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More Car Problems....

Gamingphreek

Gamingphreek

Lifer
The other day I decided to investigate why my truck's suspension was squeaking so much.

I looked under and found that both leaf springs (In the rear) had broken. When they broke they smacked sideways into the shocks denting them severely. Not to mention the car is riding on the shocks which is destroying them in itself.

Mechanic checked every where he knew and none had leaf springs for a 1995 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (I4). He checked the dealer as a last resort and they gave him a quote of $600 each so $1200 for the pair.

I paid 7K for the car and so far have had to replace the Cat 2x, O2 sensor, and starter/solenoid. Another $1600 is not happening.

First, how long can I ride on the car the way it is? My Dad seems to think that it is ok to drive around on it still and doesn't see a problem with me loading the car with my belongings to go back to college.

Does anyone else have any other options they might suggest?

At this point, I am seriously considering selling the truck for about $6000 (hopefully).
 
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
Click to expand...

Well I don't wanna do Option A (Emergency Swerve) 😉

The problem finding the springs is that Toyota had a real problem with the 3-Leaf system. The next model year to correct it, they went to a 4-Leaf system instead. Therefore the 3-Leaf system is very hard to find.

I suppose I could get a 4 Leaf System (assuming I could find the correct length), but wouldn't that require new Bushings, Main Bolts, and U-Bolts?

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
Click to expand...

Well I don't wanna do Option A (Emergency Swerve) 😉

The problem finding the springs is that Toyota had a real problem with the 3-Leaf system. The next model year to correct it, they went to a 4-Leaf system instead. Therefore the 3-Leaf system is very hard to find.

I suppose I could get a 4 Leaf System (assuming I could find the correct length), but wouldn't that require new Bushings, Main Bolts, and U-Bolts?

-Kevin
Click to expand...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

bolts and u-bolts are simple to find.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
Click to expand...

Well I don't wanna do Option A (Emergency Swerve) 😉

The problem finding the springs is that Toyota had a real problem with the 3-Leaf system. The next model year to correct it, they went to a 4-Leaf system instead. Therefore the 3-Leaf system is very hard to find.

I suppose I could get a 4 Leaf System (assuming I could find the correct length), but wouldn't that require new Bushings, Main Bolts, and U-Bolts?

-Kevin
Click to expand...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

bolts and u-bolts are simple to find.
Click to expand...

Well would I be able to use a 4 Leaf System even though mine is a 3. In other words, is new bushings and new bolts all I would need to ensure that they work? Would this merely give the back end a slight lift?

If the back is lifted as such, would I then have to find shocks which would match the lift the springs gave?

What about the front shocks and struts? Would they not have to match?
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
Click to expand...

Well I don't wanna do Option A (Emergency Swerve) 😉

The problem finding the springs is that Toyota had a real problem with the 3-Leaf system. The next model year to correct it, they went to a 4-Leaf system instead. Therefore the 3-Leaf system is very hard to find.

I suppose I could get a 4 Leaf System (assuming I could find the correct length), but wouldn't that require new Bushings, Main Bolts, and U-Bolts?

-Kevin
Click to expand...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

bolts and u-bolts are simple to find.
Click to expand...

Well would I be able to use a 4 Leaf System even though mine is a 3. In other words, is new bushings and new bolts all I would need to ensure that they work? Would this merely give the back end a slight lift?

If the back is lifted as such, would I then have to find shocks which would match the lift the springs gave?

What about the front shocks and struts? Would they not have to match?
Click to expand...

4 springs does not necessarily mean that there will be a lift, I am not familiar with Toyota suspensions, though.

Even so, a 1" lift wont mean you need shocks, but if they are dented badly, it doesn't matter, you need them anyways.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It's fine to drive until you have to make an emergency swerve and go rolling into a tree, blowing up into 10,000,000 pieces. 😉

Honestly, the springs should be amazingly easy to find. Have you tried any toyota 4x4 forum? Lots of people remove their OEM suspension for lift kits.
Click to expand...

Well I don't wanna do Option A (Emergency Swerve) 😉

The problem finding the springs is that Toyota had a real problem with the 3-Leaf system. The next model year to correct it, they went to a 4-Leaf system instead. Therefore the 3-Leaf system is very hard to find.

I suppose I could get a 4 Leaf System (assuming I could find the correct length), but wouldn't that require new Bushings, Main Bolts, and U-Bolts?

-Kevin
Click to expand...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

bolts and u-bolts are simple to find.
Click to expand...

Well would I be able to use a 4 Leaf System even though mine is a 3. In other words, is new bushings and new bolts all I would need to ensure that they work? Would this merely give the back end a slight lift?

If the back is lifted as such, would I then have to find shocks which would match the lift the springs gave?

What about the front shocks and struts? Would they not have to match?
Click to expand...

4 springs does not necessarily mean that there will be a lift, I am not familiar with Toyota suspensions, though.

Even so, a 1" lift wont mean you need shocks, but if they are dented badly, it doesn't matter, you need them anyways.
Click to expand...

Yea they absolutely must be replaced. When replacing, would I then need to get shocks that support a 1" lift?

