Replace broken leaf in OME leaf pack - 2001

Can I replace just one leaf pack, or can I replace the one broken leaf in the leaf pack???

I installed Old Man Emu Drakar leaf packs on my 2001 Taco in fall 2019. I found recently that one of the auxiliary leafs in the driver side leaf pack is broke. They are only four years old and its seems odd for one to have broken, but I am out of the 3-yr ARB warranty period.

ARB discontinued the manufacture of the springs I installed (CS046RA) and replaced them with a redesigned version (EL122RA). I contacted ARB to inquire about the differences between the two, and they responded saying there was enough of a difference that I would need to replace both leaf packs. Here is the comparison table they sent along with the email:



I don't want to have to replace both leaf packs, given that they are only 4 yrs old, with not very much offroad use in that time.

Can I just replace the one broken leaf without issue? Where can I get a right-sized leaf?
I am willing to replace the entire driver side leaf pack, but I cannot find the CS046RA version anywhere. Is it a bad idea to just replace one leaf pack? Any ideas on where to look for this? (Most online retailers and local 4X4 shops are out of stock).

 

Looks like you broke the secondary overload. You could contact ARB to order 2 new overloads and replace both so they match. For $470 you can get 2 new leaf packs from wheelers. You could go to the junkyard and try to rob a similar leaf from another Tacoma or Chevy and home it works out.

 

Unless you were loading them heavily, I would not buy new Old Man Emu leaves again if they failed after 4 years. Again, depends how you treated them. But hard to reward weak longevity. Convince them to give you a good deal.

 

It comes down to you can you deal with the truck no longer sitting level??

If you only repair or replace one side it will never match . Things like this don`t bother me using the truck just local hauling .

Best of luck

 

Find a spring shop and take them the pack. You should have some options in CO.

 

I contacted Denver Spring. They said they can just replace the one leaf. However, it was over $600 for that, which is almost the cost of two new OME leaf packs; over $1000 if they have to take the leaf pack off the truck. Doesn't seem worth it. Waiting on a response from Alcan spring. I'm not opposed to just replacing with like if the costs makes sense. I'm not sure what the issue was, but OME springs have a pretty good rep.

 

@Wolfjesus Do you put mad weight in your truck? Definitely seems cheaper to buy two new packs. No joke, I’ve heard of blacksmiths buying leaf springs for materials. Hope you can get something for those!

 

@beaverdam thanks for the idea on trying to sell them for scrap. I didn't think I really loaded the truck. I did haul some firewood this fall, but it was bone dry spruce and I have a topper on it, so I doubt I could get enough in there to overload the suspension.

 

November of 22 I bought a pair from General Spring $130 a side, $406.19 delivered. 02 Dbl Cab

 

Those are stock height though, right?
@Wolfjesus did you like the lift with the dakars?

 

ooops, yes stock replacement.

 

Not stock replacement. I lifted the truck (~2.5") with OME coils and leafs. I ended up just replacing both leaf packs with new OME Drakar leafs, as the new ones are different from the old ones. I contacted ARB to find out HOW different they are and they provided this comparison table, which I reviewed and decided it was different enough to do both. Replacing both leaf packs with new OME Drakars was about the same cost as having a local spring company (Denver Spring, or Alcan in Grand Junction) just replace the one bad leaf in the one leaf pack.

 

@Wolfjesus glad you’re all set now. hope the Dakars hold up better for you this round.