Thinking about adding air bags to my 2011 Tacoma

Hello all,

I recently purchased a 2011 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4wd 4cyl. Upon further inspection I noticed that I currently did not get the TSB. I have the 3 leaf springs in the back. I noticed while out hunting and going over larger holes that my truck is bottoming out and it is totally unloaded in the bed. I am trying to find the easiest, cheapest, best option for this. The leaf pack installation seems like it might be a little too difficult/more expensive, and it seems as though the air bags will help solve this issue while providing a little more ride comfort/flexibility. I don't really want to do any major lifting to the truck as I don't want to compromise any driveshaft issues etc.

Forget to add. I am at 135k miles, so I am out of the warranty period.

I am debating between the two, air lift and firestone ride rite. I just can't seem to find a great deal on them. Anybody have any recommendations?

 

It won't ride as good with just the air bags. You're be better off in my opinion to get some Dakar leafs and be done with it!

 

Hi I bought the Firestone airbags for my truck which is a 2016 TRD off-road I went with the Firestone air bags because they supported more weight then air lift version. But I bought the onboard air compressor kit from Airlift which is the 7200 Kit dual. Air Lift has a mail-in rebate now I think it expires the end of this month. Supporting weight works great I carried a 1700 pound load in my truck and brought it right back up to the regular ride height. When it comes to comfort even when running the air bags at minimum 5 PSI it give me a bouncing around feeling. So I posted something on the form just like you and am member suggested airbag cradles.Since the installs of the cradles my ride I'm back to normal.

 

Yeah. The leafs just look like a little more hassle to install. I also just saw those "Sumo Springs".....wonder if those are worth a look?

 

Thanks orafrith, I am deciding between those two. Not sure of which would be better. Trying to find a deal on a set. Thinking I might throw some Bilstein 5100's back there while I am at it. Wonder if I could just get a set of Bilstein 5100's for the rear for now and set them up higher, like .85 or something and it would stop it from bottoming out? That would be a much cheaper route to go as I want the Bilstein 5100's anyways. Hmm...any experience anyone?

 

Need to check to see if your truck is in the recall for the leafs. Call the dealer and search around here. I thought I read someone here had them done already.

 

bigfoote13, I believe it has to be done within 3 years or 36k miles. I read that on another post somewhere.

 

I don't believe that's true. These guys are 08 trucks.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tsb-on-rear-leaf-springs.456427/#post-13497754

 

I would try this before putting my own money in. http://www.torquenews.com/1083/2005-2011-toyota-tacoma-leaf-spring-recall-what-you-need-know

 

Thanks bigfoote13. I just pulled this up too. http://www.toyotaproblems.com/recalls/Tacoma/2011/

Scroll down to the rear leaf pack. Looks as though the recall to start replacing the parts just started January of 2016 according to the "Fix" section in that little description.

 

You may qualify for the spring replacement, check with the dealer. Adding "stuff" to help the crappy 3 leaf spring is not a good idea. You need a good suspension to start with before adding on the extras like air bags. Kind of like building a nice house on a crappy foundation. The leaf spring are easy to change and if you don't want to do them yourself shops usually charge an hour per side.

 

Good place to start and if they aren't enough you could try sumosprings.

http://www.autoanything.com/suspension-systems/61A6525A0A0.aspx

 

Just an update. Called Toyota customer service and no luck with the recall. Looks like I am going to have to explore my options.....New 3 leaf pack by a different manufacturer, air bags, sumo springs or just new shocks to lift the back end up a little. Any ideas people?

 

Do it right and put a new set of leaf spring in. Adding a crutch to crappy spring is not the way to go.

 

Airbags get punctured and leak. Sumosprings are filled with polyurethane and behave kind of like airbags except they will never leak, don't need an air compressor. Plus they're easy to install/take off. Take a look at Sumosprings: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sumo-springs-and-off-road-flexing-test.438470/

 

Thank you for the replies. Can't decide which route to go.

 

I would call another toyota dealership...

 

Called the dealership, same thing, no go. I have been reading into the Hellwig helper springs. Seems like a cheaper option that might work. Thinking I might go with that and with some Bilstein 5100's.

 

Sorry to hear that. Maybe in a year or two they recall yours too.

 

You can find OEM take off leaf springs on here for maybe $100, and likely get a whole set of OEM take off shocks for $150, too.

Leaf install is super easy, way easier than airbag installation (which is pretty simple as well).