some sand bags in the bed. Good luck welcome to TW

 

Another thing the guy I got it from lived in like a really rural area like phones don't get signal type area and he told me the truck only liked higher octane he said he only used 93 which I thought was weird but I didn't really question him on that im just guessing since there where a lot of older gas stations maybe the gas quality wasn't that good it was a older farm fellow who sold me the truck and the truck doesn't look beat at all which is the reason I bought it according to him he only used Mobil one oil on it.

 

Yeah I haven't even checked the air filter the only thing I have checked was the oil and the engine light code when it was on.

 

I’m not sure what engine you have or it’s appropriate octane. I’m guessing all the naturally aspirated engines can take regular. If you have a supercharger or turbo maybe variable valve timing or high performance engine you might have to run a higher octane. Some places if your high enough in altitude they sell 85 which is only for up in the mountains. If you run 85 down closer to sea level it will run poorly and could start knocking. Kinda different symptoms though.