Which Leaf to Remove?

I have a 1996 4x4 Tacoma. A previous owner installed Fabtech coilovers in the front, fabtech shocks in the rear, and mystery leaf springs from Northwest Offroad Specialists (picture attached). The rear end is extremely stiff, and was advertised as such when I bought it. Furthermore it has significant rake. I'd like to remove a leaf from my leaf packs to give it a softer ride, better flex, and less rake.

Which leaf should I remove? Would the process to do this be essentially the opposite of the procedure to add an Add-a-Leaf?

 

You do have a fairly long extended shackle. Swapping it for something shorter wouldn't soften the ride any, but it would bring you closer to level than pulling a single leaf.

 

Any harm in swapping the shackle and pulling a leaf?

 

Do you have another shackle to try? Would certainly bring the rake down, not much help in ride quality unless it's causing the shock to top out, but I'm not well versed on that stuff someone else might be. As far as leafs go, your top two are probably eyelet/bushing ends so only left with 3rd from top or overload to remove. I'd start with 3rd from top then go from there.

 

Unfortunately I don't have another shackle to try. Right now I have 400 lbs of sand in the bed and the ride is just barely tolerable. My hitch ball is also 24" from the ground, and I plan on towing a uhaul trailer in three weeks or so, so it may be worth getting a shorter shackle (or hitch ball mount with more drop) to get the hitch lower.

Looks like the second from the top leaf ends right before the eyelet, but I'd agree that pulling the third from the top is probably my best bet.

 

Only problem with that is that you will lose the secondary rebound clip, as it's probably riveted to that leaf. Might not affect anything, but it's worth noting. Also, your parking brake cable is rubbing on your main leaf (usually that's an easy fix).
Depending on the weight of the Uhaul trailer, you may be better off leaving the leaf pack alone until after the trip to compensate for the added rear end load. I used a drop hitch to tow a Uhaul rental a few weeks ago on a '23 Tacoma sitting about as tall as yours without issue.

 

Does losing the second rebound clip present any issues?

Ah shoot, you're right, thank you for spotting that.

That may be the move, if the trailer's not heavy enough I can leave the sand bags in the back.

How much drop? 5"? 7"? Do you think the ~2" drop hitch the dingbat at uhaul recommended will be too high?

 

I'll take a measurement on the hitch height in the morning. What size trailer will you be towing?

 

Thank you, I'll be towing the 5x8 enclosed cargo trailer.

 

Same here. Probably had about 2000 lbs of cargo.

Numbers closest to receiver/ball are the ones to note.

 

Looks like you're basically riding on the overload leaf, anyhow....shortest leaf is going to be the stiffest one.
Kits like icon aal tell you to leave the overload out. (though most leave it in).
It's also the easiest to remove.
I would take out the overload and see how it rides.
Regardless of which one you take out you'll probably need new center pins, no?

 

The add-a-leaf is the shortest leaf also the thickest one. The bottom leaf is the add-a-leaf, the bottom one is the one you want to remove

 

That sounds like a plan, I haven't taken a leaf pack apart before or installed an AAL, is there any particular writeup or video you recommend? Will the existing center pins be too long then? Are they something I can cut down, or should I get new ones?

The same leaf that @bkhlrTaco's talking about?

 

Search YouTube and you're bound to find an install video or 20.
Without seeing the old centerpins it's hard to say if they can be cut down.
By the time you have it all apart and realize they can't be cut down, you're going to wish you had the right ones on hand.

 

Sounds good, thank you for the help!

Does this look like what I'd need?
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p262/Leaf_Pack_Center_Pins_(PAIR)_-_HSOCB380400FT.html

 

That'll do.
If you can spare the $13 it's better to have them if needed.

13 seems like a lot for a couple centering pins.
Shop around a bit.

 

Will do. I need new u bolts too, correct?

 

It is recommended.

 

I pulled the overload leaf, the truck still has rake to it, but much less, it rides much better, even without the sand in the bed, and the e brake cable is off the leafs. Thanks for all the help!