Best Leaf Springs ( Rear Tacoma )

[SAR_Squid79]

At Moab, Texan1983, and I finally realized how badly we need new springs in the rear. Mine are OEM's with and Alcan AAL. Texan1983 is running OEM with Deaver 3-Leaf AAL. Both trucks have been wheeled extensively, and my springs are pretty much sitting straight (no arch), and his are actually a little bit negative arch.

I want a spring that will provide 3" - 3.5" of lift in the rear, and is good for wheeling, light hauling (camping gear, tools, etc), and will handle the additional torque of the Supercharger, and provide pretty good articulation. Right now I'm leaning toward a custom Alcan 9 or 10 leaf pack.

I know that Deavers are the "bling" "cool guy" "in" thing to do, so I don't need a hundred web-wheelers chiming in to say that Deavers are the best. Based on friends that have had Deaver 10's (and worn them out) I don't believe Deavers to be the best option for my truck. If you've never worn out a set of springs from wheeling - I doubt that you'll have much valuable input.

I did search, and there is no one good thread with a compilation of info on all the Tacoma leaf spring options available out there. THAT'S WHAT I'M WANTING TO START HERE.

Cast your vote, and please explain your decision. Any info on lift shackles would be appreciated too.

[joel]

I can't say enough about my Alcan springs. They work excellent under load and flex better then I had hoped. I have had them for about 1 year now with no ride height change from the day I put them on. They have been wheeled hard and tortured with heavy loads with no negative side effects at this point. They do take a while to get but it was well worth the wait

[miguelitro]

my deaver 9's haul bikes and heavy gear w/o probs and flex ride great with just daytrip gear.
Mike

[tderose]

OME Dakars for towing and hauling. OK flex off road.

[flatlander]

My vote is for Alcan, but I just recently put them on, so I am speaking from research I have done...

[TACO98wrench]

Using and loving my Dakars, they handle/control weight well and flex fine for me....I killed my stock ones and Love my OME setup in the rear.

[nilson]

Hard poll to vote in because the "best" leaf spring is totally different for many people. For me the most practical choice proved to be the OME Dakar springs for their utility (load-carrying and decent flex) and the 2.5" lift they provided. They are also a cheaper option than some of the other springs listed, I think I spent between 300 and 400 dollars on my rear leafs. (It's been a while)

My vote goes to OME Dakar.

[Super Doody]

Seems like you already know what you want...since you voted for alcans yourself.

[SAR_Squid79]

Like I said - that's what I'm leaning toward, and I had to vote to be able to automatically see the poll results when I Czech this thread.

[Paul]

I picked chevys as far as the best bang for your buck.

[Tweeter]

Deaver. A bit pricey but very reliable and well worth the money. Not to mention excellent customer service.

[SAR_Squid79]

I know you guys have more info, pics, and opinions...

[TacoCrazy]

My Deaver 8 leaf pack was custom built to my truck's specs by Scott at Deaver. I carry on average about 300lbs of additional weight behind the rear wheels at all times. This truck was wheeled more than 50 times last year and the springs have yet to show any sign of "giving up". I'm not talking about fire road wheeling either, just for reference. Personally, Deaver is my choice, there customer service is outstanding. The leaf pack that was in it before this one was a 5-leaf stock replacement pack from Deaver coupled with Deaver's 3-leaf AAL pack, it didn't survive long with that much weight and bump stops that were allowing the spring to neg. arch. I called Scott over a year after I bought them and explained my sitiuation. He promptly got all the specs (weight, lift desired etc..) and had me send him the leaf packs for a complete "re-do". They have been more than right since, ride great, flex great and have shown no signs of sag at all. There's my .02

[KStacoma]

63" chevy swap imo. It is inexpensive, they flex awesome, and they are off a damn chevy 1/2 ton so you they can handle a payload the same as any yota spring could. Mine originally were 3 leafs plus an overload off a 2wd chevy, i ditched the overload and ran them like that with budbuilt banana shackles and they matched my front 3.5" lift perfectly when I was still ifs. Now I had to add a 3" lift full length aal and big shackle to level my truck out but they still flex badass and I still am happy I went the chevy spring route.

You say you want a spring that will give 3-3.5" lift, that is exactly what mine gave me originally. You also want payload and ability to haul shit around, these will do that just fine. As far as articulation they flex really good cause they are so damn long. Just go pay 50 at a pick/pull, get some shackles and spring hangers and call it good.

[SAR_Squid79]

The only problem that I see with the 63" Chevy conversion is haveing to trust a local welding shop with relocating the hangers correctly.

I would actually love to go this route, but there aren't any "Off-Road" shops at all in my area, and I don't know if I could trust any of the welding shops around here.

[Rebuilt98]

Stock springs with a rearch and an AAL with a shackle



OME shocks on the other hand, suck.

