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2004 Tacoma 4WD, non TRD - Stock Leaf Springs?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by tompac, May 16, 2015.

  1. May 16, 2015 at 4:59 PM
    #1
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    I'm ordering some suspension components for my 2004 Tacoma 4WD. It is 4 cylinder, Xtra cab, does not have the TRD package. I'm looking into ordering replacement leaf springs, and want to get exactly what was there to start with. I thought that the "standard" 4 leaf springs (part number 48210-04330 and 48220-04130) were stock on this truck, but when I went to order at the dealership they said that the heavy duty springs (part number 48210-04340, same number both sides) is the original equipment.

    Could anyone here confirm that the heavy duty springs are the stock springs? Is there a way to tell one from the other from looking? I don't want to order the heavy dutys and then find I have a whole lot of extra lift (and harsher ride) than I was planning on.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2015
  2. May 17, 2015 at 12:52 PM
    #2
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    Bumping this since I edited the content of question.
     
  3. May 17, 2015 at 2:18 PM
    #3
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Your Vin should allow your dealer to know what springs your truck has. or did when it was built.
     
  4. May 17, 2015 at 2:29 PM
    #4
    2004TacomaSR5

    2004TacomaSR5 Nemesis Prime

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    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    Why anyone would want stock springs in a Tacoma is beyond me. Can't haul anything with them.
     
  5. May 17, 2015 at 2:52 PM
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    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    I did give them the VIN, and they came back saying the heavy dutys were the stock. That was a surprise to me, though, so I'm looking for positive confirmation from somebody here. It would not be the first time I found the dealership to make an error :)
     
  6. May 17, 2015 at 2:53 PM
    #6
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    I know the stock springs have a bad rep, but the ones that are on there have worked for me up to now. Just looking to continue with what I have...
     
  7. May 17, 2015 at 3:01 PM
    #7
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    used to have - 99 2.4L I4 5 lug & 04 prerunner v6
  8. May 17, 2015 at 3:39 PM
    #8
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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  9. May 17, 2015 at 4:23 PM
    #9
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    as mentioned, go with the heavy duty ones, even the heavy duty ones are not what you think of as heavy duty, they are just not as weak as the other springs.
     
  10. May 18, 2015 at 12:12 AM
    #10
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    I have the heavy Duty Leaf Springs I bought from General Spring out of Kansas City I think they are like $159.00 each. Much cheaper then the dealer when I priced them a few years ago.

    I also run the Super Springs as well they give a pretty good ride empty but handle the weight I put on my Tacoma at times. If they gave it any added lift I never really took notice.

    It seems the 98 -2000 Tacoma`s just got poor leaf springs that either broke or just want flat Both mine broke the first time I put any real weight on them after buying it with 125,000 miles.
     
  11. May 18, 2015 at 11:01 PM
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    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    Went with the heavy dutys. Thanks for the input, keakar and Wyoming09. I'll follow up with how it turns out, in case anyone else runs into the same issue.
     
  12. May 19, 2015 at 1:07 AM
    #12
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Not knowing where you live but here in Pa it is easier to just cut the ubolts and replace with new .

    Then the bolts won`t come out of the spring hangers Get new ones. I cut the head and end of the bolt off then pry the hanger apart enough to get the spring out.

    By far the easiest way I have found .

    Good Luck !!
     
  13. May 19, 2015 at 11:12 PM
    #13
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    I'm in Massachusetts, so yeah getting stuff off will be just as bad. I ordered new shackles and all new bolts, as well. My original post to this thread was to ask about what needed to be ordered as far as the misc parts that go with the job (bolts, nuts/washers, etc), which I was able to find out from calling the dealer. Once I get the parts in and confirm that everything is right, I'll post that back here, too, in case it helps someone in the future.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2015
  14. May 23, 2015 at 11:29 PM
    #14
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    Well, got the "heavy duty" leaf springs in. I am a bit concerned, as the part is certainly not the same exact part that is on the truck now. Close, but the bottom leaf (the shortest leaf) is shorter on the new spring than it is on the original spring. On the original spring the bottom leaf is around 3 feet long, on the new spring it is only around 22 inches long. I did not measure the thickness, but the short leaf seems to be thicker on the original spring than it is on the new spring too. I bought the truck new and it has never been modded, and I am certain I have bought the correct "heavy duty" spring for my truck (part # 48210-04340). Anybody have any info or insights here?
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2015
  15. May 24, 2015 at 1:33 AM
    #15
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    For comparison, here are pictures of the original and new springs.

    Original:
    DSCF0028.jpg


    New:
    DSCF0003.jpg
    DSCF0004.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2015
  16. May 24, 2015 at 2:33 AM
    #16
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Since my old springs are long gone I can only look at the ones on my truck now.

    They are not going to be mirror images of your old ones.

    I think you will be fine.
     
  17. May 24, 2015 at 7:21 AM
    #17
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I'm still a little confused as to why the replacement part would be different than the original part. It's not like I originally had the standards and then I am moving to the heavy duties. The dealership told me the heavy duties are the stock part, which is what should be on my truck. The whole reason I went with the expensive OEMs was that I wanted the exact same thing that was on there to start, since I like the setup of the truck "as is" and wanted the peace of mind of an exact replacement. I definitely don't have that with the part I have. You'd think that the part would be made to exact specifications. I can't think of any other part where you'd expect the replacement to look different than the original.

    Hope this didn't come across as argumentative, just trying to understand...
     
  18. May 24, 2015 at 1:38 PM
    #18
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Things change over the years .

    Another vendor building the leaf springs.

    Better design over the original .

    Who can really say
     
  19. May 24, 2015 at 10:22 PM
    #19
    tompac

    tompac [OP] Active Member

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    I called the dealer back today, and they ran my VIN again and confirmed that they think the heavy dutys are the OEM. This was a different person I talked to than when they first looked things up last week, so it would seem that at least their database believes that the heavy dutys are OEM. The guy there said that the only thing he could think of was that maybe the leafs were redesigned because of the known issues in the past with the leafs, and these are considered the new version of the part. The guy at the dealer is going to call a Toyota technical line on Tuesday and see if he can get me a definitive answer. I'll post the results back, in case it helps someone in the future.
     
  20. May 25, 2015 at 6:00 AM
    #20
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    well metals change and steel made today is certainly stronger then back then so maybe it was due to that. I also notice the thickness of the bottom spring is different too.

    here is the thing, that bottom leaf does nothing but provide a solid non moving point to stop the spring from going any farther so it serves no function as far as suspension support in ride quality, only in bottoming out.

    what you could do, and what I would do in your place, is I would simply unbolt the springs and swap the bottom leafs with spring bolt out for your original ones and then install the spring. that's my thoughts on the best solution to retain its originality. I too have concerns why its different and think maybe they are just trying to keep costs down by changing this bottom leaf like that.
     

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