How to Replace a Leaf Spring in a Toyota Tacoma

Your Toyota Tacoma has leaf springs in the rear suspension. Removing the leaf spring is relatively simple compared to performing the same operation in other vehicles, and should take a beginner with safety stands, a wrench and a small light pry bar, and an hour or two.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Safety stands
• Wrench
• Small pry bar

1. • 1

     Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheel nearest the leaf spring you intend to replace. Raise the rear of your Toyota Tacoma and support the frame with safety stands, then support the rear axle with stands as well to take tension off the leaf springs.

   • 2

     Remove the lug nuts and wheel, and disconnect the cotter pin, nut and washer from the lower end of the shock absorber. Detach the shock absorber from the spring seat and remove the parking brake cable clamp. You may also need to remove the parking brake equalizer as well.

   • 3

     Unfasten the U-bolts and remove them along with the spring seat assemblies. Adjust the lift on the rear axle so that its weight is not resting on the springs. Then unfasten the spring shackle retaining nuts, pull the spring shackle inner plate out, and pry the spring shackle out with a bar. Remove the bracket pin from the front end of the spring hanger and remove the rubber bushing too.

   • 4

     Bring the spring out of the vehicle, being careful not to damage the hydraulic brake line or the parking brake cable which might be in the way. Install the rubber bushing in the eye of a new leaf spring and line the eye up with a spring hanger bracket and drive the pin through the bracket holes and bushings.

   • 5

     Tighten the spring hanger nuts and bolts loosely, then install the rubber bushing in the other eye of the leaf spring and raise it, installing the spring shackle through the bushing and the bracket. Finger-tighten the retaining nuts on the shackle inner plate. Center the bolt head in the hole in the spring seat on the axle housing.

   • 6

     Install the spring seat using the U-bolts; tighten them to 90 foot pounds of torque. Reinstall the parking brake cable and clamp, then install the equalizer if it was removed. Tighten the hanger pin and shackle nuts, install the shock absorber bushings and washers, then replace the cotter pins and tighten them.

   • 7

     Reinstall the stabilizer link and hand tighten the nuts. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle, then bounce it several times to set the suspension. Finally tighten the shock absorber bolt to 115 foot pounds of torque and the shackle pin to 67 foot pounds.