Add-a-leaf for under $150 if you only need a small lift and you carry no real weight. Full replacement pack — OME Dakar around $400 or Deaver Stage I/II around $950–$1,100 — if you carry a topper, camper, drawer system, or bumper. Tacomas sag, and an add-a-leaf is a band-aid on a load problem.
The Tacoma's stock rear leaf pack is famous for two things: it rides like a buckboard when empty, and it sags badly the moment you carry any real weight. 2nd gen (2005–2015) and 3rd gen (2016–2023) both share this characteristic, though Toyota issued a TSB and revised the post-TSB packs around 2012. There are three ways to address it: an add-a-leaf, a replacement pack, or a custom progressive pack.
An add-a-leaf is a single extra leaf you bolt into the existing stock pack. Icon, OME, Deaver, and others all sell them in the $120–$200 range. With factory loads, an add-a-leaf yields about 1.5 inches of lift. It stiffens the existing pack and slows future sag but doesn't really fix the underlying issue — the leaves underneath are still tired stock leaves. Add-a-leaf is the right answer if you're on a tight budget, your stock pack is still in good shape, and you're not carrying a topper or camper. It's the wrong answer if your stock pack already has visible reverse arch.
A full replacement pack is the right answer for anyone running real overland gear. OME Dakar (about $400 per side equivalent, often sold as a pair around $400–$500) is the budget overlander's standard — about 2.5 to 2.75 inches of lift, designed for around 250 lb constant load, decent ride empty. Deaver offers three stages keyed to constant bed weight: Stage I (0–300 lb), Stage II (400–600 lb), and Stage III (700–1,000 lb). Deaver's 9-leaf and 10-leaf progressive packs run thinner individual leaves that yield a smoother spring curve through the full suspension cycle — that progressive rate is why people who can afford Deavers run them. Plan on $950–$1,100 for the Deaver pack, plus shocks rated for the new lift height (Bilstein 5100, 5160, or Icon 2.0).
Either way, factor in the consumables. The U-bolts that clamp the pack to the axle are one-time-use; budget $50–$80 for new ones. The shackle bushings are usually shot if the truck has 100k+ miles, and new poly or rubber bushings are cheap insurance. The center pin that locates the pack on the axle is tiny and grade-8 — check it. And in any rust state (Phoenix-spec Tacomas are usually fine, Northeast trucks are not), soak every bolt for 24 hours with penetrant before you swing a wrench, because shearing a leaf spring eye bolt on a rusted axle is a tow-truck-level mistake.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| OME Dakar CS047R rear leaf springs (2nd gen) | ARB / Old Man Emu | ~$400 |
| OME Dakar CS048RA rear springs (3rd gen) | ARB / Old Man Emu | ~$420 |
| Deaver Stage I rear pack (0-300 lb load) | Deaver Spring | ~$950 |
| Deaver 10-leaf progressive pack | Deaver Spring | ~$1100 |
| Icon Stage 2 add-a-leaf kit | Icon Vehicle Dynamics | ~$130 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.
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