Leaf spring cracks, how unsafe?

Check with a Toyota Dealer to see if your Tacoma is subject to the recall for suspension replacement. Maybe the prior owner did not take it in for the recall.

 

These later 2nd gen trucks from my understanding did not have a recall. They are 4 leaf packs. Earlier ones had 3 and had issues thus the recall.

 

My Tacoma is a 2006 Pre-Runner quad cab short bed. My leaf springs were replaced under recall.

 

Thank you for this

 

Glad I could put some giggles out there lol

 

I bought a 2013 Access Cab a couple of months ago and discovered the middle spring on the left was broken just above the axle while rotating the tires. Even several of the retaining clamps were broken. It is a 3 + 1. My nephew works for Toyota in Dallas with recalls. He brought up the VIN and of course it wasn’t covered.

I know I am going to get beat up for this but I got my replacement springs from Rock Auto and finally changed them this week. I replaced the rear shocks with Gabriels for a TRD. They raised the rear end about three inches. This truck has 188,000 miles on it and I use it mostly on the farms. You wouldn’t know that because I wash the darn thing when it gets dusty and constantly clean the floor mats because I enjoy driving the truck other places. My new Ranger Lariat FX4 stays in the garage because I enjoy the Taco. The Taco replaced a 2010 Ranger 4x4. I swore the back axle of that truck was welded to the frame.

 

The old springs were sagging. It’s obvious it has been overloaded and I bet many times. This was my first time to do this kind of work. No, I didn’t tighten the bolts while on the ground. I drove it home and it wasn’t driving right. I watched a couple of YouTube videos so I learned what to correct. I loosened the bolts and tightened on the ground. I am too embarrassed to admit to the other mistake but I was able to correct that with a floor jack and a couple of jack stands without driving 25 miles back to my son’s shop for the lift.

 

which one? How'd you pick?

medium duty w/o extra leaf?

 

They're only really squeaky if it's wet out, or dry out, or if I'm in the truck, or near the truck, or looking at the truck.

Otherwise they're super quiet.

 

Elo95r I believe
No extra leaf

I picked them because they were available and had a fairly good reputation around here.

 

alright guys, great success. had the springs replaced by a local spring shop before the gas tank or axle had a chance to meet them.

now the truck is a solid 2-2.5” higher in the back (re: pic) and im ready to replace the front shocks and coils. thinking the 5100s and 883. 884 seems a little high since i figure the rear will settle
by an inch. but convince me otherwise, im open to it. i just wanna level the truck and not have to think about suspension for a while. i wont be adding a winch or new bumper anytime, and i have <300 lbs in the bed at any given time.

last but not least when i was parking my car the other day noticed a squeak when i turned the steering wheel all the way in either direction when the car was not moving. when driving no squeaks or sounds at all even when cranking the steering wheel. also it was prob about 20 deg outside, so pretty cold. any clue what this could be? bushings? cv? ball joints? figure why not try to get it done while suspension is being replaced. also if i should post this in another thread, please recommend!

 

Disclaimer: I'm not a mechanic by a long shot.

Maybe it's the power steering pump going out, or its belt slipping?

It takes more effort to turn a still wheel than a moving wheel (if you've ever driven a car without PS you'll know.) It sounds like the pump is weak enough to struggle moving a still wheel, but still strong enough to work fine while rolling.