08 leaf spring confusion

I just spent an hour and a half reading all of the stuff on the TSB for rear suspension and bottoming out problems. I got a say I am a littlle confused. It sounds like from what I read that they supposedly fixed the problem with the 08 Tacos. But I just bought a 4x4 crew cab SR5 with tow pack, not a TRD, and the truck only has 3 leafs on it. Ive only got 1200 miles on it but it's a little squishy. Thats fine when your on pavement with no load but I am wondering what it will be like on the 2 tracks with a load. I am going camping monday and I will be fully loaded in the back end and pulling a pop up camper. That should be a pretty good test. I remember my first Toy truck back in the late 80's I had to add a leaf spring and new shocks to get a better ride out of it. And as we used to say back in the 80's " it looked bitchin ". I hope I didn't make a mistake by not getting the TRD package. What a bummer that would be. Any thoughts out there?

 

TRD or not, you should have the same leaf springs. The shocks won't make that big of a difference. Take some pictures all loaded up, then show them to the dealer when trying to get the TSB done.

 

You can't have done that much reading, because this is the 3rd or 4th time I have posted this in the last couple weeks

No worries though. From what I understand, some early 08s may still have the old springs...

Check the part number listed on the top of your springs. It is either a sticker or stamped on it or both.. what you are looking for is -G at the end of it instead of -F.
Right side spring: 48210-04550-G
Left side spring: 48220-04190-G

If the part has the -G it is the new revised spring and should be fine. If the part has the -F it is the old spring and you can make a case for getting the TSB done... just load it full and take it in to the dealer and demonstrate that you have the problem.

Or call the Toyota Customer care number people are posting.

 

If the -G spring has 3 leafs total, I call BS. They haven't fixed it.

 

OK man I loaded my motorcycle (400lb) myself (195lb) and my friend (165lb) and we jumped up and down in the bed in sync and got a good solid bounce going and could not make it hit the stop. I also drove around with the bike and 3 big water coolers full of water over speed bumps in a park and it was fine. It also did not sag significantly. More recently I loaded my entire bed full of camping gear for 6 people/3 days and went camping and it was fine.

I have seen no evidence that my -G springs have any of the problems described on this board.

As further evidence (take it for what it's worth) I spoke with the Toyota rep after talking to my dealer about this problem the week after I took delivery. The Toyota rep told me that in fact they have made changes to the 08s to resolve the problem. He was very interested in working with me to determine whether the changes were adequate or if they needed to get more info/testing. That was until I did the little test with my bike and was not able to get negative results.

 

Wildcatrider i had read the thread when you first posted about the difference between the F and G part number. My leaf springs have the G and I haven't had any problems(although I have never really loaded it up) what I did do is have me and two of my buddys, about 650lbs, sit in the bed(even jump a lil). While we were on it and I had my dad measure the deflection in in the shocks and it was hardly anything, but again I have never driven with that load. So it doesn't seem like mine has much of a problem.

I have had a question on my mind though, since there are people who have had the TSB done to their 08's. Did they really have the problem or did they convince their dealer to preform the TSB because of the TSB was out there and known? just wondering if there is a really difference with the F and G leaf springs

 

That is a perfectly legit question. From what I have read on this board and others, there is no definite undisputible proof that these G springs are different. I, too, had my reservations. Before I knew about the G, I (strongly and firmly) told my sales guy that there is no way that someone would release a modified part with the same exact part number.. especially if they went to the trouble to release a physically different replacement part for a TSB (the 4 leaf springs). There would be too much liability if they got mixed up.. again this was before I found out that was a G or F or E or D or anything else as far as revision numbers.. which I have since seen or heard of all of those existing.

It didn't make sense to me either. However just going by my own experience with my tests and the fact that I have seen several others on here indicate that the 08s are OK as far as spring performance... at this time I am willing to accept that the G spring is different.

 

My 09 4x4 tow pkg. dbl cab manftr. date of AUG08 has the G code and being new to the experience, the truck has a great street ride and rode even better with a generator in the back but I upgraded to Sport wheels and tires on my SR5

 

hey guys. I just purchased 09 tacoma 4x4 V6 crew cab, LB TRD. I only had 3 leafs in the rear and it wouldn't hold 600lbs without bottoming out. I carry this weight on a regular basis . I'm new to this forum and was not aware of these upgrades I keep reading about. On my own I had 2 more leafs added that cost me $500. I'll tell you what the truck rides great now it glides over the bumps. The other day I loaded up some firewood with the 600lbs I already have in there the bed didn't move. I probably had 1100lbs in there I didn't feel it. Whats bothering me is that toyota is aware of this suspension problem and they did nothing about it. Why don't they have a suspension upgrade as an option like most other truck makers.

 

I had the TSB done on my '09. I had to call Toyota Customer Service to generate a case number for my truck, then bring it in to the dealer. The tech took one look at the old 3-leaf "G" springs, said they were the wrong part number, and they did the swap no hassle. I'm VERY happy with the new 4-leaf springs. The truck sits higher and rides better than it did with the "G" springs...much less bounce over speed bumps, etc.

 

For future reference in case this old thread gets revived again.......goto page 20, start at post 387, and check out post 394 as well for my take..................we must prove nothing!!!!!
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/7158-dealers-who-performed-suspension-tsb-20.html