Some issues after installing my leaf springs.

Hey guys

I just installed some leaf springs on my 2010 tacoma. I have a short bed 4x4 and I have installed General Springs and lately I have heard some noises when rolling on uneven terrain or roads. Its sounds more like a clunk. Curious if anyone has experienced this. I will maybe loosen my leaf springs bolts. I went off the tq spec and to me it seems way to tight. I didnt Tq them to spec just because I felt like the bolts would break. If anyone has any info that could help me out Id appreciate it.

Thanks Ray

 

spec should be around 75 foot pounds, I believe. The u bolts will handle way more than that.

 

Bolts stretch, if you haven't retorqued them you should.

 

- I went off the tq spec and to me it seems way to tight. I didnt Tq them to spec just because I felt like the bolts would break.

How did you determine this?

- I will maybe loosen my leaf springs bolts.

As stated above you have already under torqued them. What torque spec have you determined is loose enough?

-If anyone has any info that could help me out Id appreciate it.

Torque them to spec rather than making up your own. I would think your axle is shifting around and that is the clunk you're experiencing. Torque to spec, drive a few hundred miles, recheck for proper torque, enjoy.

 

If you have any reason to believe a bolt will not torque properly you should replace it.

 

You said that you replaced your leaf springs. Right? Which way did you run your bolts on the back? Both bolts over the shackle and leaf spring should be installed with the nut outboard. If got don't, the bolt will bind and hit the frame.

 

Just torqued all attaching bolts to 73 fat lbs. all the nuts are facing outboard. Going to tq the U bolts and see if they are loose also

 

@EatSleepTacos any suggestions here?

 

Everything sounds good. Maybe I should invest in a decent tq wrench. This harbor freight tq wrench seem sketchy vs the snap on ones I use at work. My u bolts where not tq’d eithet. Torques everything to specs per the thread

 

When the truck is in the air, you should torque the front one to spec, as well as the bolt holding the shackle to the leafs.

The third bolt connecting the shackle to the truck, should just be finger tight. Once the truck is on the ground, jump around on the bumper and then tighten the final bolt to spec. Not sure if that's your issue, but that's the proper way to install it.

 

I need to loosen that one back up. I tq'd all three to that same tq

 

Just loosen, jump around on the bumper and then tighten back up. Don't be driving around with a finger tight bolt!