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Custom Frankenstein leaf springs.

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by razerok1, Mar 2, 2018.

  1. Mar 2, 2018 at 9:31 AM
    #1
    razerok1

    #1
    razerok1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So my leafs were replaced last week. Since I had a single leaf AAL on the old spring pack my dealership gave me the old spring packs so that I could remove the AAL later to reinstall

    Rather than just reusing the old AAL, which had pretty stiff ride. I decided to cut the old leaf packs up and use sections of it to stiffen up the new springs like a budget progressive AAL.

    I added one section of spring 29” long and was able to get roughly 1.25” of
    lift after a couple hours of setting. Ride felt soft and was not harsh like the Single AAL. Going to try and add another leaf to the pack to see if I can get a bit more lift and keep the ride quality.


    I have two questions.

    Has anyone tried anything like this ??

    Second does anyone know where I could get some stick on isolator pads ?
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2018
    razerok1, Mar 2, 2018
    #1
  2. Mar 2, 2018 at 10:27 AM
    #2
    MOBB1N

    #2
    MOBB1N Well-Known Member

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    What year is your truck? I need to raise the rear of my truck about an inch
     
    MOBB1N, Mar 2, 2018
    #2
  3. Mar 2, 2018 at 10:37 AM
    #3
    razerok1

    #3
    razerok1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It’s at 07
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2018
    razerok1, Mar 2, 2018
    #3
    MOBB1N likes this.
  4. Mar 2, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #4
    kystnTRD

    #4
    kystnTRD Ramblin Man

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    I did the same thing years ago on my 97 and ran it that way for many years of trouble free miles.
     
    kystnTRD, Mar 2, 2018
    #4
  5. Mar 2, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    #5
    MOBB1N

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    MOBB1N Well-Known Member

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    MOBB1N, Mar 2, 2018
    #5
    Bobcdn and Alexely999 like this.
  6. Mar 2, 2018 at 11:33 AM
    #6
    Armed in Utah

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    Armed in Utah Well-Known Member

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    Utah's High Desert.......
    Vehicle:
    2003 Lexus LX 470
    interested in the Dorman pads........

    more details & install info......thx
     
    Armed in Utah, Mar 2, 2018
    #6
  7. Mar 2, 2018 at 11:43 AM
    #7
    Armed in Utah

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    Armed in Utah Well-Known Member

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    Utah's High Desert.......
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    Armed in Utah, Mar 2, 2018
    #7
  8. Mar 2, 2018 at 11:48 AM
    #8
    taco06

    #8
    taco06 Well-Known Member

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    I can't let the wife know
    I did kind of the same. I have a progressive aal but didn't handle weight well. I threw the over load leaf back in but I cut off about 3 inches. It wasn't allowing me to flex that well on an empty bed. Happy with results and this is temporary till I find something better20180222_070217.jpg
     
    taco06, Mar 2, 2018
    #8
    MOBB1N likes this.
  9. Mar 2, 2018 at 12:10 PM
    #9
    spitdog

    #9
    spitdog Well-Known Member

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    It seems like your in for multiple tries to find the right combination. Good for you for thinking out of the box.
     
    spitdog, Mar 2, 2018
    #9
    Alexely999 likes this.
  10. Mar 2, 2018 at 3:01 PM
    #10
    bijick

    #10
    bijick such mods much want

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    Stl
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    OME 884’s ,Dakar hd’s, Jba uca, lce header, 4.88’s, Arb locker , j shift tcase-T4R, arb bumper, leer topper, 3500w inverter, mad wife, scratched paint, skid plates, snorkelerer, led flush mount reverse lights, etc..
    Here they are gents, they’re only about 2 weeks old but I’ll let em go for $80 since they have scratches (because they are a 100% son of a bitch to compress) from them laying on the ground during compression.

    I don’t think I’m up for a trade because I’m quite happy with where the 884’s put me.