[tderose]

Originally Posted by Rebuilt98

OME shocks on the other hand, suck.

Why do you say that?

[Rebuilt98]

Originally Posted by tderose

Why do you say that?

Well maybe it's not the product it's OME but they said they'd work with the 2 inch lift, but I've blown 3 so no more OME for me. and I did however run stock worn out Toyota shocks for about a year with the same setup before I switched them and I never had an issue.

[tderose]

Originally Posted by Rebuilt98

Well maybe it's not the product it's OME but they said they'd work with the 2 inch lift, but I've blown 3 so no more OME for me. and I did however run stock worn out Toyota shocks for about a year with the same setup before I switched them and I never had an issue.

Would you recommend Bils 5150 for the rear then? I've heard the Bils 5150 series is exactly 3 inches longer than OME shocks when extended???

[Rebuilt98]

I haven't run them so I can't comment. I'm going to rework the rear end at some point and try something different. Seems that Bilstein has a good product out there though.

[Cruznlife1]

I'm running alcans, the 8 1/2 leaf pack. I called wheelers to order the deavers, he talked me into the alcans. It's basically an 8 leaf pack for flex, but theres an extra half leaf on top for when loaded down. JUST today I put 15 40lb bags of mulch, 2 80 lb bags of water softner salt, ffull tank of fuel, 2 5-gallon jugs of water (40lbs each), my groceries, some tools, myself, my 81lb pitbull, and my petite g/f... And I was thinking about taking a picture but no sag, lowered about an inch and rode DAMN good too lol.... Thats a shade under 1000 lbs in the bed, not counting me, my woman, or the full tank of gas I put in

They flex like crazy too, eliminated wheel hop, and the overall ride is better

*EDIT* They gave me exactly 3" of lift in the rear, I'm running 5150's with them.... No more than the deavers either, I paid 875 for the leafs, shocks, bushings, steel brake lines, u-bolts and shipping

[Dunk]

Deavers, hands down. I wheel the frickin piss out of my 10 leaf and have not had very much settling. I also carry (constantly) a fully loaded tool case. On trips it includes spares and camping gear. Ive also towed with it (3500lbs) with no ill effects. I run them with 2" lift and a 1.5" lift shackle. and have settled to a total lift of 3".. the truck sits about level fully loaded. Before I went through OME leafs, stock leafs with deaver AAL and a deaver 8leaf. The 10leaf is about 1.5yrs old. You say you dont want to hear how great deavers are... but there really is a reason you keep hearing it. Its not for the bling, but for EXCELLENT off-road performance and UNBEATABLE customer service. IMO they are well worth the $$$.

[jester_motorsports]

It would be very difficult to wager an honest evaluation of what the "best" set of springs are unless you have extensive, first-hand knowledge and use of each set of springs available, in every configuration. That's really the ONLY honest way of making an evaluation of any type of product.

In response to your question, I can really only offer an opinion on the setup that I have. I've got the Deaver springs in a 9 leaf configuration. Jamie, you've seen the GINORMOUS amount of crap that I haul when I camp and wheel. The 9's have been on my truck for about a year and a half now and I have noticed very little, if any, sagging going on. I can't comment on how they would work on anyone else's rig with anyone else's setup. I don't really know what kind of "wheeling factor" to put on them as far as to how hard they've been wheeled. All I know is that they work well for what I use my truck for.

[PuckerFactor]

I chose other for the NWOR HD springs. I carry ALOT of weight when camping/wheelin and so far these things are great.

[SAR_Squid79]

Originally Posted by PuckerFactor

I chose other for the NWOR HD springs. I carry ALOT of weight when camping/wheelin and so far these things are great.

*Edit*
These the ones you have?
http://www.northwestoffroad.com/parts/2stage.html

Looks like the most they offer for Tacomas is 2" lift.

[PuckerFactor]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

*Edit*
These the ones you have?
http://www.northwestoffroad.com/parts/2stage.html

Looks like the most they offer for Tacomas is 2" lift.

the 3\4" HD's give more like 2.5-3" and hardley settle at all. If you go with the 2" lift springs its more like 5" total lift

[meithkiller]

I purchased them so long ago I can't remember for sure but I think mine are Procomp or maybe they are All-Pro, they have been excellent.

[TacoDell]

I'd swear this poll has been taken before...

[Fesko]

I installed my Alcans a little while ago, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. They haven't sagged at all since installation, and in the last few weeks, I've wheeled pretty hard on them. Even ran some whoopties at high speed to bounce around a bit and they sucked it up. Now, I haven't had them on that long, but I did extensive research within my own local chapter and person after person said the Deavers will sag and that their customer service is crap when you bend a spring (another common problem with Deavers). Alcan seems to make a better spring for slightly more money, and when you have a problem they'll help you out. Just my

[Super Doody]

whats the price difference between the alcans and deavers?