Sagging rear end (on my tacoma)

[Rando]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a new to me '99 Tacoma extra cab TRD with 120,000 miles. Even more recently and after 6 months of looking (since before I found the Tacoma) I bought a good condition Wildernest. With the wildernest, an auxiliary battery and a sleeping platform (about 500lb total) I seem to be a bit low in the derrier. The leafs are almost flat and I have noticed the ride seems harsh when ever going over bumps. I will soon have a water tank and pump (another 120lb or so) arriving, which I am sure remove any trace of a smile from my leaves and they will end up a little frowny.

So my question is: what is an affordable way of getting a little bounce back in my rear end and bringing it back to stock (or slightly above) height? I have been looking at an add a leaf and new shocks all around. I have heard bad things about short add a leafs, but are the longer ones okay? I have been looking at toytec AALs and a set of bilstein 5100s on all corners. I am in need of new shocks, so I figure I may as well add new shocks while I am pulling apart the rear end. However this completely maxes out my already blown budget. Is it worth going with the bilsteins in the back or are there cheaper options? I would like to have the 5100's (or other adjustable shock) in the front so I can level it out from what ever height the rear ends up being.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rmarz]

Rando,
I too have a 99 Taco and after driving the Mojave Road had the same problem. After some research I went with the Slee Offroad kit (http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/tacoma_suspension.htm) and have been VERY happy with the kit and service from Slee.

A friend of mine with another 99 went with the same kit and is also satisfied. I have no affiliation with Slee other than that purchase.

Good luck.

 

[washington taco]

I have 225,000 on my 2000 Taco. I installed a Fabtech 2.5" lift kit @ 68,000 miles which included a 2" add a leaf for the rear. I have hauled over one ton in this truck for many miles and the springs have bounced back time and again, the ride is good and just now in process of changing the rear shocks to 5100's. You could also consider a air bag system but no sure what that does to wheel articulation?

 

[Rando]

I have driven past Slee many times, so I would certainly be supportive of a local supplier. However the lift kits are about three times more than I can afford. Does this kit use an add a leaf, or whole new spring pack? If it is an AAL maybe I will give Slee a call and see if I can just get the leafs and shocks.

It is good to know that this is a common problem.

Rando,
I too have a 99 Taco and after driving the Mojave Road had the same problem. After some research I went with the Slee Offroad kit (http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/tacoma_suspension.htm) and have been VERY happy with the kit and service from Slee.

A friend of mine with another 99 went with the same kit and is also satisfied. I have no affiliation with Slee other than that purchase.

Good luck.

 

[Applejack]

You most certainly go with an AAL only. I got a pair for my '05 from trdparts4u.com. I think I paid about $80 for the pair and then added a pair of OME shocks, and have been very pleased with the on and off road ride and handling.

 

[Rando]

For those who have an add a leaf and did it themselves, how difficult was the installation? I have read over the directions, and it all seems fairly straightforward, except perhaps bending and then re-installing the spring clips. I have been hitting my nuts on my u-bolts with wd40 for the past couple of days in hopes that they won't be too hard to remove later this week.

 

[rmarz]

I have driven past Slee many times, so I would certainly be supportive of a local supplier. However the lift kits are about three times more than I can afford. Does this kit use an add a leaf, or whole new spring pack? If it is an AAL maybe I will give Slee a call and see if I can just get the leafs and shocks.

It is good to know that this is a common problem.

The kit I purchased came with all new springs, including the front coils. The only tough part of the install IMO was compressing the new front coil springs, they are much tougher than the stock springs.

If you can swing the cost I do not think you will be disappointed by replacing the springs all around, at least on my 99 they all needed to go to the recycler.

 

[Applejack]

For those who have an add a leaf and did it themselves, how difficult was the installation? I have read over the directions, and it all seems fairly straightforward, except perhaps bending and then re-installing the spring clips. I have been hitting my nuts on my u-bolts with wd40 for the past couple of days in hopes that they won't be too hard to remove later this week.

It's not difficult, but if you don't have access to a forklift it will be pretty time consuming. Mine didn't go into the spring clips. I would recommend taking the whole leaf pack out and then assembling it. I didn't and it was a PITA to align everything up. I didn't even take my tires off.:elkgrin: I should have though.

 

[Rando]

Well, I ordered some toytech AAL's (which arrived today) and a set of Bilstein 5100s for the front and rear from Down South Motorsports (who I would heartily recommend as they actually charged me LESS than advertised including shipping!). I don't have a forklift so I guess I will have to resort to jack stands. I hope I don't need to change the spring clips as they look to be pretty difficult to bend. I guess I will find out net week when I try and install them.

It's not difficult, but if you don't have access to a forklift it will be pretty time consuming. Mine didn't go into the spring clips. I would recommend taking the whole leaf pack out and then assembling it. I didn't and it was a PITA to align everything up. I didn't even take my tires off.:elkgrin: I should have though.

 

[washington taco]

Lift the truck with a floor jack at the rear diff as high as it will go, then put jack stands at the frame just in front of the forward spring mount of the rear springs. Remove the rear tires and lower the floor jack there should be just enough room to let the springs fully extend and this will remove the tension from the spring. Put a BIG "C" clamp in front and back of the bolt running thru the spring pack. Loosen the bolt and remove the nut. Slowly loosen the C clamps the spring pack will seperate add your AAL and reverse the process. The whole thing should take about three hours including runs to the fridge for beer!