06 with newly installed recall springs - AAL question

Hey TacoWorld peops,

I just had my OE leaf springs replaced yesterday due to the recall. All is good with the dealership recall and installation, but I also just received my AALs in the mail and I'm wondering a few things:

1) It seems like the new leafies have extra shackles/retainers about 12" from the center pin. I am virtually certain the AAL is gunna overlap those. Is there any problem with trimming those off and just leaving the outside shackles/retainers? Or should I plan on replacing the inner ones? (do they even make such an animal - aftermarket retainers?)

2) Most likely I'll end up with a 2-2.5" lift, so 265/75/16 look to fit okay based on all the forum research I've done here. I don't plan on any backspacing with my factory 16" rims. Should be good, right? My #1 choice for look and reviews are the BFG KO2s. I see that most, if not all, 'all-terrain' tires don't have a treadlife warranty. Anyone have anecdotal evidence that these KO2s will last for 50k+ miles? I'm mostly a highway driver and know a good Michelin would probably save on gas, noise and last longer, but they just look a bit too "tame' for my liking. Just my opinion. I love me some Michelins, tho.

My local PebBoys seems to have the best price on purchase and install versus ordering the tires from an online retailer and having them mounted locally. Anything I'm missing here? Maybe I'm missing a source for inexpensive tires? (doubt it... I'm sorta recently obsessed with scouring the interwebs for tire deals).

Thanks all.

 

Well, looks like I started a fresh new thread here since nobody is commenting. I'm gunna take a closer look at the AAL and the replacement leaf springs to see for sure if the inner spring retainers have to be trimmed off.

 

I've had my recall work done for the leaf springs and have an AAL for about a 2" lift. I'm running 285/75/R16 BFG KO2's with plenty of clearance. I love the way the truck drives and handles with them. Best tire I've put on so far. Only about 8K miles so far though.

 

That's great to hear! I'm pretty much set on the KO2's. I'm going to end up with about 1" more lift than you, but I'm curious what your truck looks like. Got any pics? And you don't have any spacers do you?

I'm debating either going your route (285's) or going 265's and putting in a little 1.25" spacer on the hubs. I like the look where the outside edge of the tires are flush with the body/wheel well trim. Don't want the look where the tires stick way out past the body. Just my opinion. And I'm not gunna be doing any serious off-roading. I'm just looking for a more aggressive stance, which is mostly a vanity thing. Lol

(I see you're from Denton? I grew up in the HEB area and went to high school in Coppell. My sis went to UNTx. Ended up graduating from Tx A$M myself)

 

Here's a quick pic. Not real accurate sitting on a slope. The rear seems to be sagging a little bit since I had the recall work done. I'm thinking I'm going to have to add a 1 inch block in the rear to level it back out .

 

It's hard to know what mine will look like on stock alloy rims. I assume your aftermarket rims have some built in backspacing (or whatever the right term is) that pushes them outboard a little bit. Your 285's are right at the maximum distance I'd want to push out my tires/rims. I might be happy with 265's in your situation - just to give you my perspective on the look I'm going for. Thanks for the response!

I don't really see the back-end sag you speak of in these pics, but I in real life it might be more obvious. I haven't put on my lift yet. I have a 3" planned up front and a 2-3" lift planned in the back. We'll see what that ends up being after the install and if I end up with some butt droop. LOL Now to save up some pennies for my BFG KO2's!

 

Pep Boys online is doing a deal on BFG KO2s right now, I'm considering it for real. You say you drive highway? 285 will crush your MPG if you go above 2500 RPMs

 

Yup, I saw that. Price is pretty reasonable based on my research. I was worried about the MPG on the highway - and, yes, lots of highway driving here.

 

My "before" picture. I don't have the "after" yet since I've not installed the lift and tires. Will do that in a few months.

 

Absolutely it does! I'm getting about 15mpg on average

 

^ definitely is something to consider. Maybe I should err on the side of caution and go with the 265's. I have a 4-banger, so my mpg is pretty decent. I assume any added resistance would make it struggle to the point where I'd notice my mpg's dropping big time.

 

That may be a better option if you worried about maintaining decent mpg.

 

Can you post a picture of your leafs with the AAL, hopefully going to get mine installed Sunday just looking for input about how to do it with the new leafs.

 

Sure, I haven't done the install yet, but might take that on today. Not sure tho, don't have my new tires yet, so don't want to be running around all jacked up on training wheels! LOL.

Check back for pics.

 

Op, I you're doin mostly highway stick with a 265 or go tall and skinny with a 255/85/16 (somebody confirm my second number there but I think that's right). I run a 295/75/16 on stock rims. Have a custom leaf pack in the rear to get about 3-3.5" lift and OME 886 springs and nitrocharger shocks in the front giving me about 3" there as well. I do also have a 1.25" spacer on the front wheels and with that the 295's only touch the cab mount. If you don't run a spacer on the front with 285's and you have the stock UCA's you're going to run on them, potentially the cab mount and the frame both in front of and behind the wheel (this is the setup and problems my brother has).

As previously stated though, a tall skinny might be a good option for you. Gets it a higher stance and with more backspacing your can have the wide you're looking for too, plus it shouldn't hurt your mileage as much. Part of the problem with big tires is the width of the tires greatly increasing friction with the road and creating a lot of drags, therefore worsening your mpg

 

That's my plan. Don't want "pizza cutters", but I do like taller and thinner tires. Gotta put a spacer on the hubs so they aren't tucked way inboard.

 

Well, got them installed with very little cussing. Here are some pics of the stock (recall) leaf springs prior to install:

 

Here's a shot after I disconnected the e-brake retainer.

 

Here's a shot of the leaf pack prior to the AAL - uncompressed. Watch that those shims don't slide out of place or you'll be fighting to get the center bolt in.

 

And here are a few shots of it done.