Since I am essentially redoing the rear suspension, would I also have to get new Struts, Shocks, and Coils for the front to make sure the car isn't tilted forward?

If I could find a 5 Spring set (hypothetically) that fit length wise, would new bolts and bushings allow me to use that for a larger lift as well?

I'm sorry for the questions, I'm not familiar with suspension work.
 
I'd get shocks that offered 1" more travel, but it's not absolutely necessary, IMHO.

1-2" lower in the front would barely be noticable. I would leave it unless you really wanted to upgrade.

Usually lift kits include all necessary hardware, so I suggest that.
 
Looking at the site I am very much leaning towards doing that. For $370 shipped, I get springs and the bushings. The shop will have the U Bolts and anything else necessary.

Pack Thickness says 1 1/4 for the 3 leaf system and 1 7/16 for the 4 leaf system. Is this per leaf? So if I multiply the former by 3 and the latter by 4 I get the actual height this is? (Since the 3 leaf system is stock, that would put the 4 leaf system at a 2" lift correct?)

-Kevin

Edit: Also I haul Audio Equipment while at school - Would using a 4 leaf system increase the maximum bed/tongue weight of the vehicle?
 
If the suspension is that messed up I would really be surprised if anybody would buy it for $6k. If it's worth that much though I'd put the money into it.

Check out rock auto for springs, their parts are seriously cheap. Heck, you could buy a lift kit that would replace your springs for less than $1600. It may even include shocks. Some 4x4 sites sell stock leaf springs also because cheaper lifts use them as the basis for the suspension (called add a leaf) so you can grab it from them too.

Just so you know, a 4 leaf spring won't necessarily increase load capacity or a lift. It's all how the designed the spring. Using thinner leaves or a less stiff metal can result in a spring that feels more or less the same. Anyways, even if you gain an inch in the rear a slight nose down stance usually results in slightly better gas mileage.
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Looking at the site I am very much leaning towards doing that. For $370 shipped, I get springs and the bushings. The shop will have the U Bolts and anything else necessary.

Pack Thickness says 1 1/4 for the 3 leaf system and 1 7/16 for the 4 leaf system. Is this per leaf? So if I multiply the former by 3 and the latter by 4 I get the actual height this is? (Since the 3 leaf system is stock, that would put the 4 leaf system at a 2" lift correct?)

-Kevin

Edit: Also I haul Audio Equipment while at school - Would using a 4 leaf system increase the maximum bed/tongue weight of the vehicle?
Click to expand...

I would think that thickness is the thickness of the spring pack, because the leaves aren't going to be over an inch thick. If they were you'd be riding on a stack of steel blocks... lol.
You'd need to know the thickness of the pack to get the correct U-bolts.
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Looking at the site I am very much leaning towards doing that. For $370 shipped, I get springs and the bushings. The shop will have the U Bolts and anything else necessary.

Pack Thickness says 1 1/4 for the 3 leaf system and 1 7/16 for the 4 leaf system. Is this per leaf? So if I multiply the former by 3 and the latter by 4 I get the actual height this is? (Since the 3 leaf system is stock, that would put the 4 leaf system at a 2" lift correct?)

-Kevin

Edit: Also I haul Audio Equipment while at school - Would using a 4 leaf system increase the maximum bed/tongue weight of the vehicle?
Click to expand...

Pad thickness is simply the thickness of the pack at the spring perch, it's used for getting the correct length U-bolts.

No idea on the bed weight, that would be a question for a Toyota forum.

I just read something that may help you out, though. Apparently there is a TSB and was a 'silent recall' for a time on your rear suspension. I wonder if you want contact Toyota corporate and perhaps they will help finance the issue? Toyota is usually pretty stand-up with things like this.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Looking at the site I am very much leaning towards doing that. For $370 shipped, I get springs and the bushings. The shop will have the U Bolts and anything else necessary.

Pack Thickness says 1 1/4 for the 3 leaf system and 1 7/16 for the 4 leaf system. Is this per leaf? So if I multiply the former by 3 and the latter by 4 I get the actual height this is? (Since the 3 leaf system is stock, that would put the 4 leaf system at a 2" lift correct?)

-Kevin

Edit: Also I haul Audio Equipment while at school - Would using a 4 leaf system increase the maximum bed/tongue weight of the vehicle?
Click to expand...

Pad thickness is simply the thickness of the pack at the spring perch, it's used for getting the correct length U-bolts.

No idea on the bed weight, that would be a question for a Toyota forum.

I just read something that may help you out, though. Apparently there is a TSB and was a 'silent recall' for a time on your rear suspension. I wonder if you want contact Toyota corporate and perhaps they will help finance the issue? Toyota is usually pretty stand-up with things like this.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome. I already went to the Toyota parts at my local dealer and they couldn't do anything. If I contacted corporate is it possible that they can do something?

Thank you so much for helping with all of this - I really appreciate it.
 
You can give it a try. I know that Chrysler was (Until recently) still kicking back money to folks who had a head gasket go in their 95-97 2.0L Neons.
 
Wow, never heard of both leaf springs breaking on a truck before. Was the vehicle sitting in water for a while or something? That's really strange.

