Contemplating trading 03 tacoma in due to axlewrap

Interesting. Well my truck sits very level, so I guess that's a bad sign.

So, basically you all are recommending I purchase an aftermarket set of leafs (4 pack I assume). This won't raise the back end too much?

 

Had the same problem, replaced my leafs, and no more problems. Here's a link to a vendor here. If you want stock height you would want to buy the 4 pack. I bought the 5-pack for my truck, which gives about 1.5" of lift. They just had a group buy on these too, you may be able to get in on the deal still, don't quote me on that tho! These leafs get great reviews. Many Taco's on this forum run them.

 

Yep, a decent Wheeler's 4 pack will do it.
Noticed your spare tire looks about shot...

 

Yeah. On the list.

 

I got an AAl and it fixed it completely. But you will need to lift the front if u get an AAL since that will lift the rear.

did cleaning the throttle bodies improve power or throttle response? If so, it makes sense that it made the wrap worse. since more power will equal more axle wrap

 

Honestly cleaning the throttle body (did not remove but cleaned plate, front and part of back) didnt do much except cause an increased idle. I removed battery cable to reset sensors and it went back to normal. Probably wouldnt do that or seafoam again - just didnt seem to help anything.

 

The wheelers 4 leaf did NOT fix my axle wrap. Adding their 2" AAL completely removed it.

 

the bb trac bar worked for me, but it was relatively expensive, and did nothing to cure the underlying problem: weak oem leafs. x2 on replacing leafs. also, imo, aal is a temp fix...just sayin'. good luck, op.

 

Are you positive it's axle wrap and not a u-joint starting to go?

 

eh, throw a couple Ford springs under your stockers, & go about your business & call it good, because it will be....

 

I don't know for sure that it is axle wrap, but it seems very likely based on what I've read. Can a U-Joint failing cause similar symptoms?

An interesting note: I live in Louisiana and we recently had a cold day. During that day the axle wrap was much improved - only doing it a few times that day. In my mind, the cold made the steel more rigid, which improved the axlewrap, but I can't be sure.

 

If you are getting a clunk/thump when taking off/changing directions, I'd look at a u-joint before springs honestly. Best thing is to jack back tires off the ground (wheels chocked), set the parking break, and see if you can get any play in the drive shaft.

 

On just about any other vehicle I'd lean towards this, but for the Tacomas, with those symptoms, smart money says its time for some springs, either adding some or new leaf pack altogether...

 

Don't give up, that should be one of the easier problems to fix...

 

Definitely not getting a thump when changing directions. Only when I come to a stop or let off the break. It feels like built up tension and then recoil to release the build up of pressure. Weakening leafs seems more likely to me, but I'm not very familiar with the inner working of u-joints.

 

Bro' you can stop driving yourself nuts over this, what you describe is classic, text book Tacoma axle wrap, I'll do you one better.... If a rebuild or change in your springs doesn't take care of that "wrap" . Send me the bill...

 

Well good. I'm definitely going to buy new springs and I will install them myself. I'll do a search for a good write up on "how to," but if anyone has an easy forward, please post.

Thanks everyone.

 

^ what she said i would make sure you buy the bolt for the front hangers. You can always return them if they actually come out. All 4 times iv changed leaf's it has had to get chopped out.