Rear lift question - Block or AAL

Alright guys so here's another lift question for ya but please make sure you read the entire post and not just see the title and automatically assume AAL is the go to choice

I recently purchased a 2022 Off-road and will be giving it an upgrade once it arrives in 2 weeks or so. I bought the Eibach Pro Stage 1 kit and assembled it to get the 2" lift for the front. With that being said, I need something for the back now and my options are either a 1.5" block and a 1.5" AAL.

Now, to help make the decision, a little background info. I rarely go off-road, maybe 3-5x a year and it is never anything extreme at all. I also take it off on some trails during hunting season but that is the extent of it. I am also a daily highway driver, 50 or so miles everyday on the highway for work and i never carry anything in the bed at all. I will have a trifold tonneau cover on it though.

The smoothest ride possible is what i am going for now, not worried about the off-road capabilities at all. I have 3 young kids and as i mentioned i drive a lot so that's what i am looking for.

Thanks in advance guys!

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?

 

My experience is an AAL is to accommodate extra weight load and will ride a little stiffer without that load. But keep in mind, Tacoma leaf springs are notorious for being weak and failing early on in life IF they are pushed close to their limits. An AAL "may" help with this, but again, it will be a little stiffer ride without a load.

 

A 1” rear block should have the truck sitting level. Beyond 1”, do an AAL.

 

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s..._AAL_with_u-bolts_(PAIR)_-_HS-TOY516-3AL.html

 

So yea I'd like to keep a little rake in there which is why i figured adding that extra .5" on the block. Whats your reasoning for going with an AAL beyond 1"? Just curious!

 

This is the AAL I was going to go with if I went that route specifically because I heard you don't have to cut anything and its a pretty smooth installation!

 

Agree with others, if only 1" slap a block in and replace the pack later one day.

1.5" go with the aal.

 

I just installed an Icon 1.5” AAL pack. A 1 leaf AAL setup will generally be stiffer, but a multi-leaf pack like Icon’s progressive leaf pack should not change the existing ride much. I haven’t noticed additional stiffness on my setup.

Most people report the Icon 1.5 AAL pack lifts a little under 1.5”. However, I left my stock overload leaf in at the base and added a 1 degree shim to keep my driveshaft joint angle within specs. This brought my rear up just under 2”.

 

Thanks for the info man! I'm going to have to check to see if the HS AAL is a multi leaf pack or not like icon's. This might be a stupid question but if i dont ask i won't know, you said its a progressive leaf pack, what does that mean? Also, the reason i wanted to go with HS is because I heard you don't have to cut or reconfigure anything like that. Did you have to do any surgery with Icon's?

 

Progressive springs grow stiffer the more they are compressed, this helps for heavy load carrying. It’s the reason why they say you don’t need the overload springs. I had to cut off the second to last band on the rear side and grind off the attaching rivet but no biggie the AALs have the shackles holding everything in place. Also, when I reinstalled the overload I had to spread out the forward tang a little bit on it would fit around the AAL.

Not sure about how HS does it. It may be easier. I went with the Icon’s because there were tons of positive reviews and YouTube install videos.

 

I recommend a progressive aal as well. I didn’t notice a difference in ride quality and if I do tow or load the bed there is less squat than before which is good, because squat is over exaggerated with a leveled truck anyways

 

Often times we see large rear blocks result in axle wrap, harsh ride, and driveline vibrations due to pinion angles. As others have mentioned, a progressive 3 leaf pack will be made up of thinner, lower spring rate leafs, when combined provide more support (cumulative higher rate) under heavier loads.

Based on your first post regarding comfort, type of driving, kids, etc, a Headstrong or Icon AAL with your factory overload spring removed will be your best bet. Beyond that, a Deaver J66 pack will give you what you’re looking for. Single AALs, in my experience building trucks for myself and TW members, tend to arch the entire stock leaf pack and ride rough without a payload in the bed.

 

I’ve got a 2/1.5 spacer lift on my truck and it rides dang near stock, but the truck sags carrying more than 2 cases of water bottles. I think you should go with the Deaver 1.5” AAL.

 

My 2008 has a Bilstein 2/1.5 lift using an AAL in the rear, and it takes way more than water bottles to make it sag. Like someone above mentioned, your truck will ride a bit stiffer with an empty bed.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys, I'm going to go with the AAL!