Advice for Leaf Spring Installation

Recently ordered a set of General Spring HD leaf springs and 5100s for the rear.

I'm gonna be doing the installation for these parts so I'm looking for some advice. I've installed front and rear shocks before but never leaf springs so this will be new to me.

Here is the website that I follow which has a brief guide: http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/lift/alcanrearsprings/alcan.htm
The pictures aren't that great so does anyone have a recommendation for a better write up?

Here are my questions:
1) Where is the best place to jack the truck up in the rear? The differential?
2) Following this, where are the safest points to put jack stands for holding the truck up and the differential? I have four jackstands on me.
3) Are there any bolts that are a pain in the ass to remove or any parts that are difficult to get lined up?

 

Easy. Remove shocks. Lift by diff, remove wheels, support frame, and support diff.



Break loose u bolts. Loosen both front bolt and rear at the shackles. Remove u bolts. Remove shackle bolts and shackles.





Remove leaf pack. Prep for install of new leaf pack, shackle bushings, etc.

Maneuver new leaf pack and loosely bolt in the rear shackle.



Expect this. Front eyelet won't align.



Use this to achieve alignment.



Snug bolts for front eyelet and assemble u bolts. Snug tight your bolts.



Install wheels. Lower vehicle to allow suspension to support vehicle. Torque to spec.

Balls not required, but recommended.



Win at life.

 

If you live in a rust infested area, just cut all your bolts. You'll replace most of them anyway, especially the u bolts.

Hasty walk through posted from a Best Buy parking lot as I waited for my friend

 

Great thank you for the write up! Definitely answered all of my questions and the pictures were helpful.

Regarding the front not aligning, did you ratchet strap the leaf spring and the frame together to bring it closer to alignment?

And I'm in California so my truck isn't as rusty as the ones I've seen from other states. I did order new u-bolts though.

 

I wrapped the strap around the axle, and used the drain hole in the frame as an anchor. Used the ratchet to bring the axle forward and align the holes. Lifting and dropping the diff during removal and install helps a lot.

What part of cali? I can lend a hand.

 

This 100%.

Reference the FSM if needed (attached: remo.pdf) for torque values.

If using aftermarket shackles (ex: OME Greasable), follow their torque spec and NOT the toyota FSM.

Finally, I suggest NOT re-using your u-bolts. Replace them with new. Just saw you aren't. When snugging them up, tighten evenly as you go.

Welcome to TacomaWorld - happy wrenching!

 

Fancy meeting you here

 

I'm in San Luis Obispo. Monterey county is right next door!

 

Absolutely is.

If you need help knocking out the install during the week sometime let me know. It's an easy job, just a bit of a pain balancing a leaf pack while trying to houdini it in and out between the e brake line.

 

It really shouldn't be too much of an issue for you with your experience. The leaf springs are pretty heavy, and hard to maneuver under the truck. I would grab a large ratchet strap as previously noted, it's helped me work on my truck alone more times than I can count.

I swapped to the same setup you are putting in about 6 months ago. I had a hard time getting the shackles out, but they finally budged with a BFH. California truck as well, so virtually no rust. I did spray all the nuts and bolts with PB Blaster a couple times before removal.

Take it easy, go slow, and don't hurt yourself! Took me a few hours with a lunch break.

 

Stock and stock-equivalent springs aren't that heavy.

OP is going to swing by and get it knocked out at my house and I've got an impact wrench and sockets

 

Yeah if your truck has the slightest bit of rust just go straight for a sawzall and some carbide blades. Dont waste your time with a wrench/torch etc.

 

OPs truck -

 

Another happy TW member leaving Vette's Kwik Shop

 

Great how to install leaf springs thread. TW sticky thread... very helpful.

 

I had forgotten about this thread

 

@theophelias

How has the truck settled?

I can't find your number in my phone anymore