Progressive AAL vs New Leaf Pack

Hey everyone,

For those who have ran both, was there a significant difference in ride quality between the two? How would you describe the differences? I don’t carry any weight in my bed.

Thanks

 

Anyone?

 

What’s your motivation, lift, higher load capacity, budget, expectations?


I’m going with deaver leafs, the oem suspension is 6yo and finally going to replace and go with upgraded components and a mild lift.

 

The Icon add a leaf is as good as it gets. You don't really notice the change from a 1" block to the 3 leaf addition, especially when the rear shock is upgraded.

As far as comparing it to a big pack like OME its hard to say, the weight on the leaf pack and the quality of the shock really determines the ride.

Both are more firm, neither are unbareable.

I prefer to do the AAL on new packs then replace it later on, but many will say replace it right away.

OEM packs dont sell for much and you already paid for them, so I say use them.

 

I currently have the headstrong progressive aal and I was recommended to go to a full replacement leaf pack for ride comfort. I was seeing if there was any validity to that.

 

I recently worked on a big dobinson truck and it had OME full pack and it was quite bouncy. It had mud terrains at 40psi, but over all I've noticed the dobinsons seem to be valved quite aggressive for my likings.

Not sure if a pack will help you much. Deflate to 30 psi if you havent already.

 

That is what I was concerned with. I have stock bump stops. If the leaf pack won’t do much for ride quality, will after market bump stops? Thanks

 

Honestly, if its the rear, either you need some weight back there, or go stockish spring and use a lift block.

Lift blocks aren't great, but they have no negative effect on ride quality.

More springs always means more rigid, even the best ones.

Personally I'd leave it, it will soften a bit as you go.

 

I have durobumps and they for sure are less jarring but you still know you've hit them. Weird but in my opinion road master suspension has to be improved the ride as I don't bottom out as hard as without them. It rides maybe 15% stiffer though. I have stock sport suspension otherwise.
What a "comfortable" ride is though I feel depends on your roads. Near me alot of it is frost heaves mixed with potholes. The frost heaves will bottom out anything's suspension. The pot holes could maybe be sorted out by those fancy hammer hangers by archive but thats just based on reviews i've read. Most reliably my ride is improved with a few hundred pounds in the box. Shocks would probably help too but again i'm stock. I have a hard time replacing parts that haven't worn out yet

 

For me, I am in Colorado and when I hit bumps, I definitely feel it. I am trying to reduce that effect. I have Dobinsons IMS and I really like the kit. I have had eibach, TRD lift kit, and now Dobinsons and Dobinsons is the best ride for me. But Colorado roads are so bad that when I hit something, it feels uncomfortable. I am looking for options to fix that. The problem is everyone has a thousand different opinions and 90 percent of them seem like theories instead of based on empirical evidence. I have called 3 different offroad shops and they have all given me different opinions.

And no offense to anyone but telling people to put weight in it is not a fix. And it is not helpful. There has to be legitimate fixes out there to remedy some of the harsh elements I have with my suspension. Any further suggestions with tangible evidence would be appreciated. Do new leaf packs make that much of a difference? Or should after market bump stops do enough in tandem with that AAL? I feel it from the front as well. Minor improvements are fine but any advice on what improved the comfortability over rougher roads other than shocks and coils would be appreciated. Thanks

 

I ordered my set up from @AccuTune Offroad because I’m hoping to avoid it driving like a garbage truck.....that harshness you’re describing.

This Friday is my install date.

I told them to design and tune for a 200-250lb bumper, so it will probably drive harsh until I get the high clearance bumper on it.

I also called deaver and they said that they can rework the u402 stage 1 leafs if needed and Accutune can re-valve too.

 

No offence either but bump stops don’t smooth rides out at all, they are for bottoming out on harsh terrain, not daily riding.

Seems like you are chasing a goose, it’s a truck and you need to accept the ride.

 

You’re a clown. If you have nothing helpful to say, go away. This forum should be to help people.

I have had 2 different shops tell me bump stops would help with some of the harsh hits from the bad roads in Colorado. One didn’t. Additionally, the same shop said a new leaf pack makes a large difference and the other two said it wouldn’t do much. This is why I came on here and asked for opinions.

 

You challenge my opinion but can’t take it in return. Maybe work on that.

Google bump stops and what they do.

 

Maybe because your opinion is asinine. “Put weight in it.” “It’s a truck.” Do you actually believe there was any actual help given in either of those opinions?

No, that is you being a because you wanted to be the big man on a Toyota forum. A fourth of the posts on this forum are from people who don’t have any intent of actually helping people but just want to be an ass. Stop being a part of the problem and be a part of the solution. If you can’t give tangible first hand experience on how to help someone with a question, then go away.

My question was simple. Do full leaf packs and bump stops improve ride quality over crappy roads with large dips? Yes or no. Why? And what is your experience?

None of my questions warranted such an unhelpful response. Please stay off this thread so I can get the opinion of someone who might have something helpful to offer.

 

Look into progressive bumpstops.

 

Are durobumps progressive? Thinking about trying those and seeing if those do the trick

 

Well this was a fun thread.

All bumpstops are progressive. The definition of progressive is that the harder you hit them, the more they resist (a.k.a., Newtonian response).


I don't see how replacing the bumpstop is going to soften the ride of an empty truck.

 

I don't know him personally but Bishop84 in my opinion is one of the most helpful guys on this forum, especially seeing he is an active Toyota Mechanic who probably knows these trucks inside and out. He's also largely correct here.

in regards to your main post, I have durobumps (front and rear) with no regrets, however them alone isn't worth the cost in my opinion. They compliment other mods perfectly though. Road master active suspension prevents me from bottoming out so easily which in my opinion has made the ride substantially better. They're not a direct swap but best bump stocks i've ever experienced are those foam type ones from the rear of a 1/2 chevy truck.

pursuing a leaf pack can make the ride softer but the packs you'll see online will pretty well all surely make the ride stiffer. Give Alcan a call and explain what you'd like, they make custom leaf packs as far as I recall. You'll loose significant load carrying capacity but everything has a trade off.

Combine that with bilstein 4600 shocks and archive rear leaf hammer hangers and you'll be pretty cushy. Also keep your tire pressures around 30 psi and remove your front sway bars.

Otherwise the general things which would help is overall reducing unsprung weight (lighter rims and tires)

 

I am fine with my ride overall but when I hit bumps, it hits hard. I know I am hitting my oem bump stops and I have a 2.5 lift so I am trying to see if there are things I can do to make myself not feel thrown when I hit big bumps.

The issue I am running into is I am getting conflicting opinions. Mountain Yotas, Accutune, and Toytec have given me three different opinions and even on here I am getting some different thoughts. It is difficult to know what route to go when everyone says something different. I wish that tinkerer guy would do a video.