Comparing Leaf Help Springs And Jounce Springs For A 2023 Toyota Tacoma 4WD

Question:

Im trying to decide between Hellwig and Sumosprings helper springs but am not clear on the benefits/limitations of the jounce versus leaf helper springs. I have a 2023 Tacoma 4WD with a cap and bed platform weighing a total in excess of 500 pounds. I want to offset the sag from this constant load as well as from any additional cargo. Primarily on-road with occasional light off-road and over-sand driving. Which spring would you recommend for my application? Thanks for your help.

asked by: David B

Expert Reply:

Jounce springs will sit on the frame and come into contact with the axle as the suspension compresses. Typically the vehicle manufacturer will place a rubber-type material here to prevent the harsh bump between these two components when heavily loaded or hitting rough terrain. These manufacturer jounce bumpers are usually pretty small and only get used when the vehicle is loaded down so upgrading to larger ones like SumoSprings will have them activate sooner and provide you with more load support and a smoother ride quality.

Leaf helper spring essentially add an extra leaf spring to the stack giving, making it stiffer so that it won't bend down and sag the rear end of the vehicle when under a load.

Of the two options I personally prefer the jounce springs since they'll offer the least amount of change to your unloaded ride quality and have a progressive load control, meaning that they'll become stiffer as the load increases so that you have a better ride quality while loaded. The leaf helper springs are going to be a one and done setting, unless you get out and loosen/tighten the mounting bolts so it'll be more work for you and there's no easy way to gauge the best tightness.

For your 2023 Toyota Tacoma 4WD I recommend the SumoSprings Solo Custom Helper Springs # SSR-612-40. These springs come with a bracket that you'll slip under your u-bolts for a quick and drill free installation. I've attached a video below where Jake will walk you through this process.

expert reply by: Kevin C