Rear springs- WHY _so_ wimpy?

Where I notice the problem is towing up grades. The little gears generate too much heat, even with just a 3500# trailer you can run the temp over 225 before you know it. I can't even imagine towing 6500 pounds up a grade. An inch makes a big difference. The jump from 8 to 9 is more than it might seem. For now I run good lube, change it every year, and watch the temperature like a hawk.

 

When I bought my first new truck(Ford F-100) in 1974, I walked into the dealership, 4 salesmen approached me. I told each in turn that I was searching for a truck, they all pointed to "Joe" in the corner, only he knew how to spec out a truck, only he could sell trucks. The rest were just car salesmen.

 

It's a circumferential increase - 8 to 9 means a lot.

You're talking tranny temps, yes? Or did you actually shoehorn a temp sensor into the rear diff housing?

 

Yes, temp sensor in rear diff housing.

 

Can you say "super size me" It's built for the masses trucks are big profit items and it's a very completive market so it's hard to keep the quality up and the price down. The highest percentage of the drivers never ever take their trucks off the high way and would never think of getting them muddy. I would kill to have a brand new “97” with the 4L 6, 6 spd. And lockout hubs it was the right size but too old a design for the times.

 

You know there is such a thing as too much information. I tow a 3500# trailer all over the north east and Canada I never once thought to check my diff. temp. what do you do if it get too hot for your liking pull over and let it cool off? Drive more worry less.

 

The stock springs are wimpy because, in the end, Toyota is just another shit corporation who will only provide as much to their customers as we demand. The only way we'll get this issue resolved is for as many of us as possible to get on our dealerships to do the TSB. Once the cost of doing retrofits outweighs not cutting corners to begin with, that's when they'll change the way they're doing business. Even if we get them to outfit these with the 4-spring pack off the line, if it's still too sucky (as some have mentioned), then we have to keep bitching. Sucks that it has to be this way, but that's the world we live in nowadays.

 

Although I can appreciate your sentiment for every "legit" voice moaning about the springs (also very legit) there'll be 20 more of the masses that will say there fine as they are, you do realize this TSB has been on going for years now...

 

Toyota still lists the payload at 1295lbs. So subtract me from that and Toyota is saying that my truck can haul a payload of 1,095lbs? I'm calling bullshit. Not with the 3 leaf pack that comes stock. It's one thing to put Camry springs in there, but don't lie to as to what they can haul.

 

When I tore down my diff to swap gears at around 50K there was already evidence of bearing spin. That's because the diff is too small for the application. ECGS does many things to these diffs to correct problems with them as a result. I put in the probe so that I might possibly learn some things about what is going on. I did. Yes, when it gets too hot I either slow down or pull over. It's always on long steep pulls in the rockies and similar places.

"Drive more worry less" sounds an aweful lot like the guys doing 40 in a 55 with 30 cars backed up behind them......not a care in the world

I'd prefer not to be ignorant about things that affect the workings of my vehicles, but as always: YMMV

 

Stock springs are wimpy for a comfortable ride. There is a trade-off between capability and comfort.

I replaced mine and lifted it with Dakar's. Problem solved.

 

This ^^

Obviously Toyota does market analysis and has found that a majority of Tacoma owners ( not Tacomaworld Tacoma owners ) want the " look " of a truck , and the ride of a car . Most owners never use their truck for much more than the ocassional trip to the dump or building store .

A small portion of owners use their truck a bit more as a truck and the TSB springs are intended to address this crowd .

Furthermore , I think it interesting that there is also a clear usage distinction between how Toyota perceive what potential buyers expect in the US and Canada .

In the US , people tend to have more full size trucks than we seem to have here , Canadians seem to expect a mid size truck to be a work truck as well . I think this explains why we have been getting the 4 leaf pack as stock since 2007 .

Having said all that , the 4 leaf pack sucks too , I ripped mine out and got Dakars .

 

If I am able to get the TSB for my regular cab I only hope that it will be sufficient. If it proves to be weak as well, I will certainly be following 4WD's advice and installing salvage springs. My budget does not allow the purchase of new aftermarket leaf packs.

Frieghtliner or Mack springs are looking good too, one should do it.

 

Can you explain why the smaller ring gear would run hotter? They both turn the same speed. Or why there are tens of thousands of them out there with 8" gears and have had no issues? You either have a spun bearing or you don't there is no half way. Or why I can tow what ever I seem to have to tow and not have problems Northern New England is not flat. If I'm going out in the mud, rocks or the like I might want a heaver ring gear set up but I don't abuse my trucks that way. What I'm saying is there are way bigger things to worry about then how hot your rear is unless you have just had some really spicy food. Good for you wanting to know though but I just have never heard of any one with a temp probe in their diff. I'm 66 and still learning and hope to for another 20 years or so. I'll rephrase though "drive fast and take chances".

 

Heat is essentially energy dissipated into matter. Larger gearset = increased volume of oil bath in axle housing (typically) = more effective cooling. Additionally, when you have more metal, it takes more energy to raise the temperature to a given level because the metal, much like the diff oil, acts as a heat sink.

Because they're driven by people who should've bought Highlanders but were too insecure to.

 

Hey Wolf... Not all Canadians got the 4-pack springs... My 06 4x4 double cab got the "wimpy 3-pak"....

Toyota has not, and it appears WILL NOT, do a change-out like they did in the US.

I've been all over the dealer's ass on this to no avail... I've contacted Mother Toyota Canada and no response yet..... I've got to get mine done before it destroys my shocks...bottoms out on speed bumps at low speed...the leafs are drooped below horizontal now at only 80,000 Kms (50,000 miles).... Not good quality...

I'm discussted with Toyota Canada for not owning up to their mistake like they did in the States....

Over

 

I wouldn't be too disgusted. The TSB pack is a joke as well.

These trucks lack real leaf springs, period.

 

just so you all know the tsb springs are shit to. from canada and my truck came with the 4 leaf tsb springs and after 50,000km my springs were sitting flat, im at 92,000km now, just waiting till i break a leaf before i get new springs.

 

you won't destroy your shocks, you have bump stops for a reason, the bumps touch before the shocks bottom.

 

thekernel114,

Look for some of 4WD's posts about using either Ford or Chevy springs to add into your existing leaf packs. You will save a lot of money and have a superior rear suspension.