do i need to add a leaf???

i have an 06 4x4 taco. i got the 2.5" front spacers a few weeks ago to level it up and fit 285's in the future, but it actually ended up making my truck a little nose high. so i planned on adding a leaf or block in the back to get it level sometime soon anyways. my thing is that i looked under the rear end the other day and noticed that my leafs look a little flat. i'm not sure if it's from sagging, the spacers in the front putting more stress on the back and flattening them out or what. i got my local tire and wheel guy to look at it yesterday to see what he thought. he said they looked somewhat flat but that he didn't know enough about toyota's to say if i needed to add a leaf or not. he said to look at some other toyota's leafs to compare. well i don't know anybody else with a toyota...but i do have you guys! haha, so what i'm wanting to know is do my leafs look flat to you or compared to your truck's leafs. i'm going to put something else under the rear soon as it is to level it up soon, so i would like to know if i would be fine just adding a block (i don't off road), adding a leaf to get more arch, or just getting a whole new leaf pack. i think i should just add a leaf because i need the lift clearance soon and it will fix the problem if there is one. please let me know if you have had this experience or just know, and what size leaf/block i should get, they are about the same price. i was thinking 1.5-2". any suggestions will be welcomed.

i have heard that toyota's leafs just look flat as it is, and my mechanic also mentioned that my tonneau cover may be compressing them to make them look flatter. (it's an a.r.e. fiberglass tonneau cover, and actually i'd like to sell it if anybody is interested )

thanks in advance

 

looks a little flat IMO but i dont own a second gen and have never got a good look at the leaves. id go AAL if it was me. theyre similarly priced to a block and would seem to solve youre problems if they do exist. plus ive never heard anything good about using blocks for lift and never anything bad about an AAL

 

An add a leaf is a better option than a block, because blocks can promote axle wrap.

Wheelers Offroad and Fat Bobs Garage make inexpensive AAL's that will get you the 1.5-2" you are looking for.

 

i have seen that blocks are frowned upon and since they are the same price on toyotec as leaves, and offer better quality, i will probably get the leaves. however, do my leaves look flat enough to the point that i need a new pack? or do you think that it's just flatter from the weight of the tonneau cover? it's fiberglass. if it's just flatter from that weight, i will just get the leaf. but if they are wearing out, i want to get the whole new pack if i need to

 

They don't look completely worn out, since they aren't resting on the overload spring. I bet the AAL would do the trick.

 

AAL is the right way to go.

 

yeah, they aren't "frowning" like a completely worn out set. i think the extra weight of the fiberglass tonneau cover might be one reason they are a little flatter, or it's at least a small factor in it. that thing has to weigh a good bit. what do you say? 1.5" or 2" aal? idc if the back is a little higher than the front

 

yeah, that's what i'm leaning towards and figured was the right thing in the first place, but i just wanted to get some others' opinions. i'm thinking a 2'' aal. sound right? and btw, nice setup on your truck man, it looks good.

 

anybody else have any input before i make a decision?!? i'm leaning towards the aal, but does anyone think it's necessary or better for my truck to get a whole new leaf pack? any/all advice or opinions will help

 

Well it's the same amount of work almost to install a new leaf pack. An add a leaf will firm up the rear end along with adding lift. A new leaf pack will give you a quality ride and lift. It's only a little more work to do a whole new leaf so IMO do a new leaf. I personally have an icon add a leaf

 

ok, thanks. i just would hate to add a leaf and then here in a few years it gets wore out too and my whole pack is frowning. then i end up needing a whole new leaf pack. i guess that's the point i'm trying to make or question i'm trying to ask. i don't want to be doing a "fixer-upper" by adding a leaf instead of just solving my problem all at once by getting a new leaf pack. i don't know why they look flat. i don't off-road or do anything that would wear them out, so i don't get it. but then again all toyota leafs look somewhat flat and maybe i am just worrying about nothing; or like stated above, my heavy fiberglass tonneau cover might be making them look flatter.

 

How much higher is the front right now? You might get away with a 1" aal but I'd go 2" if you don't mind a bit of a rake. You can handle a bigger load and should be good even if it saggs a bit over time or you decide to get a shell.
I have a 2" AAL in the back with a SnugTop canopy. With a 2" spacer up front the truck sits 1" higher in the back.

 

i don't know any exact measurements and it's not completely obvious or anything, but with it being my truck, i can tell. i'd say at least 1-1.5" higher in the front. i'm thinking 2'' aal because i don't mind the back being higher, it will be nice having it when towing, and i have a heavy fiberglass tonneau cover too. thanks

 

IMO I would go new leaf pack, those look flat. Deaver or alcan or both good brands

 

Toyota 2nd gen leafs are known for sagging if you don't get the TSB. The add a leaf will be more than just a band aid to your issue. My add a leaf has worked wonderfully and not sagged a bit. You will be happy either way. The add a leaf is fine for your situation. It will definitely make the rear suspension stronger for load carrying. If you want a more plush ride than go three leaf add a leaf from wheelers. Since you are concerned about weight capability I would do the single two inch add a leaf.

 

can anybody post up pics of their leaf packs? i would like to compare mine. also, is this possibly a tsb issue???

 

yeah, i haven't had the tsb and i think it's too late for my 06'. plus i am the 2nd owner. but thanks man, that's the type of straight forward answer i was looking for.

 

bump. anybody else got any help to offer?

 

How much are you wanting to sell the cover for?

 

For what it's worth the 2" AAL with the weight of the SnugTop canopy hasn't sagged much in the 3 years it's been on.