Are my leaf springs done???

Hey fellas need opinions on my leaf springs not sure what to do .

03 Tacoma DC prerunner with 200k
Running Icon progressive 3 pack aal I don’t carry any load she’s really a DD city queen .
Question looking at my angle on the leaf are this done ? Do I need a new leaf pack and any recommendations if so . i do feel the rear a bit bouncy at times . I did add the overload spring because I was carrying a water tank for a few months but not any more should I removed the overload spring a see how it feels ?
TIA

 

Unless I see obvious signs of failure, e.g. broken leafs, I don't see how looking at a picture of the leaf springs is a reasonable way to inspect them. I'm guessing they are just fine.

It's common to hear reports of people worried about their leaf springs being flat as opposed to having an arch, but there is no evidence that this is abnormal. The springs are relatively flat when brand new.

Personally, I would not worry about my springs, leaf or coil, unless they had visible cracks or breaks.

 

Thanks for the input @gudujarlson what you think about overload spring coming off I really don’t need it.

 

I don’t think the overload leaf does anything until you reach enough negative arch, so I don’t think I would fret about it.

 

answer is yes, probably how long have they been on the truck?
They look like they have more curve then mine do though, which is sad.

 

Add a leafs are a nice way to help with payload, but are often times used as a band aid for a sagging old leaf pack.

If that leaf pack is your old factory one, yeah just replace it. You're overdue.

At the same time you can get rid of your add a leaf since you don't carry a large payload anymore.

 

Springs, coil or leaf, are not a wear item. There’s little reason to replace them unless they have structurally failed or their specs don’t meet your current needs.

 

My aal was put on to level the back to the front then overload to take more weight went I was carrying water tank but now I got xtra inch in the back of lift .

 

You've heard of metal fatigue right?

Coils would be subject to that.

Leaf packs though can be re-arched so yeah you wouldn't *have* to replace them.

 

Those are original leaf pack for what I can tell also bushing are showing wear rubber

 

If the back is bouncy as you mentioned that would be shocks not doing what they are supposed to do, dampen spring action or bounce...

 

Yea that my next step take off rear shocks and check then out .

 

Yes I have. Do you have evidence that the mechanical properties of automotive springs significantly change over 200k miles?

 

They sag well before that.

The metal fatigue would be at the smallest level but would progressively get worse, as metallurgy would suggest thus leading to physical breakage but no I do not have evidence so you got me there.

But why would you not replace your coils (when they are sagging but not physically broken) as they're cheap to do? By that logic there are a ton of things we shouldn't replace.

Your shocks would then do double-duty of sharing the workload of supporting weight (which is meant to be done by your coils) as well as poorly damping your ride. Shocks are dampeners, not a replacement for coils.

 

If by “sagging” you mean that the ride height of the truck is lower than expected, I don’t think we have any evidence that the OP’s truck is experiencing that.

I hear this sagging concept mentioned on here a lot without a lot of evidence that it is real. It’s possible it’s real and I can’t refute it, but I have not experienced it myself nor been able to find any authoritative discussion of it.

 

We do not have evidence of that, but you mentioned it and I'm merely responding to it. Specifically the coil part.

 

Ok this edit now has me thinking you're pulling my leg now.

Many have posted after years of ownership, their vehicle's ride height being lower than it used to be.

I've experienced that in several vehicles myself, and had pictures to compare (as I did so for my own reasons).

Many on this forum post about loss of ride height with old, stock coils as well.

Mine are bad when I first got my Tacoma.