Got my new Leafs yeasterday! Dealer would not put AAL back, anyone have issues re-installing?

Hello everyone! Finally I got the call from the dealership that my new leafs arrived! I got them installed yesterday. I have to admit they did a good job and the new leafs are alot better quality! The tech told me I was very lucky! My originals were by far the VERY WORST condition leafs he had ever seen and were already starting to crack!

Anyway, I see the new leafs have the extra clamps and rivet/weld spots.

Anyone know if my Deaver Add-A-Leaf I had installed on my original leaf pack will fit without any issues or modifying anything like the new clamps, etc...?

Also, how do you tell which AAL goes on which side?

Thanks in advance

 

The dealer wouldn't do the TSB until I took the lift off (front and rear)
Also curious about if the AAL goes back on easily

 

Good to hear! I'm still waiting for a call from the dealership.

 

Where are you in NorCal, Modesto Toyota said they had springs ready, just a 2week wait for an available appt.

 

South Bay Area. I should give the Stevens Creek a call tomorrow just to make sure they haven't forgotten about me.

 

FYI, I bought my truck brand new. In June 2016, I drove the 128 miles back to that same dealership (not sure if it matters) I bought it from and asked to have inspection done. They took my truck in back for a little while, said no problem, those leafs need to be replaced. Literally no hassle! Only stipulation was they would have to verify with Toyota (or whoever pays them for recall work) what to do about my AAL. They called me and said they would have to charge me 1 hour labor (plus tax) to remove the AAL and return them to me, but they could not (so say under terms of recall) reinstall the AAL's. I specifically asked if I could pay to have them install the AAL into the new leaf pack. They said absolutely not!

I brought my truck in at 7AM, picked it up at 5PM. They changed the leaf packs, some bushings, shackle bolts, the bolts that are on the cross member in the front for alignment, the alignment marker things in the front cross member, and aligned my truck. The bill I signed for warranty work was $1,306.00. They charged me $64 to remove and return my Deaver AAL.

All in all, not bad in my opinion, it just takes FOREVER for them to get the new leaf packs!


--- edit ---

Just have to be careful backing out the driveway to fast until I figure our AAL situation or some rubbin' a be a happen'n

 

Are all the dealerships doing alignments too? If so I'm going to install new shocks before I bring it in

 

lol! good idea! but for a long term good investment, buy a firestone lifetime alignment! i think i paid $189 like a decade ago and i have had them work there a$$ of since every time i did a mod if it wasn't right when i picked it up... it would be right back in for free ... easily probably a good 10-15 alignments... its right down the street and free so if i have a incling something is off...


" good mornin' guys, need to check her again!"

 

They did an alingment on mine

 

So why won't the dealer install your AAL? What is their reasoning?

 

Just a guess but they probably feel a customer with AAL might feel they can haul more weight in their vehicle so Toyota is protecting themselves from possible liability. I suppose a lawyer could argue that Toyota felt the AAL would safely increase weight capacity by installing it back on the vehicle.

Toyota had litigation issues years ago over sudden acceleration. I always forget to remove rubber floor mats on top of the carpeted mats, the dealer always removes the rubber mat on the drivers side when servicing my vehicle.

 

When I dropped it off I asked, the rep helping me about reinstalling the AAL, said he would ask what the exact terms were. He called me about an hour later and said that the terms for recall stated that the vehicle has to leave the premisis at factury specs after the new leafs were installed. I asked if i signed a waver or something and paid for the labor could they do it. He said no. I didnt push it too much.

I think the previous poster who said they made him remove the front lift also kinda verifies that the rep was telling the trueth. The dealership i used probably assumed that it only applid to the back since thats where the work was to be done and maybe the dealership he went to assumed it ment the front and back ???

 

I mean...it litterally takes about an hour to install both aal's if you have the proper tools.
Just do it at home.

 

I know, just before i do i just wanted to ask if there was any unexpected hickups to prepare for. I HATE starting a project and run into something unexpected example...

When i changed rear bearings last week! LOL!

Every howto is wrong! Took 4 days to do the RR bearing, after learned all the errors in the howtos, took a day to do LR bearing, including time at machine shop!

 

If you didn't get tbem back, you need to go buy new centering bolts for the leafs. Off the top of my head I wanna say 3/8" bolt works, but youll need to measure the current leafs and the AAL leafs and add that all together to get your length. Also a fun fact, youll need to grind down the bolt head to fit in the hole on the perch on your axle. This was just all from a quick Home Depot run and I didn't want to spend an hour looking for the perfect bolt.

 

Just make sure you have a good set of medium c clamps. All your hardware is going to be new. U bolts, nuts,...so they will zip right off.

As far as the left/right config...just check the manufacturers site. Also....my old aal in my first gen not only was side specific but the longer end faced a certain direction.
Im pretty sure 2nd gens dont have this as I installed a set of aals that came with a friends dakaar kit and the were equal length from the center hole out.

 

Thanks bro, but way ahead of you already bought new center pins.

 

Deavers have different lengths for front and rear sides starting from the center pin whole. Think i figured it out, the 18" side goes to the back and i think the one with the worst ware on the front pad must have been on the left side (tacoma lean)

 

I had my leafs replaced on my 07 at the dealer and they reinstalled my lift blocks lol