Cheaper alternative for rear suspension fixes?

I’ve talked with the usual suggestions here (wheelers, all pro, etc) about finding replacement springs and while the prices aren’t terrible the shipping costs are. I wasn’t expecting to pay over $800 in parts and shipping. All those places ship from the west coast and I am on the east coast.

So what about some of these cheaper online places, anyone have experience with them? Looks like I can get the pair of springs and hardware for about $300. I don’t tow or haul anything and just want stock replacements/height. Is there a reason not to go with any of these?



http://www.am-autoparts.com/2000/Toyota/Tacoma/LeafSprings/AM-35921301/449435.html


http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2000/toyota/tacoma/suspension/leaf_spring.html

 

you may be able to get soomething from someone here for less, or some aftermarket ones from OME, wheelers.... or just get an AAL to beef it up for a while

 

Have you tried a local spring shop? They might be able to bend you up a pair to whatever specifications you want and since they're local, they might be more apt to help you later if you have any issues with them. It'll probably be around the same cost as the vendors here but no shipping and it's not off the shelf, it's built specifically for your application.

 

you prob wouldnt be able to change them out yourself anyway because of rust and stuck parts unless you have some serious toold

 

Yeah, get lots of PB Blaster, hopefully you have air tools and make sure you have a cheater bar before you start. Sometimes a little heat can help but you need to be careful so you don't light your truck up in the process of swapping your leaf pack. You should get all new hardware up front because you might end up snapping the head off one in the process. Hit everything with PB Blaster the night before so it soaks in and it doesn't hurt to clean the threads with a wire brush.

 

Just rebuild the stock ones, cheap & not hard.....

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/149950-stock-trd.html


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/139192-alternative-poor-folk-like-me.html

 

It's $820 from Wheelers and similar places. I'm talking about the cheaper brands out there like Dorman and the like.

 

Yep, did that 3 times already. This time I am buying new springs. It's $225 to fix one leaf around here.

 

A buddy who is a welder is going to help me. He's got all the air tools/torches that I don't have. I will use some PB blaster and other things too.

I also plan on buying all new bolts, bushings, shackles, etc.

 

aside from the fact that stock tacoma springs are shit, must suck living in the rust belt, but whatever, throw your money away on one of the after market springs, I mean they're better than stock but waaaaaay over priced

 

I didn't mean fix the existing, I meant having a spring shop making you a whole new pack but it sounds like they're ridiculously expensive where you are. Check out Alcan's website (www.alcanspring.com), I priced out a set of leaf springs there and it was going to end up costing just over $500 for the pair plus shipping so probably in the $650 neighborhood. That'd be a completely new leaf pack.

As far as cheaper alternatives, you could use air bags, AAL's or Timbrens but they're not really fixes.

 

Ok,suggestions then for someone who is broke? If they are better than stock I can't see it as throwing my money away?

 

Yeah it will be expensive either way if I go to the custom spring shop. I'll send in for a quote on the Alcan site, thanks.

 

I'll look into that too. Wheelers wanted $147 shipping and most places are over $100. Those links I posted are on Amazon for $118/ea and free shipping. As long as they are not total junk I would like to go with that to save costs. Just seeing if anyone has any experience with them

 

Don't forget you also have Extra Bolts, HD Greasable Shackle Kit, and rear Shocks on the order. Those all add weight to the packages. The leaf springs are direct factory replacements, built for us by Alcan Spring.

 

Hey dude I already gave you 2 links to check out & I'm willing to bet I'm poorer than you


Rebuilt stock springs w/ 2 Ford springs added per side, $100 & change complete, both sides


good luck with search

 

X2 on the broke shit brotha, I know it can look overwhelming at first but it is really not that hard at all If you can use a wrench & a ratchet bro' I KNOW you can do it, don't doubt your skills, I've already talked one guy thru the whole process & he lives 400-500 miles from me

Good luck which ever way you go & if ya have any questions hit me up dude ....

 

Whats your budget?
You might want to take a look at the Skyjacker Leaf Springs from autoanything
http://www.autoanything.com/suspension-systems/61A2596A0A0A2071511.aspx
You can usually get these on sale for around $375 (or less) shipped.

 

I'd say my max is like $500-600 for the whole deal. Springs, shackles, bushings and bolts + shipping if that possible.

I saw those Skyjackers before and while they look ideal they don't seem to offer stock height. It seems like I am limited by trying to not get a lift, which I find strange. I would just thing a 3" in only the back would be funny looking plus I don't need any more height to load my music gear in the bed!

 

Do you want to try and repair your leafs or replace them?
My leafs were shot (see my pics at:http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/150223-my-rear-leafs-shot.html )
I added the ICON rear ADD A LEAF from Down South Motorsports for under $200. It fixed my rear leaf problem. I did get a lift (I wanted a bit of a lift) but that is because I kept my overload leaf in. I would bet that without the overload it would sit pretty level. Might want to look into it. It was pretty easy and I installed it by myself.