Custom Frankenstein leaf springs.

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 ?

 

What year is your truck? I need to raise the rear of my truck about an inch

 

It’s at 07

 

I did the same thing years ago on my 97 and ran it that way for many years of trouble free miles.

 

Do you have any pictures of your rig?

Spring pads:
Dorman 31067 Leaf Spring Insert
Dorman 31067 Leaf Spring Insert, Pack of 2

$8 Dorman 31067 Rear Leaf Spring Inserts Compatible with Select Models, 2 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TYU0FM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PYzMAb5T41M7M

 

interested in the Dorman pads........

more details & install info......thx

 

these guys

https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-21776-31067.aspx

 

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 better

 

It seems like your in for multiple tries to find the right combination. Good for you for thinking out of the box.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

@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



I cut 6" off both sides of the second overload

 

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.

 

no lean at all but I kept them on the proper sides.