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3 Leaf Progressive AAL or New Leaf Pack

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by kazuaki, May 8, 2019.

  1. May 8, 2019 at 5:10 PM
    #1
    kazuaki

    kazuaki [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I've recently purchased a 2015 DCSB 4x4 with the TRD Off Road package. It's got about 93k miles on it. I'm doing research on suspension improvements/lifts. I'm pretty set on 5100's with 884 or 885 springs in the front and JBA UCA's. For the rear, my initial thought was a 3 leaf progressive AAL from Headstrong, probably WITHOUT the stock overload. I'd go with 5100's or maybe 5125's in the rear. Below are pics of my stock leaf springs. I'm wondering if the progressive AAL will work well with these, or do I need to go to a new spring pack (like a Dakar)? I'm asking because the stock springs look so flat. They don't appear to be inverted or anything, but there's close to zero arch in them. The truck will see offroad use maybe 1 weekend a month. Most of that use will be in the desert/dunes. We won't be hammering on the truck too hard. It will occasionally tow a flatbed trailer with a SxS on it, maybe 300 lbs of tongue weight at the most. Otherwise, it will never carry a load. So, do you think the progressive AAL will work out well? I'm thinking maybe the Bilstein 5125 (33-230337) for the rear to avoid topping out the shocks and get some extra droop.

    20190508_165438~2.jpg 20190508_165416~2.jpg
     
  2. May 8, 2019 at 5:16 PM
    #2
    rnish

    rnish Well-Known Member

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    With the 5125's consider extended rear brake lines.
     
  3. May 8, 2019 at 5:19 PM
    #3
    Whitetacomacalifornia

    Whitetacomacalifornia Well-Known Member

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    leaf packs do flatten out over time. If you did the AAL it would probably be nice for 6 months or so and then flatten out. You could either get a new pack or find a newer take off pack and do the AAL to that. As far as shocks go, Bilstein 5160 look and perform decent in the rear as well.
     
  4. May 8, 2019 at 5:44 PM
    #4
    fb40dash5

    fb40dash5 Well-Known Member

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    I have the longer 2 leaves of the AAL on a fairly new TSB pack, with the overload in... I left the shortest leaf out cuz I'd have to go seriously negative to have the overload hit with it, it would basically be a 1/2" block.

    It sits about level with 884s in the front with no load. Time will tell how it holds up, it's been on a few months now. I wouldn't have minded doing a full pack, but $300-400 more didn't sound good right about then.
     
  5. May 8, 2019 at 5:50 PM
    #5
    kazuaki

    kazuaki [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, it's the extra cost that I'm trying to avoid BUT I'll do it if it keeps me from having to do it twice. I just see so many people saying they use the AAL, so I'm wondering if all of them are eventually having issues? The other concern is the amount of lift with a new spring like the Dakars. Maybe if I did the medium Dakar and removed the 3rd leaf it wouldn't be too much? Ideal for me would be 1.5" rear lift, 2" tops and something that will last many years.
     
  6. May 8, 2019 at 5:50 PM
    #6
    saundern

    saundern Swerve for nothing

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    But once, cry once. I wish I would have gone with a new pack instead of the progressive AAL.
     
  7. May 8, 2019 at 5:53 PM
    #7
    Whitetacomacalifornia

    Whitetacomacalifornia Well-Known Member

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    I don't even have the TSB pack. if I could do it again I would get a new take off pack and get the AAL.
     
  8. May 8, 2019 at 5:56 PM
    #8
    kazuaki

    kazuaki [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Is my stock pack considered a "TSB pack" since it's a 2015?
     
  9. May 8, 2019 at 5:56 PM
    #9
    kazuaki

    kazuaki [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This is what I feared...you're costing me money :)
     
    saundern[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. May 8, 2019 at 5:58 PM
    #10
    Mully

    Mully Well-Known Member

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  11. May 8, 2019 at 6:18 PM
    #11
    Troyken

    Troyken Well-Known Member

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    I have a set of 2015 take offs (3 leaves) on mine with a 3 leaf add a leaf and no overload. I bought them used together with 5100s. They still have plenty of positive arch and gave me 1.5 inches of lift over stock and I still have that much. I have hauled up to the payload capacity quite a few times and it has been fine. The ride is also very nice, especially with 50-100 lbs in back. I am at stock height in front. I think the guys that have trouble with them have constant weight in the bed.... tools, caps, armor, camping stuff or any combination of them. If you don't carry weight constantly they should be fine for you. If you do carry significant weight constantly or regularly then the Dakars would be a wise choice. You will need the longer 5100s with the 3 leaf though. The stock shocks are too short and will fail. Some of the vendors here have suspension packages at good prices. A search will turn them up.

    I wonder what the original owner of your truck did to flatten them .My original off road package springs were two leaves plus overload. They were not flat like that. They just bottomed out with 4 normal sized people in the cab.
     
    Ricardo13x likes this.
  12. May 8, 2019 at 6:38 PM
    #12
    fb40dash5

    fb40dash5 Well-Known Member

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    You look to have what I got, 3 leaves plus the overload. Mine had original springs (or maybe replaced under recall by the PO) with just the 2 leaves... and had a walk-in ARE MX cap when I bought it. I have no idea how it wasn't totally dragging the ass end.
     
  13. May 8, 2019 at 7:04 PM
    #13
    kazuaki

    kazuaki [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do you guys think the Dakar medium pack with the 3rd leaf removed (to try to keep the lift to 2") would last and not flatten out on me?
     
  14. May 8, 2019 at 7:28 PM
    #14
    Halligan

    Halligan Old School

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    Single add-a-leafs are a waste of time and money (but that's not your question)

    The 3 leaf progressive is a good solution for the price. I installed a set on a buddies 2015 DCSB. He chose to reinstall the factory "overload leaf" at the bottom of the new pack. I wouldn't have done that personally as it seemed to me to be only good as a lift block of its own thickness. I doubt the ends of that leaf will ever contact anything given the 3 new progressive leafs above it.

    That said, the truck rides as it did before, less axle wrap and sits 1.75" higher (with overload) and didn't cost much. Install was dead easy.
     
    Whitetacomacalifornia likes this.

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