Flyingwil's Taco is growing up!

[Jacket]

Damn dude. It may be top to drop Deaver, and try something new/different. That would piss me off too. Maybe they just can't handle the weight/flex combo that you are throwing at them on the trails?

 

[articulate]

Valley Spring Service is near downtown Phoenix. Since they're local, they are worth talking to.

 

[Desertdude]

Quick Deaver Spring Story;

Started with the 9 leafs - they worked well until I finished loading the Tacoma with the rest of the mods. (not heavy enough.) Switched to 11 leafs after I explained to Scott Born at Deaver my weight needs. Installed the springs and in less than two weeks the springs went flat - the leaves actually had ripples and were dead flat on one side ( the other side on its way flat.)

Called Scott Born at Deaver and he shipped out a new 11 leaf pack and asked me to send back the bad set. After 3 years now they have put up with all the abuse I have given them.

Recently I have removed all the mods on the back of the Tacoma to freshen up parts of what is loaded in the bed, the Springs arched up a bit due to less weight I guess this means they still have a bit of life left in them.

Building springs, and anything Metallurgy appear to be part art part science. Takes a bit of care to get it right every time.

 

[flyingwil]

Scott at Deaver is great, and it was great to meet him in person on my last visit. I am just hoping that this is a fluke, and not my fault. It upsets me that they broke the second time on the trail! Wasn't even a good spot to break 'em! I had to gimp 17 miles to the pavement, but hey it could have been worse. It looks like they broke in the right spot, being in front of the axle, and not the aft.

 

[flyingwil]

Well I have a few options here, and am rather torn in how to correct this issue.

1.) Have Deaver look at both springs and work their magic.
2.) Have deaver send me two new top springs and replace both and keep the extra one as a spare.
3.) Take to a local Spring shop and have them replace the top springs on both spring packs.


What do you guys think? I need to act fast as my truck is also my DD.

 

[tdesanto]

Well I have a few options here, and am rather torn in how to correct this issue.

1.) Have Deaver look at both springs and work their magic.
2.) Have deaver send me two new top springs and replace both and keep the extra one as a spare.
3.) Take to a local Spring shop and have them replace the top springs on both spring packs.


What do you guys think? I need to act fast as my truck is also my DD.

#1 is best if you had more time. If they caused the problem, they should remedy the situation.

#3 is probalby your best bet to get it back on the road.

#2 I would only consider this as an option if you have enough time to do the work yourself, but want them to at least pay for the replacement leaves.

Maybe you could combine #'s 2 & 3 and save yourself some $ and time/effort? I knew those project management skills wouldn't be wasted

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[ntsqd]

Do you still have the original springs? If so, I'd temporarily swap them out and send those with the problem back to Deaver.

 

[flyingwil]

Do you still have the original springs? If so, I'd temporarily swap them out and send those with the problem back to Deaver.

Nope they got recycled.

 

[Willman]

I vote for #1.....Deaver should take those back and fit them!!!


:costumed-smiley-007

 

[Willman]

Nope they got recycled.

Their always people offing their spring packs on TTORA......pickup a local pack or see if you guys can make one car work for a while.....


:smilies27

 

[flyingwil]

Deaver E-mails...

Here are some E-mails I have been having with Deaver...

From: Wil Kuhns
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:32 PM
To: service@deaverspring.com
Subject: Broken top Spring

Greetings Gentlemen,

My name is William (Wil) Kuhns and I brought my 10 pack leaf set for a 2001 Toyota Tacoma in on Feb 5th, to repair a spring clip issue, add another leaf and re-arch the leaves. (I was the one that drove in from Phoenix, AZ and met with Scott). Well it was a perfect fix for the springs, until the second time out on the trail. I went out to test some other modifications to my truck and picked a nice and easy trail (on a 1 to 10 scale it was a 3, 3=Stock vehicle). I had to go over an obstacle (pile of rocks) which flexes the rear rather well, but not quite to the bump stops. As soon as the rear passenger wheel went up, I heard a snap! Yup, low and behold, it snapped the top spring.

So my question is this, by adding the additional spring, and having it re-arched did that weaken the spring causing my failure? What do I need to do get this corrected, it is not like I was abusing the springs or jumping the truck. My truck is a heavy, as mentioned when I was out there due to the all the expedition equipment, and I need it to be as reliable as possible. So, I am now concerned with the springs on the Driver's side.

I think there are a few options to repair these, and would like to resolve this as soon as possible as the truck is my daily driver. Please let me know your thoughts on this. You may contact me by e-mail or by phone at ______.

Below are some pictures taken from the trail, and you can see the top spring is broken.

Thanks,
Wil

Their Reply:

>>> "Deaver Service" <service@deaverspring.com> 3/11/2008 3:14 PM >>>

Well in no way did the reworking of the spring compromise the integrity of the main leaf. I’m not sure why it broke other than it happens off road all the time but I am in no way blaming the driver. Unfortunately I do not stock that main leaf so I will have to look into getting one made for you. I will be in touch sometime mid morning tomorrow with you as to what we are looking at.

My reply:

From: Wil Kuhns
To: Service, Deaver
Date: 3/11/2008 3:33 PM
Subject: RE: Broken top Spring


Thanks for the quick reply Scott. I am worried about the drivers side spring as well, if this happened to the passenger's side, what is to say that it will not happen to the driver's side? Can you look into two replacement top springs?

Thanks,

Wil Kuhns

Their Reply:

>>> "Deaver Service" <service@deaverspring.com> 3/11/2008 3:53 PM >>>

Yes I will absolutely.

So I have one more day to figure this out, and I have to give props to Deaver for looking into the issue for me.:bowdown:

 

[Desertdude]

I would work with Scott at Deaver, You have a relationship there - give it a chance.

He will ultimately make it right, and you will be back on the road again.

 

[RHINO]

ditto what the dude sayz,,,, i hear many more thumbs up about deaver than thumbs down and i have no complaints about the deaver 10 packs under my rig.

 

[PHXtaco]

Hey Will,

I still have my stock springs sitting in my back yard and I am here in Mesa. If you want to borrow them while you send yours to Deaver just send me an e-mail: aair@juno.com

(Yea I know doing a spring swap twice sucks!)
Craig

 

[Photog]

Hey Will,

I still have my stock springs sitting in my back yard and I am here in Mesa. If you want to borrow them while you send yours to Deaver just send me an e-mail: aair@juno.com

(Yea I know doing a spring swap twice sucks!)
Craig

Maybe, just swap out the top spring. I know it is just as much work; but the stock spring pack, probably won't hold up the heavy rig.