Goodbye Axle Wrap Mod

Hell yeah!!!!

 

What size and part number is the U bolt?
lspacemonkeyl

 

They were 1/2" ubolts I had laying around from a helper leaf kit I never used.
While they made a dif. I have already taken since it wasn't really a fix, just a patch. I ended up putting new springs on her when I redid the fron suspension completely...including SPC uca's. She corners like a lotus now! Lol

 

I want to give it a try. I never tow or haul anything so wasn't sure about investing in stronger leafs over this quick fix or patch. The axle wrap doesn't bug me alot my concern was that eventually my leafs will give out.

 

I have a 2007 2WD Prerunner and I believe these are 1" lifting blocks the previous owner installed. I noticed my 3 pack leaf springs only have two clamps which I thought they were suppose to have 3 or 4 on each sides spring pack. Do these look ok or should I install the U bolt fix to help out with the axle wrap which I mostly notice at stops.

 

I think you've got a leaf missing or either they changed it up for the 2nd Generations.

 

Not sure and I was wondering why there was such a huge gap in the brackets...

 

Can you do this mod if you have a 1.5" AAL installed already?

 

I believe they made a 2+1 factory leaf pack BUT my truck has the tow package which apparently is the reason I have a pink pulley in the engine bay. The owner I bought it from was the original owner and he would tow around his fully dressed Harley. He mentioned when he first bought the bike he actually drove a state away to pick it up and drove home with it in the bed ( i have the long bed). Is this correct they made a 2+1 the truck rides great I have some axle wrap at stops but I never haul anything except for a gun safe recently which cause the truck to barley squat down a bit.

 

Glad to see this write-up is still helping you guys out. For what it's worth, my original install is still going strong, and has yet to let me down, especially for the price and ease of install.

 

Not getting the thump from stopping, but getting the hop/seizure from acceleration. Maybe I need to look into this.

 

I don't notice a major diff with the new leafs in even with the extra leaf cause my old factory ones only had two plus the bottom helper now with 3 and the bottom helper I still have that thump when I come to a stop

 

I used the leaf spring helper u bolts. Fixed my axle wrap for under $20. It worked like a charm. The "thump" was way too annoying for me to live with. I Would of spent a lot more taking it to a mechanic. Thanks guys! Keep up the good work!

 

More explanations of the problem here and more permanent resolution options.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/clunking-noise.438208/

 

Me neither...it sucks. It's that damn slip yoke cycling in and out. I thought I had it eliminated last year but no.
Mine only does it in the warm months, when it's cold the grease is thicker in the slip yoke which won't allow it to slide and "clunk"

 

so after 7 pages couldnt find a picture with just the u bolts installed. so without the helper spring you guys are running one u bolt on passenger and driver side either as close to axle as possible or a couple inches towards the front of truck and tourqued to 50ft? i feel ñike im awlening a dead thread lol

 

I'm new to the forum and have periodically referred to it for help on various projects and figured it was time I signed up. I bought my Taco new in 2001 and now have 2730000 miles on it and it's still running strong (my kids have said for a while, "why don't you get a new truck dad?) I just can't part with it. It run's so well (and paid for long ago)and I can do virtually everything myself.

With regard to the axle wrap mod, since I purchased the truck, I've dealt with the periodic "thump" at stops and was told (when I used to take it in for service) that it was the yoke and lubrication was necessary. However this was always a temporary fix and I just kinda got used to it. A couple of years ago I moved and live on an un-maintained dirt road and experienced lack of traction and some wheel hop. I still have the original leaf springs and know they need to go but haven't decided how I want to go yet so thought I'd give this a try. I purchased this morning, part # 11-1020 from O'Reilly's and 20 minutes later went for a test drive. All I can say is wow! Cornering is more stable, driving on dirt is smooth and no "thump". The part was $34. I love projects with such positive results and thank the forum for all the info it provides! I've included a couple of pics

 

clamping leaf springs is an engineering booger.

The individual spring leafs need to slide fore and aft when compressing or extending.
Limiting that is not a proper solution.

Those whom choose to utilize this bandaide clamp
know not what they are doing.

Will it make one think it feels better ?
sure... I'll suppose it could initially

But it's not the right way of going about it.

 

I suppose "the right way of going about it" is a matter of opinion. As for the engineering, That too can be argued infinitum but for this particular application, consider the proximity of the additional clamp to the u bolt holding the leaf spring pack to the axle; it's pretty close so is it really affecting the "fore and aft" movement to the degree that it's an "engineering booger"?I'm not convinced of that; I'ts almost an extension of the center u bolt. Also consider this; there's a huge market for this kind of product with endless outlets to purchase. Further, if you read reviews, there's overwhelmingly positive reviews for leaf spring "assists". I've yet to find a review describing any kind of catastrophic failure as a result of using this kind of product. That being said, I believe many of the issues that would prompt one to use this type of product are the result of bad springs or shocks. In my case, the springs are original with 273000 miles on them. Although I've changed the rear shocks, the springs need to be replaced however, I have not found the product I would like to replace them with. It may be a "band aid" but it seems to be one that works.