Oh, and your Dad clearly doesn't know anything about cars. Don't listen to him, get it fixed ASAP.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Wow, never heard of both leaf springs breaking on a truck before. Was the vehicle sitting in water for a while or something? That's really strange.

Oh, and your Dad clearly doesn't know anything about cars. Don't listen to him, get it fixed ASAP.
Click to expand...

It has never sat in water or been in any kind of water (Other than Rain, Deep Puddles, and Snow).

The passenger side Spring looks ok still to me despite what the mechanic said. The driver side spring is all kinds of messed up. The spring fanned out into the shock, I'm not sure how. I couldn't get a good look, but perhaps the eye bolt broke. Both U-Bolts on both sides look fine.

My Dad isn't familiar with shocks and is just going off what the mechanic said which is "Yea you can drive it, but its not the best idea".

I called Toyota corporate and they don't have anything about recalling the damaged springs from the 3-Leaf System. The guy I talked to did say that the car can be inspected for any sort of frame rust (perforation) and if that caused it both would be fixed (If the rust is bad enough, they will by the car back at 1.5x the value in Excellent Condition).

I looked for rust and there is some, but I'm not sure what exactly they are looking for (I personally think the welds still look fine etc...). That, in addition to the fact, that I merely peered under the car for a while - I wasn't able to look at it while it was on a lift.

I'm going to bring it to Toyota today to have them look at the frame and I'll just hope that it is rusted enough that they can do something.

If not I'm going to have to look at new springs, shocks, and struts for the car (I would replace front and rear, not just front).

-Kevin
 
Don't reuse the U-bolts. It's just not worth it.

Edit:
I'd also change the leaves in pairs otherwise your car is going to never sit settled. Springs settle and dearch over time and with use, you'd have one spring lower and a different rate than the other. If it were only 6 months old, one wouldn't be an issue but you're talking some 14 years.
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
The other day I decided to investigate why my truck's suspension was squeaking so much.

I looked under and found that both leaf springs (In the rear) had broken. When they broke they smacked sideways into the shocks denting them severely. Not to mention the car is riding on the shocks which is destroying them in itself.

Mechanic checked every where he knew and none had leaf springs for a 1995 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (I4). He checked the dealer as a last resort and they gave him a quote of $600 each so $1200 for the pair.

I paid 7K for the car and so far have had to replace the Cat 2x, O2 sensor, and starter/solenoid. Another $1600 is not happening.

First, how long can I ride on the car the way it is? My Dad seems to think that it is ok to drive around on it still and doesn't see a problem with me loading the car with my belongings to go back to college.

Does anyone else have any other options they might suggest?

At this point, I am seriously considering selling the truck for about $6000 (hopefully).
Click to expand...



PSSSSSSSSSST 🙂

 
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
The other day I decided to investigate why my truck's suspension was squeaking so much.

I looked under and found that both leaf springs (In the rear) had broken. When they broke they smacked sideways into the shocks denting them severely. Not to mention the car is riding on the shocks which is destroying them in itself.

Mechanic checked every where he knew and none had leaf springs for a 1995 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (I4). He checked the dealer as a last resort and they gave him a quote of $600 each so $1200 for the pair.

I paid 7K for the car and so far have had to replace the Cat 2x, O2 sensor, and starter/solenoid. Another $1600 is not happening.

First, how long can I ride on the car the way it is? My Dad seems to think that it is ok to drive around on it still and doesn't see a problem with me loading the car with my belongings to go back to college.

Does anyone else have any other options they might suggest?

At this point, I am seriously considering selling the truck for about $6000 (hopefully).
Click to expand...



PSSSSSSSSSST 🙂
Click to expand...

Yep - that is where the car is right now. I am desperately hoping they find something of interest 😉
 
Rock Auto has Husky brand leaf springs for the 1995 Tacoma 4x4 for 360.79 each. Not exactly cheap but half the price of a dealer part. I ran into the same BS looking for gas tank straps and I forgot to check Rock Auto. They had them for dirt cheap.
 
First off, I did not qualify for the Frame Rust buy back program.

Second off though, I need to commend Toyota for their customer support. The Asst Service Manager told me he didn't find anything, but I asked to speak to the mechanic.

The mechanic was awesome. He advised me that he wouldn't sink anything more than leaf springs into the car (Not even shocks) because the rust is on the frame. What prevents him from passing it for the buy back is that it hadn't perforated the frame yet. He gave it 1-2 more winters at most.

He also advised me not to change the Leaf Springs myself, and the proper springs to get. (3 or 4 leaf is absolutely fine). Furthermore he said, he couldn't comment on the leaf springs I was looking at, but said that while an inch lift wouldn't matter much, anymore than that from these springs and it is a little more stress than whats left of these shocks should be handling.

So I'm just going to order these 4-Lead Models for the Regular Cab 4x4 and have a mechanic put them on.

1 more winter at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg ought to do the trick. I figure I'll just drive it when the roads are being salted in the snow and hope for the "best" 😛 (Of course, I am still going to keep the car squeaky clean and washed regularly just like now)

-Kevin
 
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