02 Leaf Springs Rubbing Exhaust

What’s up everyone I have an issue I’m hoping to get some feedback on. I had my 02 PreRunner aligned at Les Schwab and while doing this I told them I felt and heard a rubbing noise when coming to a stop and while turning (no noise when speed is picked up on highway). They identified the noise to be coming from the muffler. I took the truck to get checked out today and they indicated that my leaf spring has flattened out and is rubbing the exhaust.

Dealership wants $2800 for both leafs which I’m obviously not going to do lol

Has anyone encountered the same issue? Any feedback on how to go about? I attached pics of my spring to get some visual for y’all. Any feedback is appreciated

 

You can replace both leaf packs fairly easily for about $700, in your driveway. Can also do an AAL for much cheaper.

 

General Springs leaf pack

New u bolts

Easy job with 2 sets of jack stands

 

I’ve been looking for a YouTube video on how to go about doing this myself but haven’t found any. I’ll keep looking if it’s something I can knock out myself. Thanks

 

Where can I get the general springs leaf pack? Thanks

 

From General Springs

 

Super easy, do a search and you'll find tons of pictures

 

Well that answers that lol thanks man

 

If you have some experience working on your vehicle, YOU CAN DOO EEET!

any “Tacoma Leaf Spring Replacement” search will guide you thru the process.

 

Just to offer a cheaper alternative solution, you could just chop the exhaust before it turns to go under the leafs.

Like so:


*You're still gonna want to refresh those leafs. But you could fix your original complaint (the noise) in about 60 seconds with a sawzall.

 

Ninja edit?

Was going to say, stock-equivalent leaf packs don't require cutting of the exhaust at all

 

Looks like he's got lift shackles... So still in chop/relocation land.

 

Indeed! I foolishly ignored advice to get an exhaust hanger relocation bracket, and decided to just cut it as the far quicker solution.

Figured OP could do the same for now if the noise is bothering him too much, even though new leafs would solve the problem without cannibalizing his exhaust

 

Good point. Didn't even notice that, just wanted to offer the redneck solution to fix the noise ASAP

 

Damn, I've been bamboozled

Saw a stock leaf pack and ignored the shackles which should be discarded based on those rusted bolts anyway.

OP gonna need more hardware when he does his leaf pack replacement.

 

Don't blame you, I cut my exhaust but that was for my OME pack

 

Or he could take the easy way out and just

 

*new thread 6 months later over a broken leaf pack has entered the chat*

 

I'd recommend an angle grinder over a sawzall... The exhaust would bounce around without the support of the ... support. Or have someone else hold the exhaust while cutting.

 

Pfft

Plasma cut that shit