2nd Gen: Anyone running General HD Leaf Springs? **Installed**

Some mentions of them around the forum, but haven't found anyone saying they are running them.

Seem like a good price if they are better than OEM.

Current situation and goal: '20 DC 4x4. I have a fiberglass topper and decked drawers on the truck at all times (so 5-600# always back there). I want to keep essentially the stock height and i want some rake for when i do load the back with dogs, fridge, kayak, trailer, etc.
I currently am running all stock suspension (TRDOR) with the RAS HD. I like the RAS, but it's maxed out to get the rake back. I have them cranked up so i can fit both washers between the coils.

What i'm hoping is i can get the General HDs, replace my stock springs and probably add the RAS back on but under a lower tension with the goal of having the rake/load capacity and a little stiffer ride in the back.

Thoughts? Experiences?

General HD Spring Link: https://www.generalspringkc.com/200...y-rear-leaf-spring-5-4-1-leaves/?gad_source=1

 

When I reached out to them about the HD leaf pack, they told me that it adds 600 lbs of capacity over the stock leaf spring. Might be the perfect ticket for you. I'm still on the fence about getting some to compare to my frankenpack. The price is right.

 

Im curious about the General HDs also. I just don't have the weight in the rear like you.

 

I have them sitting in my cart with a set of u-bolts.$622 with shipping. Not bad.

 

not bad at all! Wondering about lift. I know they say its to accommodate an additional 600lbs, but what would it be with out the weight in the rear.... an additional inch or so wouldn't be bad

 

Well, i bit the bullet and ordered them. I assume they will arrive next week sometime.

I was looking around, i'm guessing ATS, General Springs and Springworks all offer the same HD springs. ATS and General Springs have them listed with the same product code. All have the same diagram/specs.

I just ordered the 2 springs and new longer ubolts. $623 shipped, not bad at all if they work well. Hope they are quiet.

 

A few updates since i'm mid swap currently:

• Springs were labeled "Stanley Spring 90-363HD". Appears as though all of the different sites are ordering the springs from this supplier, so might as well grab whatever is cheapest.
• I ordered the u-bolts what General Spring suggested with the HD springs. They are nice, come with washers, nuts, etc. But they are about 1" too long.
• Big surprise was when i pulled off my first OEM spring and set it next to the new springs. The new springs have much less arch, a good 2-3" less. See pics below. A bit hard to tell in the pictures now i look at them, but very easy to see in person. I emailed General Spring to verify this is correct. They confirmed all is good, reiterated these springs will sit at stock height.
• Now here is where it gets fun. I swapped the passenger side without issue. Driver's side though... the spring shackle bolt was seized to the spring bushing. I knew i should have just gotten new shackles but figured the would be fine. I was wrong. I worked for about 2 hours to try to get the shackle out with no success, ended up putting that spring back on and ordered a new shackle.

Since i have 1 65k mile OEM spring on the driver's side and a new HD spring on the passenger side, the truck will look weird right? Nope. It essentially sits normal. I have about 1" lean to the driver's side, which is about normal with a full tank of gas. I expected the passenger to be a decent bit higher but i do have hte topper and drawers in the back. Not sure how i feel about that.

Later this week i'll finish up with other spring and will add back on the RAS as well.

 

Thanks for the update. I had the exact same problem with a shackle bolt when swapping springs a while back. Total PITA. I feel your pain. Luckily, it was some CB shackles that froze up and I had the OE shackles in a box, but it took me a day to find them so it all went back together for a day just to come apart again.

Let us know how they ride.

 

I'll be watching how you like them over time, once you get them both on. I've had the General Spring HDs on my first gen Tacoma for a few years, probably 50,000 miles. I really like them. I also have air bags back there though, so it's hard to get a complete picture of how they ride. I didn't compare the old and new side by side, but I was replacing 20+ year old springs, and I have no doubt they were nearly flat. No idea how the new pack would have compared to my Tacoma's springs when just a couple years old.

They definitely gave me about an inch of lift. Not over the sagging height my truck had settled into on worn springs, but definitely a lift over stock height. Interesting that they don't do that for the Tundra.

I'm in the process of replacing my front springs and coils right now. The rear leaves seem ok for now, but at 225,000 miles and 22 years, I assume I'll be replacing the leaf springs at some point before too long. General Spring will be the most likely, since the price is right and I don't have any complaints.

 

Finished up the install last week, drove and towed with the truck over the weekend.

