Toyota Care + Leaf Springs = WTF?!?

I bought a 2008 TRD Sport 4x4 from the dealership last year. The previous owner traded it in just before the 36k warranty expired. I unknowingly (and blissfully) drove right past that magic 36,000 mile marker. Then my maintenance req'd light came on and I found TacomaWorld. And fixed it. And then installed some hose clamps and an iPod adapter. Thank you TW! But back to why I am posting...

I know, another leaf spring TSB-related post. Sorry.

I took the Taco in for my last free oil change and told them that I had a saggy rear end under load that rides rough. My service guy acted like he had never had this happen (he was way more concerned with chopping my gas pedal down), and had to "call Toyota". After a couple hour wait he re-emerged with my bill ($0.00) and told me that the only way for me to get the leaf spring TSB done under my Toyota Care Warranty is to have the part fail. If I choose to replace them before they fail it will cost me $1,666.00. I stood there for a second in amazement - the guy wants me to break my truck. Hmmmm.

I did buy the best used truck on the lot - and got the best warranty that I thought was good to 100k miles. So my questions are:

1. Should I call the folks at Toyota about my TSB or am I out of luck?

2. Are the TSB leaves even worth the trouble?

3. How does one break leaf springs without breaking the rest of my truck?

If Toyota won't fix me up I guess it is OME time - they make the stock shocks look like a pencil!

 

Just get an aal set. $77.50

 

1. You'd be wasting your time. They'll tell you the same thing.

2. Couldn't tell you. I'm in the same boat as you.

3. Failure to me was showing them proof that the bump stops are/have been bottoming out. Didn't matter to them.

If you're able to pull it off I think you'd be the first.

 

All they do is add a leaf for the TSB and swap the shocks depending on the year/model. (to lazy to go look the shock part up) They don't replace the entire leaf pack. I would think that it would be much easier to just buy and install an add-a-leaf yourself. Rather than the risk of breaking who knows what while trying to make the suspension fail.

May not be what you want to hear, but just my .02

I hope all goes well!

 

yep.. i had pretty much the exact same issue.. the service manager ok'd it, but the "care" declined to cover that and a few more things.

End result I went round and round with a few people, as how not being able to haul a damn thing I would say is broken if it doesn't come close to the advertised payload, etc.. but until it breaks, actually physically breaks and does not function at all, it will not be covered.

(toyota care actually told me my truck was not designed to haul anything or go offroad... duh its a TRD OR)

Functioning poorly but still functioning doesn't matter thats oh so caring!

 

They DO replace the the entire leaf pack. Just had it done on mine about a month ago but it was still under warranty. To soon to tell if they will hold up after some use.

 

The TSB pack is a completly new pack , not an AAL into the existing pack. New part number.
How far out of warranty are you? If it isn't very far I would be asking to speak to the owner of the dealership, not the managers. Complain to him that the work should have been done when the person traded it in and before a new owner took ownership of the truck. Skeaky wheel gets the grease.
Good Luck

 

the TSB actually calls for a replacement of the leaf pack. I had it done to my 08 about 1.5 years ago. It was still under warranty. It has lasted quite well. I tow a trailer with a load of firewood and bicycles in the back, and it used to bottom out going over railway tracks. It doesn't bottom out anymore. However, it has started to squeek at kow speeds. There's another thread on how to fix the squeek rather easily, but that's another thread. I also think you should talk to the owner of the dealer who sold it to you to say it should have been done before you bought it. Good luck!

 

No, they don't add a leaf. They replace the entire 3 leaf pack with a 4 leaf pack.

 

The TSB does replace the entire leaf pack from the stock 3-leaf to a 4-leaf (3 + overload).

If your factory leafs are shot, then yes, the TSB springs are worth it if the dealer will buy and install them for you. Not worth the $1,600 they'd charge to buy it outright.

You do NOT need to break the leaf pack in order to get the TSB completed. The TSB has instructions on how to diagnose and fix the problem, that tech needs to learn how to read. Take the truck back to them loaded, show him the truck sitting on the bump stops (to me that's a failure) and see if they'll do the work.

If Toyota will replace the rear leaf pack for free, then yes, it's worth the trouble unless you've got money to burn. If you're planning on buying the OME pack anyways, then now would be a good time to save yourself the time arguing with the dealership.

 

Is there anyone making an aftermarket part that will take care of this? There has to be someone making this part better and cheaper than Toyota.

 

icon 3 leaf add a leaf

 

I just got done ordering my parts from Toyota for this, heres exactly what you need to say to get them to do the work...

Hi, my 200whatever Tacoma is riding really rough in the rear and bottoming out on speed bumps, is there anything you can do to make it not ride so rough...

they will tell you there is a tsb and that they will need to order parts and schedule you for it. That is all...

I spoke with a service manager before I even went in and said that, he actually was the one who said you have to use that line and they will replace them no questions asked...

 

The problem herein is the OP is out of oem 3/36 warranty & the original owner did not make a customer complaint. Toyota does not automatically swap out for not all owners want the stiffer leaf pack not to mention they are still selling them with the 3 leaf pak. It's been discussed before.....

The TSB clearly outlines the guidelines for eligibility. Unfortunate as it is for the OP. Some members have managed to get it done out of the warranty time period either splitting the cost or zero to them. It is depends on the dealer.

Sorry to the OP especially with the extended warranty. Maybe that will help negotiate with the selling dealer. Most do their own modification for a lot less. My 2006 was done under 3/36 warranty (at 8k miles actually) and the 3 pak to 4 leaf swap has worked fine for the 4 years of heavy use.

 

As ridiculous as this sounds it is true. When I used to do a lot of commuting I had a Civic and there was a TSB to replace the rear suspension components as the rear would eat up tires on the inside tread. I was out of warranty and went to two dealers and they both told me to go scratch even though I was forced to put on new tires every 6 months because of the defect from the factory was eating tires right up. To me if they know the vehicle has a defect from the factory they should cover it whether or not your within your warranty period. It's a known defect. But it is what it is I guess. I bet if you were out of warranty they would be sure to chop your gas pedal for you since that particular one is a big liabilty for Toyota right now.
As far as the leafs go I'm glad I got mine done but at the same time I kind of regret it as I now have an annoying vibration between 55-65mph and there doesn't seem to be a fix for it.

 

the time frame for the TSB is 3 years/36,000 miles. after that its on you, even with your "extended warranty".

It would be much cheaper to replace the leaf pack with an aftermarket set or do an AAL and install a set of 5100's.

 

^This.

As for convincing them of failure- you could do what I did. I loaded my bed with sand for a project, and after it bottomed out, I drove to the dealership, found the salesman who sold me the truck, showed him the truck and asked "wtf is this shit?". He had sevice manager order parts that day.

 

By my math $1,666/$77.50= me and 20 buddies get AALs and a case of beer!

Seriously thanks everybody for the responses - TW kicks ass.

 

Hey, i'm in this exact same boat! Only mine was just over the 3years, not 36K. only 25K on the clock.

Hell, my dealer even got OK'd by Toyota, ordered the parts, and then when I went back to have it done, Toyota suddenly didn't have record that they ok'd the warranty work. Now I am SOL.

My dealer offered to give me the parts for free as they recognize it's an issue, but I had to pay for the labor that Toyota would typically pay (3.5hrs vs 5hrs). So for $350 I could get the TSB work done....even though I'm still in my 90Day 3,500mi vehicle purchase warranty AND bought the Certified Platinum Warranty!

Ridiculous

 

That's when you ask if they'll give you the parts and you can install them yourself! $400 buys a nice aftermarket leaf pack