Leaf spring/suspension upgrade

I have a stock 2014 DCLB Tacoma TRD Sport.

The leaf springs are sad, as you can imagine. I’ve seen some mentions of a recall on the springs, but don’t know if it’s just for younger models.

I’m trying to do my upgrades in stages. I’ll be adding a sleeping platform/drawer system that I will build in the next month.

I’d like to then replace my leaf springs, and eventually replace the rest of the suspension (possible adding air bags).

Can I replace the leaf springs with a OME set without doing any other suspension upgrades?

 

Change the shocks while you’ve got it apart. Some cheap 5100’s are a huge upgrade from the tired OEM shocks.

 

Get a full pack Dakar HD or deavers if you got the money! airbags are nice option too

 

Nice looking truck at a nice looking beach on a nice looking day. You are going to have to give some thought about what you want to do in the front and the rake you want. A Dakar HD pack with your cap and platform will initially result in up to 2.75 of lift in the rear. You can remove a leaf and bring it down a 1/2 inch or one of the overload leafs and bring it down an 1 inch. I've found that all packs sag a bit after time and use. I would expect a Dakar pack with a leaf removed to settle at around 2 inches of lift over time. You can add airbags later if you start towing a travel trailer or a boat and your new pack doesn't support the load the way you prefer.

I'm currently running a HD pack that Wheeler's Off-Road marketed several years back. It's 6 HD leafs including one double thick overload leaf. So 5 main leafs with one overload as opposed to 4 mains and 2 overloads in the Dakar pack. It gave me 2 inches of lift. I have a CBI bumper with a swingout tire carrier, a RTT and rack. I do lots of long rough gravel roads at speed and the ride is perfect, but when I fully load it, I end up with an inch of bro-lean. I may add one more leaf, or one more overload leaf, or do airbags. The Dakar pack is wells priced and has the flexibility of adding leafs at an agreeable price as well.

The clearest answer I've received when asking "if I do X, what is the resulting lift?" is "It depends."

 

I had the same issue with my 13 TRD OR, upgraded to 5100s all around, OME 887 coils, ICON RXT leaf springs and 1.75" AAL, truck sits really nice now.

 

Which setting on the leafs?

 

I believe 2, and 5100's set to "0".

 

I have the 5100's in the rear a 1.5aal and hellwigs ez-helper 990 I have a full drawer system camper shell cargo basket and tons of gear in the bed at all times, works great.

 

If you replace with OEM, most likely they'll flatten out after a while. I had the leaf springs replaced on my truck (07) with the recall. With a Leer Cap (300lbs) and hauling a dirt bike on a hitch carrier or dirt bikes on a trailer it wasn't long before I noticed my truck sagging a bit more. Even with a Roadmaster Active Suspension system (RAS) those new OEM leaf springs were settling a little more that I wanted I then added Sumo Springs and along with the RAS my truck seems to handles weight with the bed loaded while hauling dirt bikes with a lot less sag.

There was a recent thread where Deaver leaf springs were mentioned. I checked them out and they different leaf packs with different capacities. I liked that you can get a set that works for your truck and stay in budget.

Looks like you're on a beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Some friendly advice. Be careful parking along the water's edge on an incoming tide. I've seen many a vehicle including RV's get stuck when their tires sink or get sucked into the wet sand. Just a couple of inches can cause a problem. It's hard to go forward or backwards so rocking the vehicle is impossible.

Good luck with your search.

 

Fantastic looking single cab. The black bumper, flares and extra height cap looks "right." The whole truck looks perfectly sorted out. I've considered a hellwig ez-helper as opposed to adding another leaf. As I understand them, they don't alter the ride much but provide overload from the top. Won't leak like an airbag, simple to install and inexpensive. All the trucks in this thread are MGM so far as is mine.

 

Thank you, yeah put a lot of work in to maintain the clean look as well as improve and or maintain ability. The ez-helper was a great option as it maintains spring rate and keeps the truck riding as comfortable as stock with improved load rating!