Replaced leaf springs- rear alignment off

I changed out the leaf springs on my 02 tacoma with 265,000 miles. I went with the Dorman brand offered by autozone. The front bolt of the leaf springs was seized on both sides and both leaf springs were removed simultaneously. When I went to put in the new leaf springs the entire axel was floating and rotated. Getting the new leaf springs in was incredibly challenging due to the mispositioned axel. With a great deal of torque applied I was able to get one leaf spring properly in and then followed with the next. The truck drove and felt like a dream after. 100 miles later and the suspension of the front of the cab is rocking from side to side. I did not get an alignment done and have noticed the spacing of the tires is now different on the two rear tires. A shop told me the pins were missing in the leaf springs. Does anyone have any experience with what the issue could be?

 

Post up some pics

 

Does it drive straight or pull to one side?

Tacomas are notorious for the rear wheels not being identical in the wheel wells side to side, doesn't necessarily mean your rear axle is askew. If it was then you'd have a bad pull to one side while driving straight.

If the shop is correct and your center pins on the leaf springs are gone, then yeah that would be a problem. Should confirm that though. When you installed them, did the center pin on both leaf packs get placed into the holes on the spring perches before you bolted them in?

 

Have you visually inspected the the springs, u-bolts, etc since you replaced them? Did you torque the new U-bolts to spec, and then check them a few days/miles later?

 

Can't tell if the center pin is missing or not unless you unbolt the u-bolts and lower the axle, to see if it's still there. You installed them yourself you said?

 

are they backwards? there is a front of the spring and back.

 

how much if any weight is in the bed of the truck in those photos? For new leafs, they took trashed.

 

So, a couple things. 1, when I changed mine, my axle also moved, but you shouldn't be able to align the front bolt unless its in the correct position, so I think you're fine there. On my truck, the wheel is a bit biased towards the rear too.

Your front replacement bolts look too small. Is there a possibility there's movement of the leaf pack within there?

Easiest way to find out if you missed the center pin is undoing the u-bolts and jacking the truck off the axle.

 

I noticed the front bolts were not the OEM ones as well, but it didn't cross my mind that he may have used incorrectly sized replacements.

You could maybe measure somewhere on the frame (like the forward edge of the spring hanger) to the axle (between the u bolts and hub) on each side to get an idea if you're out of center before taking things apart. Do this on a level surface though, otherwise, you'll likely get bad measurements.

 

Looks like you missed or the center pins are missing. Or something is really loose.

 

@Dirtshoes

Bare with me as I didn't read anything (a lot of guys posting give good advice), but please tell me you used new u bolts for your new leaf pack.

Don't reuse your old ones.

 

The rear half of this spring just doesn't look right. Is it me or the camera angle? Too much negative arch.

 

Tons of negative arch

 

Seems like you got an incorrect spring. Do the part numbers check out? Missing pins is a huge clue.

 

Yeah, the top three springs are pinned onto the overload leaf - that was why I asked if there was any weight in the bed. The overload spring is the only one doing any work in this photo...

 

My rear leafs are just as if not more flat than his.. but my truck had a 6" rough country lift put on it that came with the rear leaf pak.. and shocks,. But my truck was acting same way with the front end snap steering on me. Turned out was a tie rod. Inner was rusted so bad it damn near came out of socket which in turn ate the outer up.. and cupped the 36" bfg mud tire.. expensive tie rod thatn was..