Rear axle location after OE leaf replacement

Hi all,

New to the forum. First Tacoma project. Thank you for having me.

I came about a great little 97 Tacoma. Traded a TV and a little cash and I’m stoked.
I saw some issues immediately but the price was right.
most noticeably a leaking rear axle seal and two tired looking rear leafs.
Replaced all of the above with OE springs coming from General spring (https://www.generalspringkc.com/199...g5CqCb3EBxxScjEhSyu2-5GdGDpkFSqMGBN0M54-t2WFm)

The truck came with the stock wheels and a set of extremely worn mud-terrains in a 285/75/16.
also came with no-name tubular UCAS and 1.5” wheel spacers.

I swapped those out for a set of 1552 analog HDs and a set of pizza cutters in 255/85/16. Please ignore the front center caps….yes they are blocking the aisin hubs. Yes the shop put them on anyways.

here’s my only question…am I nuts or does the rear axle sit WAY too far forward? I measured wheelbase and I’m still at 133 and a little change. I hope I’m nuts, and all I have to do is start trimming a bit. That’s fun. tell me that’s the deal..or tell me that I’m not crazy and hold my hand as to why this happened.

see photos attached. Meet, “Goose”.

stoked to be here. Thank you for the assist. If all that is needed is my grinder, hammer and seam sealer then I’ll be posting updated photos in a few days.

Upcoming plans:

Basic-
Air filter
Antenna mast
Oil
Trans case fluid
A/C Tensioner

fun-
I have a set of 3000gt seats I’m going to slide in somehow.
Rock sliders
New Red tailgate spell out
Orange classic roof mounted Jobsite hazard light (completes the name Goose and I work in fabrication, but really because I want to).
I have a badlands apex winch and hopefully soon an amp’d hidden winch mount.
Oh, and this sick keychain

thanks again,
Cheers
-Dr. Stone

 

Ya, looks too forward. Are leafs installed backwards? Center hole determines mounting point

 

this is what I first thought....Had shop do it so I wouldn't screw it up laying on the ice for 4 days... but here we are.
Very lame and so sketchy.

 

I could definitely be missing simpler/more plausible explanations, but could this be caused by someone relocating the spring hangers to fit 98+ leafs? And then you putting on 95-97 leafs got it all out of wack. Not sure if it would even be possible to bolt them on if that were the case.

 

That's very interesting. At first the shop said the springs seemed short, but we confirmed it was the correct pack for the 97.
I will look for obvious chop an weld in the morning. What would be the easiest way to measure/identify if this is the case?
It would make sense that the additonal 2" in the front half of the pack would push the axle back and the additonal 3" in the back would just push the shackle out further. I wonder if looking at the angle of the rear shackle hanger would be an indicator.

Is it a common mod to relocate for the 97-98 swap?? would seem so much easier to just order some OME dakars or something.

 

Yeah shackle angle is exactly what I’d look at. They’re supposed to be angled towards the back of the truck, I bet to get a shorter spring to fit they’d have to be angled forward. Maybe that’s what the shop noticed and why they thought they were too short.

No idea how many people actually do it, but it’s definitely an option people have taken. I’ve even seen some 98+ leafs sold as 95-04 compatible by including new spring hangers to weld on. Like the all pros:

The 95-97 springs just leave you with far fewer options. It’s really just OE replacement and the CS019R Dakars. I went the Dakar route, but they are widely known for being a very stiff spring that lifts a lot more than most people want. I’m heavy enough and don’t mind the extra rake, but for a lighter truck it can be really problematic without removing a leaf or two from the Dakar pack.