Old man EMU

Oh and a guy in FLA sells a Koyo bearing pressed into a Dorman Hub complete assembly!

 

Deavers vs Dakars is pretty much jumping from on end of the spectrum to the other. You can bend deavers by standing on them... Dakars ... MAYBE if you are the fattest fatass on earth.
I second everyone who recommended that you think about your application and then decide if you want to desert race (deavers) or go expo with tons of shit in your bed (dakar).
Since Toyota quoted you $1,600 you have a fat budget to get what is best. Then you send Toyota the bill to get reimbursed. If they are trying to be dicks, just threaten to take them up on the replacement they have to do. It'll be cheaper to reimburse you.
Lastly, you came her for advice and peope are trying to give you advice to the best of their knowledge. I see no reason to get antagonistic if you don't agree. If you know better why ask in the first place?

 

I've had all of them. 5100s. OME coils. 3 leaf AAL. OME shocks. OME Dakars.

All of which I've referenced here.

And have installed front and rear suspensions myself, and had help with the OME stuff.

 

Good evening Rdawg14:
I was tagged in this thread and just looked it over. I didn't see that your question was answered about the removal of the 3rd leaf. ARB (the manufacture of the OME suspension line) says that it lowers the spring rate by 15% and the overall lift by 15mm. I have the OME Dakar pack on my personal truck. I have had two different packs on the truck and so far the OME hasn't disappointed me at all. The ride is stiffer over stock however every pack I have been around, even ones that claim to be "soft riding" are stiffer over the factory. Toyota made the truck ride so nice but the factory pack is lacking, which is probably why they have had so many issues with them. So it is common to hear that the ride will be stiff, because it is true. Ultimately, it is a give and a take though. Soft plush, car-like ride, with little load carrying capabilities or stiffer ride with more height and performance. I, like most people, wanted it all. So I did remove the 3rd leaf and the ride from the Dakar was even better, IMO. It did lower the rear end some, but that wasn't really a concern of mine and even with the leaf removed the pack still held all that I needed it too. Keep in mind, that with some of the other aftermarket packs you can't break them apart so if you aren't happy with the ride you are sort of stuck.