MARYLAND TACOMAS

Morning all

 

There is a Swap-show-sip event this Saturday at Big Trucks Farm and Brewery in Parkton, MD. It’s listed as a public event on FB so the post should be visible. Sorry to say I’ve got other plans Saturday, but have fun if anyone goes.

 

That looks cool, I won’t be able to make it either unfortunately.

 

So just shy of 4 hours and the IronMan leaf packs are installed!!

Ran into a couple troublesome spots… but was expected. Threads on old u-bolts were rusted pretty bad. Even after a PB bath and 20min the still didn’t want to budge. Big breaker bar and a pipe got the passenger side done… ended up just cutting the driver side off. Was so much easier!! lol!! Passenger leaf packs went right in, almost by itself. Driver side went in fine, but alignment pin was way off. Ran a ratchet strap from the lower shock mount to a hole on the frame and just cranked her into place. Everything torqued to spec and will recheck after a few drives.

Did screw up on one thing though… forgot to measure from ground to bottom of fender to see if/how much the height changed. Currently sitting at 40”. Previously I measured at right about 38” with the old block lift, but that was the stock tires as well. So it’s a guess at this point?!?!

I did go for a short ride around some local back roads… @Mickey65 was right with his “floating” description. Doesn’t seem and rougher either, but more firm if that makes sense?? Like any “roll” in the rear has been fixed. Next true test will be take the boat out and see how much squat compared to the OEM leafs.


Will do a better update after more use and let y’all know how they perform with 4k pounds in tow!!

Currently ZERO squeaking either… praying it stays that way!!

 

Awesome to hear! I can’t say I remember feeling the floating feeling but, I don’t think I can tell changes like that lol. Now you need to get hammer hangers!


I’ve been spraying and whacking the shock spring seat nuts for about a week and will continue for a few more days till I get time and motivation to try and lower the fronts again. I do use a breaker bar on the spanner wrench and may have tried a ratchet strap to my slider last time with no luck. I was only comfortable to a certain point before I gave up. I have mobile compressors to try and take some pressure off the spring seat from the spring. Maybe that’ll help. If not, my truck will sit forever at the height it is now… until I can get a new suspension.

 

@Taco1004 for reference I was at 41.25" pavement to edge of wheel well on install day, but with 33" tires. With your 32s your gain seems comparable.

EDIT- any more and we'd be shelling out for extended brake lines (I still might)

 

Made a mini dock for my small pond.

 

Hammers would be nice… But I need to start installing other parts I’ve been hoarding before buying more Still have lights, ECGS, fuse and breaker panel, CMC and whatever else yet…

As for your dilemma with the spring collar… stupid question bc I’m sure you have, but here it is anyway… after spraying it, have you taken a wire brush to the threads? Maybe even tried going up to raise the suspension a few turns, simply to clean whatever below the collar… before trying to go back down with it?

 

Nice! That’s great that you remembered to measure. Assume 41.25” was after the install? Wish I measured before as well. Oh well, can’t go back now.

Where are you sitting now, after a bit of settling?

 

Yep, did that last time I swapped the springs. When I had access to the threads, I cleaned them and sprayed. But those were threads above the nut. The bottom nut will loosen so I sprayed all up in there and used a wire brush to try and clean the threads. I’m hoping when the pressure is taken off it’ll crack loose. I’m hesitant to use the next level, fire I also don’t own a torch anymore…


The hammers (BAMF brand) have been the worse thing I’ve had to do to my truck. Nothing wrong with the brand, just the part itself, Such a pain in the ass getting those 4 rivets out per side. Dropped the press on my head at least once.

 

How about you Eric, what height are you sitting at with your packs after a while?

I measured from the ground, straight up through the Chester of the wheel to the bottom lip of the rear fender trim.

 

Last time I measured it was about 24” from mid wheel.

 

Ugh!! That’s frustrating!! Yea, I’d be very hesitant as well to go at it with a torch. I’d definitely try the portable spring compressor route first… Think I’d even drop the assemblies outa the truck and take them to a shop before I went at them with a torch.

 

If it doesn’t work next time, I’ll just keep that where they are instead of dropping them out lol. Not that it takes a lot of extra work, I just really don’t have the motivation to do the extra steps.

 

Full on understand that!!

 

Been on TEMU too much lately and ended up buying 2 new 5” LED lights. Was thinking of buying 6 of them to put on the roof rack instead of the light bar.

 

Not to differ you from the truck… but let’s not neglect that new Camry build that needs to start ASAP!!

 

HOLY MOLY!

EDIT: I reread your post...you measured from the ground.

You go with your badd self!!!

I believe my truck's height measurement from center cap to bottom of fender flare is 24" in the back.

That's some serious height!

You must be loading up the bed with some weight.

The OEM leaf springs on my Sport aren't beefy but will do for my type of driving/rare hauling occasion.

Only time will tell if I wanna get beefier leafs when I get my DB SE Tonneau Cover. (I think it weighs 115lbs)

 

Yea, the Sport leafs and my block lift was fine for my normal routine… but hauling the boat to the lake on weekends was a different story. They just squatted way too much for my liking.

 

Day of install, 41.25 pavement to wheel well.
Today, 40.25 pavement to wheel well, so basically settled and inch which seems about average across brands from what I've read on TW. Still has some rake so that's good.

If I recall correctly @hyrule_trd has the heavy pack and without constant weight has done some swapping in and out of leafs 5 and 6 to adjust his height and ride.