stiff ride

OK I just got done putting shackles on and oem rims on this Tacoma . And I went for the first drive in the truck . I can back scared to death . The back end of the truck was so stiff it rattle my head that I came back and park the truck and don't want to drive it anymore .

 

I really need help

 

shackles and rims alone shouldnt change the suspension that much. did you use drop shackles of lift shackles and how much?

 

Yeah keakar is right, shackles shouldn't have anything to do with your problem unless they're installed grossly wrong. Idk how that could be the case though...

 

im thinking if he unloaded the rear suspension somehow, that could make it extra bouncy but until he explains exactly what he did its hard to imagine

 

We'll it is hard to explain . I bought this Tacoma at auction I been fix all the problem that it had . The leaf springs seem way too stiff . I can jump on the back end of the truck and it does no budge.

 

The shackles are stock .

 

ooooo k, that explains a lot so its not a new thing that just changed and started riding differently out of the blue.

how many leafs can you count and take some pictures for us of the trucks stance (front to back tilt) viewed from the side as well as under the rear and front suspensions so maybe we can see something that we can mention.

lots of times guys replace the rear leafs for big beefy springs that do ride like you have no suspension.

what you are going to need to do is replace the rear leafs after you figure out if they also lifted the truck which is a common thing that goes along with replacing the leafs. best is to go back with stock leafs from someone parting out a truck and with luck that alone will solve you problem (if the front isn't lifted) otherwise you may need to undo the front lift and any beefed up front suspension that may have been added there.

I find these prerunners and 4wd already ride rough enough stock and certainly don't need to be beefed up but people are always doing it then complaining about the ride quality lol.

 

Here are some pics on the truck

 

Just thinking here... how tight did you tighten the bolts on your shackles? Have you tried greasing the shackle bolts and greasing the eyelets of your springs? Sometimes the rubber bushings will vulcanize and seize at the ends of the springs... essentially making your truck ride like there's no suspension at all...

 

I torque it to spec and here are pics on them

 

Those leaf springs are way too long. That shackle should be at more of a downward angle. It's bottoming out on the frame or wedged against the mount.

 

ok so we are talking about a 5 lug taco here.

damn that's not right at all, my 5 lug rode nice and smooth just like a car.

the leafs look ok, they are the two leafs plus the main support leaf so if you had the prerunner or 4wd springs you would have 3 leafs then the main support leaf so im thinking its not the leafs even though they were obviously replaced seeing the blue writing on it.

on my 5 lug just stepping on the bumper made it go down 3" so maybe you did over tighten the shackles too much and locked it in place. I definitely don't see any sign of grease there and it should be greased to allow it to move.

maybe my memory is wrong but I seam to recall my shackles sitting more vertical and not laying down like that, the geometry looks wrong but I don't have the truck anymore to go look at

 

Oh grease very light . Someone said that the shocks might be frozen. I could take it off and see if I get some rebound . Its crazy stiff .

 

this is the prerunner with the heavier version leafs with the extra leaf spring.

look at this video at the 2:50 second mark and see what the normal geometry of the rear shackles should look like, not laying down flat like yours is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPBOzj6u9U

 

as someone else mentioned, those leafs(leaves?) are way too long. the rear is jacked up and your shackle has no travel to give you ride quality.

see if there is any sticker or label on those leafs.

possibly they could be for the newer 05+ 5lug?

 

Your leaf spring is way too long. The shackle is there to allow the spring to lengthen when it compresses. If you look at your shackle, it is already as long as it can get. Therefore your rear suspension cannot compress any further. This is almost the same as running a leaf spring without a shackle.

 

Leafs are too long. He's got a 97, I'm not sure but the 5 luggers may have lengthened their leafs along with the 4x4's and pre-runners in later years. It looks like a fairly new set but possibly for a different year.

Right here, 95.5-97 are 4" shorter.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/5-lug-95-5-04-lowering-info-for-newbs.170553/

 

I was thinking that the leaf might be long because the shocks don't move down at all . I did make a call to a shop and the told me $200 for a used pair . I all ready dump more money then I want to .

 

OK I found some number 087 48220 04040 ........ F... It from a 98 Tacoma thanks for all the help guy I was ready to sell this truck . Even after I found paper work for a rebuild motor.