Leaf spring replacement issue (Canada vs USA leaves)

I have a 2011 Tacoma from the US. I have an add-a-leaf under the rear 3 leaf springs. A while back I cracked one spring so I had them all replaced here in Canada. I noticed that my rear end is now lower than the front and recently I was pulling a trailer and I had sway issues that I have never had before.

So my question is, what could cause this difference if it was merely OEM replaced parts? I have a suspicion that instead of ordering the US leaves they used the local 4 leaf set and just left one of the 4 leaves out of the assembly. So then my question is, is the US 3-leaf spring set identical to the Canadian 4-leaf spring set with one of the 4 removed?

 

so you got the replacement leafs and they took out one leaf?

 

they replaced both sets of leaves.

edit: I'm not sure but I'm assuming they might have ordered the Canadian set of leaves (4 vs US 3) and just removed one from each set. Otherwise I can't understand why my suspension is worse now

 

How bout some pics of your springs, and part numbers? That should help clear things up more quickly.

My instincts say, no way a dealership is going to bother to remove a spring in a pack. Too much effort and then what would they even do with the orphan spring?

 

they have 2 options:
1) replace my 3 leaf pack with an imported american 3 leaf pack
2) replace my 3 leaf pack with local Canadian 4 leaf pack, but would require 1 leaf removal

 

3) replace my 3 leaf pack with local Canadian 4 leaf pack assuming it meets all US warranty & legal requirements.

 

The reason I mentioned posting pics and part numbers, is because that is any easy way to figure this out.

Is your part number for a Canadian 4 leaf pack, but you have three leaves? Then that's your answer, they gave your Canadian/Mexican springs and pulled a leaf.

Is your part number for an American 3 leaf pack? Then it's just an honest 3 leaf pack.

Is your part number for a Chevy alternator?

Who knows, you won't say. Until you look at the part numbers or post a picture we'd all be guessing just like you are, only from further away and through a computer screen.

It still doesn't make sense for a dealership to spend time and effort taking a leaf out of a spring pack. It would be a pain in the ass to do and cost them time and labor. Strange things happen, but I'm about 98% sure that didn't.

 

Yes but that would be noticable if they did that

 

Leave springs are
RX-173-6 MX
RX-174-6 MX

 

So you had an add a leaf that lifts the vehicle in the crappy old leaf pack. Now you got a regular stock height leaf pack that really doesnt raise it all that much. Isnt the answer simple? An add a leaf is higher sprung steel to lift the vehicle (normally), you no longer have that leaf. So go on Amazon, buy a 2" add a leaf for 65$ free shipping and put it in the pack. hours worth of work and you are back on the road and lifted up. also, pretty sure these packs with an AAl should get new slightly longer u bolts for safety reasons.

 

The AAL is still there. You can see it in the pic

 

That is a factory leaf pack sir. The bottom is your overload spring. The other 3 are the actual pack.

In other words, you have a 4 leaf pack from the TSB regardless of location. Now you get an AAL and put it in THAT pack with a new centering pin.


TcBobs pic of his TSB spring packs.

 

Damn. Are you saying they stole my AAL!?

 

They usually won’t re-install them as part of the recall.

FYI I believe the more robust recall leaf packs are part numbered ending in -34404 (the canada/Mexico springs ( and what they are supposed to use to replace the springs in trucks that had the harsh ride tsb done here in the states.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2014/RCRIT-14V604-9602.pdf

That is the link for Toyota’s dealer guidance.

It sounds like you need to verify the 34404 part number and then choose an appropriate AAL to get the height you want.

 

As part of the TSB they have to go back to toyota assembled. So yes they stole your AAL but it had to be done, why pay a hours worth of labor and other misc fees for a cheap AAL.

 

Yah it was a harsh ride because we had 3 puney leafs before lol. Regardless the packs are usually 4 leafs total now. Need to make it a 5 leaf now

 

Thanks guys. Would have expected them to at least tell me they can't put the AAL back in and give them to me...

 

Called a Stealership for a reason

You're welcome