• Yes, the springs are stiffer. Not overly stiff, but it is noticeable. I like it.
• Ride height remains unchanged, essentially stock height. Maybe they would sit a bit higher than stock if i didn't have the topper and drawers. I was hoping it would sit a bit higher than stock.
• I added the HD RAS kit i had on the stock springs back on. I had it cranked pretty high (i could fit both washers together through the coils), now i just have it on the normal high (thick washer) setting).
  • This nets me about 2" or so of rake.
  • The spring keepers interfere with the RAS coils. For right now i've bent the keeps away from the springs to eliminate the contact. I'll trim the tops of the keepers in the future.
• The rate of squat does seem to be reduced due to the stiffer springs, which is essentially what they promised.
• They are quiet (at least for now). They do have plastic silencer pads between each leaf.

All in all, i'm happy enough. The ride is definitely improved. Would i do it all again knowing what i know now? Maybe. I would probably have gone the add-a-leaf route instead, saved some time and money. That being said, one of my shackles was seized on the spring, so it is probably better i replaced the packs.

If your springs are worn, and you're looking for a replacement and keeping original ride height, these are for you. If your springs are fine, just sitting low from a constant weight, i highly recommend the RAS setup.

 

What tongue weight and topper weight do you have. Are these the General HD springs? Looking at those for our ‘19 Crewmax.

 

im figuring around 300lbs for the ARE fiberglass topper with windows and another 300lbs for the decked drawers with a bit of normal junk inside. I’m a DC, so 6 3/4’ bed. I should probably get the truck weighed…

trailer is a 7x12 enclosed moto hauler, I figure around 300lbs tongue weight with the bmw r1150gs inside.

I’m loaded up on his weekend, kayak and paddle board on top of the topper, 150lbs of dogs in the bed, dometic fridge full, hitch carrier, stroller, baby, baby’s mama and all accessories for a weekend and it rode really well.

I guess they have these set up to sit pretty flat (like they say). Put some weight on and they get the overload spring contacting and they stiffen up quite a bit. I don’t mind having rake, I just really hate the saggy ass when loaded down, especially for normal activities. So far, these have accomplished that goal.

 

Glad these seem to be working out for ya. Any updates on them? Im trying to decide between the HD and regular 3/1 leafs. I ride empty most of the time but do load down with about 350-400 lbs of gear for camping trips. In your opinion, would the HDs ride too stiff and high with no added weight?

 

As the HD pack adds 600 lbs additional capacity, I would think that empty they would ride fairly harsh. Since they don't appear to add much height compared to the stock spring, they are going to have a higher initial rate - i.e. stiffer ride - than the stock spring as they are expecting to carry more weight at stock height. In contrast, a leaf pack designed for additional load that also provides lift such as the Icon RXT pack gets the additional load capacity from the fact that springs are being compressed more and engaging more of the spring, causing more deflection on each spring, which increases the spring rate. If you look at their literature, you will see something like 3" of lift with no weight in the bed, 1.75" of lift with 225 lbs in the bed, 4" of lift with 225 lbs in the bed and the extra leaf, and 2" of lift with the extra leaf and 500 lbs in the bed. Or some such. The point is, those springs are deflecting a lot to get that additional capacity. Anecdotally speaking, I saw roughly 3" of suspension squat on the stock springs with over 1200 lbs in the bed; less spring deflection with more load capacity means a stiffer spring overall. The HD pack above appears to simply be a stiffer spring overall. BTW, 400 lbs in the bed isn't a big deal for the stock suspension.

 

Everything still seems fine, they ride well and are quiet. My truck is never unloaded, so i wouldn't know how they ride empty.

 

Awesome thank you for a break down. Might just get the 3/1 and call it good.

 

@_none_ How are the springs holding up after 8 or 9 months? Looking at springs again...

 

No issues, they have been good. I have them in conjunction with the RAS still. On road only driving, frequent towing a 7x12 enclosed trailer.

 

Interesting that you are still using the RAS in conjunction with the springs. Is that more to retain ride height when towing, or is needed when trailering? I say "needed" knowing that's a very unqualified term.

General Spring offers an add a leaf spring in two ratings - 600 lbs and 700 lbs - and in two lengths - short and long. I'm wondering if they are the same extra spring they put in the pack, but the height difference you showcased would lead me to think maybe not. I'm changing setups and will have a full time load similar to yours, maybe a little heavier. But sill need to trailer. Was hoping to find a good spring solution without needing bags or the RAS.

 

I would say if you want to avoid using the RAS or airbags, get a custom leaf pack or add those extra add a leaf. Honestly, i see no downside to the RAS (other than the cost). I had airbags on my last truck, i did not like the ride and that they limit the up travel, so my goal was to avoid them this time.

I don't mind rake when unloaded, i just want to avoid the saggy ass when towing and loaded. With this setup, that seems to be achieved. The springs do a nice job of stiffening up when loaded, i don't get much squat. As noted though, they did not provide any lift either.