Hey all, was greasing up the drivetrain the other day when I noticed the leaf springs were un even, as in not all lined up correctly. The greasing of the drivetrain did not cure my issues of creaking when taking off from say a stop light/stop sign. I know it needed greasing as it is much smoother now.

Now with these leaf springs, how do they become uneven like this? Could they be loose? Is it unsafe to drive like this? Can I just jack up the rear to take enough pressure off of the springs that I can straighten them out and tighten up the C clamp?

 

Tacoma? Pics would help to be sure what you are talking about.

:wabbit2:

 

Yes sorry 99 Tacoma with 6 inch lift. Will go snap a pic in a few.

 

The first pic is the driver side, you can see how it is angled out about 1/2-1 inch. The second is the passenger side, hard to tell from the pic but it is angled 1/2-1 inch the opposite way of the drivers side.

 

did the pics show up? images are blocked at my work so I cannot tell.

 

You can remove the u-bolts, drop the axle a few inches, hammer the springs back into phase, and then tighten the center pin.
It is not recommended to re-use u-bolts.

 

I don't know anyone who doesn't reuse the bolts.....

Loosen the ubolts hammer the plates straight and tighten em back up. Looks to me like they aren't tight enough.

Fyi its not uncommon for the plates to move like that

 

And as scuba said, might try tightening the Center pin.

 

thanks guys!