Hard/harsh impact still after installing all new suspension components

Hey guys. Really hoping someone can help me out because I've been to quite a few different mechanics and les Schwab's now and no one can figure it out. I bought my dream taco about 6 months ago thinking I was getting a really good deal only to find out the previous owner had lied about the condition and maintenance it had received and had been driving around on completely shot shocks and struts for who knows how long. So after replacing many different parts totaling now to about what I paid for the truck, including the shocks, struts, tie rods, and even leaf springs trying to get it to drive better... Despite being much better still has a scary hard impact when hitting even small bumps and holes that are normal on most PNW roads. It is especially scary driving at highway speeds where there is uneven and damaged road.
Les Schwab keeps trying to tell me it's the tie rods... and I did just have them replace one again on warranty after it failed within one month of them replacing it initially. But it seems to me like the majority of is coming from the rear but it's hard to tell. And when I say impact I don't mean it's bottoming out. The shocks barely even compress before there is a hard knock and the whole truck shakes and feels slightly out of control. I keep being told the classic line of "well it's a truck so it's going to drive like a truck". But I've owned multiple other trucks and I have multiple friends with 1st gen tacomas and none of them feel like this. I had les Schwab inspect the ball joints and axles last time I was there as well and they said they were perfectly fine. I was thinking maybe sway bar links... I tried to go inspect myself but am not sure. The bushings seem okay to me. Any help or insight would be much appreciated! One thing I'm curious about is that the U-bolts that hold on the leaf springs are old and U shaped vs the ones that are on my friends tacomas that are more rectangular as to fit more snug to the top of the leaf springs. They have come loose once before and I had to put locktite on the threads and re tighten. Could this have anything to do with it? Did I just buy a totally effed truck?

 

What brand suspension did you install? OE style leaf springs or did you get heavy duty/lift ones?

These trucks don't ride like cars and with a lightweight back end, bad roads and potholes will always be pretty jarring imo.

Tires play a big role here as well, and tire pressure. If you have heavy E rated A/Ts or M/Ts they're going to ride rough on a light truck like the Tacoma.

If your tires are inflated way too high, same thing

 

and yeah it sounds like you need to get the right U-bolts for your truck. They should be the square radius ("rectangular") ones. I wouldn't mess around with the wrong kind especially if they're coming loose...those 4 u-bolts are the only thing keeping your rear axle attached to the truck.

 

The u bolts should not be coming loose at all.. They are over 90ftlbs...

Wait.. didn't you say you got new leaf springs? Did you install them, or a shop? U Bolts can't be reused. If you or a shop replaced them, they need to be replaced ASAP.

Aside from that rather important safety item.. Checking the body mounts might be in order as well.

But it sounds like you're having a shop do work for you? Do you have any ability to get under the truck and inspect it yourself?

 

I got general spring leafs that are to original spec. I also just replaced wheels with 15" -9 offset and Backcountry a/t which are a lightweight tire the guys at les Schwab recommended for the truck. They installed so I'm assuming the tires are at the right psi.
And yeah I know it's going to be a bouncy ride but I was just driving my friends Tacoma with very similar specs to compare it and they agreed that there's something wrong with mine.
I'll go get some new U-bolts and throw them on looks like AutoZone has them in stock but I'm skeptical that that is the major problem because I just checked them and they're still tight

 

I did replace the leaf springs myself and didn't realize that the u bolts couldn't be re used

 

The threads stretch out at the correct torque value (90 ft lbs), and can't be reused.



It's likely not causing your hard ride, but it could eventually lead to a u bolt failure, which wouldn't be the most fun thing to have happen.

 

With the body mount bushings I was reading that a sign can be misaligned fenders... Is this what they're talking about?

 

Perfect time to learn while you earn. Schwab is probably the most expensive shithole for tires and minor repairs. I'm sure their parts are far from premium. Did they touch the inner tie rods?

A lot could be going on up front. Over sprung, anything steering, bushings etc. Best to learn how to do this stuff yourself. The truck is probably older than the kids working at Schwab and is in the stage of life where it just can't go very long without needing some kind of new part.

 

I would check motor mounts, transmission mount, carrier bearing, drive line joints, front ball joints, steering rack bushings, contol arm bushings, ect...
When you drive with worn out suspension components, it causes everything else to wear prematurely....and all pretty much hidden except for tire damage.