time for new rear shocks

So Im having trouble finding any threads relating to my specific situation.
My girlfriend for christmas got a a two inch leveling kit( not quite sure which one)
My leaf springs are bending downwawards instead up up like a u. not sure if that is normal for shocks thats are completely shot.
which shocks should i get??

 

If your springs are "frowning" instead of "smiling", your springs are shot. I'd look into a new spring pack instead of shocks. Better yet, get both with a little lift!

 

That's BS. I bought my 1998 TRD brand spanking new with only 6 miles on it, and its rear leaf springs had a slight "frown" to them. So did all the other new TRDs on the lot. If the ride height has not changed from when the truck was new I see no reason to replace the leafs, and much less reason to get a lift.

 

im not so much worried about the smiling or frowning, more like what shocks should I get to replace my shocks that are shot ( not the leaf springs) sorry for the miscommunication.

 

and will it matter if i put a leveling kit on the front?
or if i were to get new leaf springs AND shocks, (leaf springs with a bit of lift) which set should i get?

 

Most of the people here love the Bilstein 5100s. And go check out the wheelers 5 pack leaf springs for a little lift. Check out wheelers offroad for a lot of your suspension

 

k the shocks may or may not be shot. if your leafs point down in front of the axle your leafs are toast and its time for new ones. Toyota leafs are garbage and most 1st gens have leafs that do that because they are so weak. I would like some confirmation on this, but i believe OME shocks are an inch longer extended than the 5100s. Which would prevent them from being over extended. But like I said, your leaf pack also needs to be replaced.

 

You need to replace leafs before shocks. Your shocks won't last as long with frowning leafs. I bought my truck new with almost frowning leafs. 2 yrs later toyota replaced because 1 set was broken!They also replaced shocks!! Shocks were bad in 2 yrs. Now that's no B.S.

 

My leaves are OEM and brand new and look like this. They're flat to slightly frowning. If your leaves look like this then that is a problem. How much room do you have between the main leaf and overload leaf?

Also, how do you know the shocks are shot? The OEM leaves are weak and will "give" just by pressing down on the box. If your shocks are shot, you could literally bounce a tire off of the ground just by bouncing on the tailgate.

 

I myself ca feel when the shocks are done. I load tools often for work. When you push down on back of truck it should not bounce more than once. Easy to see with 4 or 500 lbs in bed. If it bounces and doesn't recover instantly, the shocks are dun! It shouldn't fall into sharp turns.

 

This! That's how I tell too, and mine like to bounce 3-4 times haha

 

Show off! haha

 

My truck is like driving a boat in 5ft chop

 

Know how awesome it is having new shocks that are the correct length?

Fucking awesome. Its a good feeling

 

Nope, not B.S... Even if bought new, you're springs were toast before it got off the assembly line...

Shocks dampen spring activity, if you push down on your bed & everything is in decent working order & then let up you should only have 1-1.5 actions of rebound meaning it should come back up & stop, if you push down & it just bounces until it stops your shocks are done

I cannot confirm this.....