Ok. Homework done and I am ready but....

so I have 2008 Pre-Runner..Stock wheels and tire sizes, Leaf pack recall completed already, Glass Topper, No serious wheelin'. Only occasional light camp/hunting trail and just hauling tons of Scout camp gear and pulling enclosed 5x8 trailer.

I've done my homework...ready to finally place my order...Getting billies for all four corners (using stock coils) and was going to include an AAL.....but in my final Run of searching double checking etc. I ran across a few of you with concerns and differing opinions about axle wrap/slap and driveline vibes from AAL install so I am having second thoughts.

Should I just hold off on the AAL or just get the right shims? I don't want bags.

 

A complete leaf pack replacement can help alleviate some of the axle wrap issues the stock leafs have. I'm not sure what affect the add a leaf would have on it. If I was you I'd go the Dakar light leaf pack since you have a topper and carry stuff somewhat regularly and just be done with it. Results from shimming the axle and carrier bearing drops vary from person to person it seems. I think it would be prudent just to install the kit without any shims or carrier bearing drop and then see how the vibes are. If it has vibes that you can't live with you could try adding the cb drop first and seeing if that helps because it takes like 5 minutes. If that doesn't help you could try shims.

 

Should be fine without shims. Your rears probably sagging a bit anyway with the topper so wouldn't lift as much. Stock 3 or 4 leaf?

 

I have the add a leaf and new leafs from Toyota. Go with a new dakar leaf pack from @HeadStrong Off-Road

 

Thank you so much for the recommendation @adadandhistruck !

 

If your wanting to keep a stock ish ride height with about a inch of lift in the rear id look into General Springs KC. I ordered mine today. Read many good reviews. I currently have OME Lift with dakars I got from headstrong offroad. If you get the dakars I would make sure its the new ones with the anti squeak pads installed. I am taking my OME 886 coils off and dakars off and going back to stock suspension. The squeak is unbearable for me. Nothing against Headstrong. OME made a shit leaf pack ( sqeaking only) IMO. I am not replacing my old dakars with new ones. Ill try someone else.

 

NP! Been emailing you guys the past few weeks and was gonna pull the trigger on Dakars... but then my vacation went from 4 days up to 7 days. Time to save up again! haha it was good times though. Lake Arrowhead (and the entire mountaint) is a cool place if you like the outdoors

 

pretty crazy you're going all the way back to stock. What weight did you have up front to justify the 886s?

 

I didn't measure but it was level with the rear. Id say 2 3/4 in of lift and that is with my ARB bumper with no winch. Soon as I lifted it I had discovered that I had a bad front diff needle bearing.

 

Appreciate the full Leaf Pack recommendations but no money for that right now...

Yeah I called @HeadStrong Off-Road just over a week ago and got my final recommendations from Marie.

BTW the current Leaf spring recall replacements are 4 Leaf and Marie said the AAL would work

I forgot to ask her about implications of vibes and stress Cb and U joints etc if any....so thought I would put it out to you guys especially with such a small increase and the weight of the topper.

Here are some pic of current leafs sitting on level pavement. They have always looked much flatter than before the TSB fix

 

I upgraded to deavers from a tsb pack with icon aal and overload. Surprised to see how the previous pack rode compared to new setups. Very similar imo. Just playing devils advocate i guess

 

I guess im saying if you dont want a whole lot of lift then the icon aal or probably another similar progressive aal is nothing to scoff at. Really brought life back to my stock pack.

 

Just worried about the comments about the driveline vibes

 

Based on how very few have been concerned in most of these responses I'll probably go ahead and stick to the plan

 

A AAL is just a bandaid. I would rock it until you had the coin to replace them.
I had lifted my truck and got the carrier drop. I have noticed zero driveline vibrations.

 

I did the same lift recently. I have 5100's in the front and 5125's in the rear (longer length). I am using stock coils and i bought light duty dakars. The leaf packs were over spec and i ended up with about 3" of lift in the rear and 2.5" in the front. I am also using a OME carrier bearing drop kit.

Unfortunately i am trying to work out a few different driveline vibrations. I ordered 2.5d shims but still need to install them.

Everything was purchased through @HeadStrong Off-Road The kit was delivered very quickly and they are great to work with!

 

The old packs did squeak it is really common from leafs in general. If you were wanting to keep your Dakars I have heard of a few people going through ARB for warranty with them and getting a new set of leaf springs free of charge. Now I can't say it would happen for everyone but I have had a couple customers have success with a warranty claim. FWIW.

 

Hopefully you ate at waffleworks while you were there

 

Thank you for the post and again for your business @nemesis17592 , we really appreciate it!!!