Leaf spring recall

and looking for a little insight…I took my 2009 Tacoma into a Tacoma dealership to have the leaf recall completed. When I picked it up the stance was off, the rear of the truck was 2 1/2 to 3 inches lower than the front. I called Toyota and they dismissed me over the phone, so the next day I took it back in. They acknowledged that something was wrong but assured me that when they checked the pile of leaf springs in the back and none of them were any different... they also said that no blocks came off the truck. I bought the truck a year ago certified used. They agreed to "make it right" so I took it back in. When I picked it up they had just added blocks to the back which I wonder is just a Band-Aid solution when they had said no blocks were removed off the truck. Hoping this makes sense… I guess my question is should I just be grateful that they didn't say 'too bad' or should I attempt to obtain different leafs for the truck and get them to cover it?

 

Before they added blocks

 

Before any tampering

 

Without knowing what was on your truck previously, we'd just be guessing.

The front appears to have some lift which would be why the truck looked low in the back after they installed new stock leafs. There previously could have been an add-a-leaf in the rear to keep it more level. In which case it would be your responsibility to reinstall after the recall. Toyota is only required to install new stock leafs, no more no less.

 

Thank you for your reply. I guess the part that confuses me is that they said if there had been anything additional or different they wouldn't have done the recall… They said they took off regular old springs that were an exact match to the ones they put on… And weren't sure why It ended up being lower in the back. Something obviously went wrong, so I'm just trying to return the truck to its previous set up.

 

Another reason I don't do dealers! Recall or not.

 

You should have told them to dig your original springs out of the heap.
They claim them to be the same, yet clearly there is a difference.
Since you bought the thing used, there is a possibility that it could have had something *way better* than stock on it. Previous owner could have had aftermarket springs on it, which the dealer (or mechanic) may have just stolen from you. Or worse, sent off to the metal recycler. Toyota doesn't take the original springs back, the dealer just throws them out.

2.5-3 inch is about what a set of aftermarket leaf springs would get for you.

Edit:

The blocks are NOT a good or safe idea.
You do not feel comfortable with this hack job in place.
You believe, since you were not the first owner, that because they were not able to recognize that there were any parts added, that you must previously have had aftermarket springs on it.
Toyota sent you a recall notice that made you, unaware that you had aftermarket leaf springs already installed, concerned about your safety, therefore you authorized a recall that it should not have had.
You demand replacement of the currently installed springs with aftermarket springs, specifically, <take your pick of...>.

Further: there is an obvious physical difference between the springs it originally shipped with and the "recall" springs: the number of clips on the springs. The originals had 3 clips. The replacement springs have 6. In other words, there is absolutely no way that the new springs would be an "exact match" to the old ones. Not possible.