    Oh yeah wrong thread lol
    21539C3F-1243-4317-A8CE-4E4E8359E3D8.jpg
    66BEC958-FC01-4D38-8480-FCC7F7FCF127.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2018
    bijick, Mar 2, 2018
    #10
  11. Mar 2, 2018 at 4:24 PM
    #11
    Pigpen

    #11
    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    Access cab with child seat in the back, yellow wire mod, diff breather relocated to tail light, engine block heater, Leer topper with Yakima tracks and rack, Yakima rack on cab, Ride Rite air bags with Daystar cradles, CBI hidden front hitch, wired for winch front and rear Warn quick connect, Warn x8000i on external carrier, sway bar delete, trailer plug relocated to under bumper, Pelfreybilt IFS and Mid skids, BAMF Tcase skid, ECGS front diff bushing, ARB CKMA12 compressor, 255/85/16 Backcountry MT 3 load E tires on stock steel rims, Toyo M55 tires (same size) on another set of stock steelies, Up2NoGood heated mirror kit, Husky X-act Contour front floor liners, Northstar AGM 24F battery under the hood, Northstar 27F in the cab, Redarc 25 amp DC to DC charger, Pelfreybilt bolt on sliders with kickout and top plates, TRD Pro headlights, Depo smoked tail lights, Energy suspension body mount bushing kit, OME Dakar leaf packs with AAL, OME rear shocks, OME 90021 front shocks with 885 coils, SPC LR UCAs, Up2NoGood 2wd low range mod, 4 Wheel Campers Grandby slide in camper, 4xinnovations high clearance rear bumper, Uniclutch 800 lb/ft clutch
    :drool:
     
    Pigpen, Mar 2, 2018
    #11
  12. Mar 3, 2018 at 12:12 AM
    #12
    JDawg562

    #12
    JDawg562 Derp.

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    I made a bastard pack on my old set up. It was top 2 or 3(I can't remember) were stock Tacoma leafs, then a Tundra AAL, then Wheelers progressive AAL, overload removed. It did pretty well after I tuned the shocks and got just shy of 16" of travel. I had a low profile tool box, 35" spare and bed cage as extra weight.
    The stick on pads suck they only were on there for about 1 oil change if I remember correctly. After they fell out I didn't even bother putting anything in between them lol.
    My old rear setup. Was valved decently, but I knew eventually I'd get long travel leafs so didn't bother getting the valving perfect. I still had the stock spare in this video*
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK3p3CMDGbU
     
    JDawg562, Mar 3, 2018
    #12
    taco06 likes this.
  13. Mar 3, 2018 at 5:13 PM
    #13
    razerok1

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    razerok1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I tried to drill the leafs for those same dormant isolators... but I blew through 3 bit for 1 hole and said fuck it its not wort the trouble for now.

    There are some adhesive plastic isolators on the new toyota overload spring if I could get my hands on 8 of them or something like it id be set.

    I ended up using both leafs off the old pack. The main leaf was cut to 35" (17.5 from center) the second leaf was cut to 29" (14.5 from canter).

    The longer leaf on top, then the shorter leaf. I left the overload depending on how much it settles I may remove it.

    Heres the truck about 30 seconds after installing the old leafs to the pack. It has settled 1/2" in a couple hours. 3" of lift up front wheels are 285/70/17.

    IMG_0873.jpg
     
    razerok1, Mar 3, 2018
    #13
    JDawg562 and MOBB1N[QUOTED] like this.
  14. Mar 11, 2018 at 9:19 PM
    #14
    MOBB1N

    #14
    MOBB1N Well-Known Member

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    @razerok1 Do you have any lean?

    I added another set of overloads to my leafs and swapped them to the proper sides. When I had the leafs on the wrong sides I was getting about 1-1.5" lean. After swapping them I'm still getting the same lean

    IMG_1012.jpg

    I cut 6" off both sides of the second overload
    IMG_1018.jpg
     
    MOBB1N, Mar 11, 2018
    #14
  15. Mar 11, 2018 at 10:21 PM
    #15
    Nomad_Pilot

    #15
    Nomad_Pilot I need to pewp

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    I guess I am late, but people have been making these "Frankenstein" leaf packs for years in the wrecker and recovery business here in the south, and they collectively call them "bastard packs". I personally am running a set of 2014 tacoma springs with two springs added in each side from a 1988 3/4 ton Chevy ten leaf pack. Rides good, flexes fine, and I got a good 3.5 inch ride height increase out of it. The best way to add pads is to drill hole in the end of the leafs and put in the pads that have a plastic post for centering that goes in the hole, summit racing has a few different ones to choose from. Be sure and slightly round all edges of a trimmed spring, or it will gouge into the spring above it and cause it to crack along the gouge mark in a very short time due to vibrations.
     
    Nomad_Pilot, Mar 11, 2018
    #15
  16. Mar 11, 2018 at 10:37 PM
    #16
    razerok1

    #16
    razerok1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    no lean at all but I kept them on the proper sides.
     
    razerok1, Mar 11, 2018
    #16

Products Discussed in

Dorman 31067 Rear Leaf Spring Inserts Compatible with Select Models, 2 Pack
$13.62
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