leaf pack question

It would look funny IMO.

 

Several companies make aftermarket leafs for our trucks. You could replace the whole pack, or do an add a leaf (AAL)

 

do you have an after market leafsprings fighnfire?

 

No well I guess technically yes, TSB.

 

see i just bought my truck last summer and the guy that had t didnt put it on before the warrenty ran out. how do you like it? can you haul 1,000lbs with minimal squat?

 

No, Toyota stock or TSB can haul 1k with minimal squat.

You can haul 1k, I had about 1300lbs in it last summer and I was an inch above the bump stops.

 

I hear you. I got rid of mine because the load capacity is ridiculous. You should be able to get a pack with the right spring rate to handle 400 pounds without needing more than 1.5 to 2.0. On a truck as long as a Tacoma I think that would look fine. I think trucks look better high in the back because that is how they are supposed to look. A company like Alcan can custom design a pack for you and get it right.

One more thing to consider is this. The more leaves in the pack, the more compliant it will be. If you try and get all the load capacity with just 3 or 4 springs, you will never have the ride quality that you would with say a 9 leaf pack. I have AP Expos on my truck which are designed for lots of weight. They are firm, but not all harsh.

 

is your truck lifted badger?

 

Any spring that would handle 1000# with minimal squat would not ride well when empty on a Tacoma. The trucks are too light in the rear for that. Your best bet for that is an airbag setup.

 

Mine sits 2.5 lifted in the front and 3.5 lifted in the rear. It has allot of constant weight and a few hundred pounds of additional weight from time to time.

 

I plan on buying a set of helper springs, since I have a 5-lug and Toyota does not support them with TSBs.

 

so will a four leaf pack from alcan or something similar to tbs be relistic?

 

I just went to a local spring shop and explained my "droopy" 3-leaf spring pack problem... The manager said...."I'll add 1 new spring and re-curve the old ones"... I said how much... he says "under $400"... I got it done and am VERY happy with it.... It raised the rear end about 1 1/2" and now the arse end don't bottom out on speed bumps at 5 MI/Hr.... (he suggested that my balls might have had something to do with the problem)...hehe

Good Luck

 

can isee some pics of your truck with the four leaf over60?

 

i was think is there anyway you can use the main leafspring and add some 3/4 or 1 ton trucks leaf springs on to it?

 

Raymond,

The way I mentioned that 4WD is refurbishing his springs does just that, adds one or two, 3/4 ton Ford leaf springs to the existing Toyota spring packs. Or as one of the others mentioned, go to a local spring shop and have built what you want and need.

 

will the 3/4 ton or 1 ton leaf springs ride harsher?

 

If a good spring shop does the work they can calculate and test the spring rate to get it right. If you do it yourself, it will be trial and error. Lots of people do that. They just swap things around till they find a combination they like. Springs are not ultra precise so don't expect to get the ride set within a 1/4". Whatever you do will settle a bit over a month or so. Figure that in.

I don't know whether you are looking for the cheapest route or the best. I would get a quality aftermarket spring pack designed for an additional 300 - 400 pounds. If I needed more on occassion I woulld add air bags to that or just live with the sag for short trips. The factory springs are very weak and even with added leaves, they do not provide the stability you should have for heavy loads. If you look at a good aftermarket pack you will see the diffirence. The good springs have several main leaves with military wrap. You have a stronger connection to the axle, greater resistance to axle wrap and greater stability. Mine have 3 full length main leaves and an additional half leaf to the front eye. There are many many cases of broken factory springs on these trucks because the main leaves give up. They simpley were not designed to haul loads and people insist on using their trucks for trucks

 

alright thanks guys for all the advice. I will look at alcansprings out of grandjunction unless you guys think someone else could do a better job, and for less .overall i want high quality springs, that once i put them on i can forget about.

 

Alcan would be my #1 pick. Their quality is good and they are very good at building for custom applications. Tell them what you have and what you want. They can most likely hit it.