Need advise on replacing rear leaf springs '96 Tacoma

Tacoma · #1 06-05-2007, 11:33 AM

Hello,
I have a '96 Tacoma, 4x4, ext. cab, 4 cyl. (2.7L) auto. I was re-wiring the flat four trailer harness and noticed that my rear leaf springs are shot. Cracked leafs and now some missing. I took it in to a local place and they are quoting me about $1400 to replace the leaf springs (new u-bolts bushings etc.) and shocks. Seems way too high...

I use the truck for mainly running around town and going fishing, some back roads and fields. A few times a year it gets "tested" in heavy mud fields. I load it up with with hunting gear and tow a boat. It sees gravel roads but no desert racing or rock climbing type stuff. It has a Leer cap on it (some permanent extra weight). Currently it wears brand new Goodyear Wranglers (31x10.50 R15 LT). I think am ok with stock height and don't want to lift the rear and then end up having to sink $ into lifting the front as well.

Could someone please advise me on which rear springs and shocks would suit my needs the best? I have used the search function and come across info for Wheeler's replacements. I am almost ready to pull the trigger on these but figured I would ask in case I missed something better.

Last thing, if there is a thread with how to pictures for doing this myself I can't seem to find it. If you know of one here, or elsewhere, I would be happy for a link.

Thanks.

Guilford · #2 06-05-2007, 04:13 PM

my first yota was a 96 taco std cab 4x4, i shattered the left leaf spring being retarded. did some research and found out toyota made a little error and used a 3 leaf style springs for the rear end for the gen1 tacos, they upgraded the springs to a 4 leaf style for the gen 2+.

i currently have a 98 Taco ext cab 4x4, with too many performance mods to start listing, i am currently needing to replace my now "s" shaped shot leafs. and i am going to get the wheeler springs as a replacement. i have a 3" fabtech lift sitting on 33x12.50r15's. as far as the shocks go, if you get the fabtech lift it comes with really good shocks, if you go on w/o a lift just get bilstine shocks.

i would highly suggest getting the 5 leaf pack with overload spring. and installing them is very easy, just get all new hardware (bolts, bushings, etc) i am a firm believer in spend a lot now or spend a lot later. and since you are going to be down there anyways you might as well replace it, will run you like $150 more but your rear suspension will be all new.

just a note if you haven't replaced leaf springs before, do one side a time or you will end up wasting time keeping the axle aligned and trying to get the eyes to line up. total just with replacing everything should be around 2-3hrs at most with or w/o the shocks. oh one last note, get the greasable shackle and eye bolt kits, will save you in the long haul.

hope this answers your question, and if you have checked the yota dealership you will find they want like 450-500 bucks a side so 500 for a better set of springs is a really good deal. makes for good leverage in tell the wife why you spent that little extra replacing rusted up worn parts

redtoy92 · #3 06-06-2007, 11:36 AM

as said the wheelers will do you great for what you want and the price is as good as it gets. So go to wheelersoffroad.com at least i think that is the site. well here is the link to the leafs how about that.. Toyota Tacoma Replacement Leaf Springs - Wheeler's Off-Road

Tacoma · #4 06-07-2007, 09:29 PM

Thanks for the responses. E-mailed Wheelers and got some info and then called and ordered. The 4 leaf spring will leave me at stock height which is where I want to stay so that's what I went with. Also ordered their Rough Country shocks and some new u-bolts. Not sure I will keep this truck long enough to make the other stuff pay. I am hankering for a double cab (2 little ones).

Still looking for a how-to thread, if anyone knows... I know it's not rocket science but I am not an auto mechanic either. The one spring at a time was good info.

redtoy92 · #5 06-08-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacoma

Thanks for the responses. E-mailed Wheelers and got some info and then called and ordered. The 4 leaf spring will leave me at stock height which is where I want to stay so that's what I went with. Also ordered their Rough Country shocks and some new u-bolts. Not sure I will keep this truck long enough to make the other stuff pay. I am hankering for a double cab (2 little ones).

Still looking for a how-to thread, if anyone knows... I know it's not rocket science but I am not an auto mechanic either. The one spring at a time was good info.

Here is a good write up Expeditions West: Toyota Tacoma deaver springs 10 leaf pack it is also a great site to read on a lot of mods that can be done on the tacomas and what works and does not work

Tacoma · #6 06-17-2007, 12:13 AM

I put the new springs in today! As usual it took longer than anticipated. We started at 11 a.m. and I got home at 8 p.m. We did stop for lunch and supper as well as two longish "parts runs". I had a friend help me and we did it in his shop. He had a lift and an impact wrench and it would have been a lot harder with out them. We also used his angle grinder a lot, more on that soon.

We started on the passenger side and the rear shackle and bushing was a bear to remove. We ended up grinding through the spring right on the back eye. Once it was cut away the front slid out easy (might have pried it out a bit). The rear bushing simply did not want to separate from the spring eye or the bolt. We wanted the bolt back. Ended up grinding it off ( we ground the head off the shackle a then punched it out with a drift) and finding some new bolts locally. 9/16, 4 1/2", grade 8 is what worked for us (fitting in the sleeve that came w/ new bushings w/ the Wheelers leaf).

Thinking the driver's side would be the same was almost our undoing as we only got two new bolts to begin with. The drivers side front also had to be ground free. Luckily for us, my hardware store man is a real good dude and I was able to call the store (actually 5 min. after close) and have him leave another bolt/nut/washer combo hidden out back of the store for us.

Knowing what I do now, I would have gone ahead and got the shackle kit and the front eye hardware. We "wasted" a lot of time trying to save the old stuff. And frankly, we got lucky to find the bolts we needed on a Sat. eve at 6 o'clock. Being able to cut the old stuff away without regard for saving any of it would have saved at least a few hours work and prob. two hours of driving around looking for the right stuff. Looking at the Wheelers site I could have got this stuff for ~ another $150 + shipping. If I could do that part over again I would have just ordered it. Hind sight...

One other thing, for future ref, I did get new u-bolts and they are a must. I will contact Wheelers and ask but these weren't fool proof either. We had to add washers for spacers between the spring plate and the nut. They sent a washer for each threaded piece (8 total) but we ended up needing 4 a piece. It is possible I got u-bolts for a bigger spring... but don't know right now.

Anyway, thanks for the help garnered here and I just thought I would tell my story in case anyone doing this same job in the future might benefit some from my limited experience.

Tacoma · #7 06-17-2007, 12:29 AM

Pretty funny. I just re-read the initial responses. Guilford was right on the mark. $150 and yes I should have ordered it! I had a local shop that was going to install this for me before I talked to my friend who said he would help. Both that shop and a guy on the phone at Wheeler's said I didn't really need those... so I didn't get them.

You heard it here, Guilford was right!