k5 still leaning. i think the frame is bent.

[Ryan B.]

Well this sucks.
I just got done putting in new 6" softride springs up front, and the truck still leans.
I was pretty convinced its the springs. i took some measurements and i was sagging a bit over 1" and it even looked like the passanger side spring was fatigued, like it had less arch to it..
Well new springs are in and its looking pretty much the same.. Now i'm pretty sure the frame is tweeked from the last time i went wheeling.
So now what? Time to look for a new frame? I can't think of a way to fix a tweeked frame... other than go wheeling some more and concentrate on tweeking the other side now.
what do i do?

 

[PeteH]

sucky

I bet a handful of us r riding around with tweaked frames and dont even know it ...or know it and dont do anything.

i say just take it to a frame straightener. i did frame straightening/frame pulls at school (somewhat computerized and monster hydrolic do-dads), not sure what they charge here in california though.

my buddy's old man used to straighten frames by tying one end of a strap to the bent frame and the other end to a truck going the opposite direction. then yankn' it hard but i dont think u can do that in your situation, plus i dont think its a very bright idea.

so...yea..just find someone with a frame straightener. i think theres a lot in sj

 

[spearchucker]

When you took your measurements was it from the ground to the frame or from the ground to the body? Have you tried swapping the springs from side to side to see if the sag follows. Yeah it's alot of work, but it's free.

 

[gravdigr]

My 86 had a pretty bent frame. The front was bent to the side a good bit. Cost $250 to get it straightened. Beats the hell out of putting in a new frame.

 

[RingMaster4x4]

I got you a frame here in Texas but you got to come get it

 

[dyeager535]

How are the measurements corner to corner ("X" pattern?) compared to drivers side vs. passenger side in the rear?

I noticed on mine (good lean to one side) that the opposite corner spring was the culprit...if a spring on one corner is "high", it will not only induce a visible lean to one side, but it will also "push down" the opposite corner.

Sounds like you have a good idea when it happened though, which does tend to lead away from spring "sag". I checked into frame straightening on mine before I figured out my problem, and it was so expensive (just to look at it) in my opinion, that I wrote that idea off.

The service or chassis manuals usually have the measurements in them, if you have a flat floor I think you can probably use those charts. From what I found though, trying to use a point on the frame as a reference was pointless, it seemed like there was so much possible variation that I could never guarantee myself I was coming up with true numbers.

 

[Burt4x4]

Well if you catch massive air at Pismo when you land, land flat and it may tweek it back, might have to fly a few times thou

 

[mrk5]

B_to_C and I were discussing this the other day. Both of our trucks lean to the passenger side. B_to_C's truck leaned before and after an all spring lift. On mine I don't remember if it did before the lift, but I put new springs only in the front.

 

[zcarczar]

Ryan, its not uncommon to kill frames. My frame is on its last leg in my blazer, and Chris Bowen has killed a frame before also. He fully boxed his and even with no body his frame doesnt flex an inch, it works very well. I personally am going to build a new frame to go with the 5 link up front, but boxing a new frame would probably work really good, but it will add some weight and will be time consuming.

 

[Ryan B.]

How are the measurements corner to corner ("X" pattern?) compared to drivers side vs. passenger side in the rear?

Sounds like you have a good idea when it happened though.

Thanks for the replies guys..
Yes i have a good idea of when it happened...

One of the three times i hit this obstacle.

At the rear spring shackle bolt its pretty much the same.
At the very front spring hanger bolt i have 1 1/2" difference.
At the front leaf (bottom) shackle bolt i have 1" difference.
I'm pretty sure i just bent the crap outta the front part of the passanger side frame rail. (see pic above.)
Well I'm leaving for pismo beach oceano dunes tommorow so i'll be sure and beat my truck and air it out while i'm down there to try and bend the frame back straight. (see pic below)

Have a good memorial day weekend everyone! be safe!

 

[rjfguitar]

Take it to a body shop and have them put it up on the frame rack. They can get frames very close these days.

 

[AkMudr]

Is it the whole truck sagging or is the cab leaning is reference to the bed? Ever replace yer body mounts? Ive seen alot of chevy's that lean down in the drivers front corner..Mine does it and I was the first person to ever wheel it.

Just a thought.

 

[JK5]

I'd find a bodyshop that specializes in truck frames. The equipment most bodyshops have doesn't work for anything other than unibody cars. You need someone that has a old frame rack, that has tram and centering gauges.

I've fixed many chevy truck frames back in my bodyshop days, it seems you have bent the right frame rail up a bit. Those repairs are pretty simple, but most truck frame repair specialists want $75-100 per hour, for set-ups and pulls.

 

[mikey_d05]

Hit the same rock going the other way.


Seriously though, this kinda hits home. My truck's stance is uneven by about 1.5" but I never paid much attention since I was pretty sure I just tweaked the springs. I'll have to take some measurements next time I go home.

 

[84k5]

I took my truck to a place that only did frames. After $600 there, new springs all around, new body mounts...the ****er still is crooked by like 3/4". I think my front housing is bent. If I ever really build up one of these trucks the frame is going to be the first thing to go.

 

[koldsimer]

Thanks for the replies guys..
Yes i have a good idea of when it happened...

One of the three times i hit this obstacle.

At the rear spring shackle bolt its pretty much the same.
At the very front spring hanger bolt i have 1 1/2" difference.
At the front leaf (bottom) shackle bolt i have 1" difference.
I'm pretty sure i just bent the crap outta the front part of the passanger side frame rail. (see pic above.)
Well I'm leaving for pismo beach oceano dunes tommorow so i'll be sure and beat my truck and air it out while i'm down there to try and bend the frame back straight. (see pic below)

Have a good memorial day weekend everyone! be safe!

I don't think that would tweak your frame. It was probably tweaked before that. All the bad frames i've seen were due to serious collisions, rolls or other major damage. Just flexing your truck over a rock shouldn't do much to your frame.

 

[CK5]

My K5 has leaned toward the drivers side a tad for a long time now, I think they came pre bent from the factory. Mine is now solid as it is all tube and the crossmembers have been welded so no tweaking it anyway, after I go coil over in the front I should be able to adjust the ride height a little on that one side.

 

[XAlucardX]

Mine leans slightly to the drivers side... i call it the Chevy lean, every chevy truck ive ever owned has had it, and i didnt make that term up.... Or do the blazers not get it?

 

[Mr.Selfdestruct]

Mine also leans to the Drivers side about 1.5 to 2 inches. I have all new springs, i measured the from frame rail to spring perch before and after the new springs, and the sucker still leans.

 

[VikingWarlord]

mine leans too I have an '83 K5 and had a droop of one full inch at the drivers rear. I'll get some measurements all around and see if that helps shed some light on the problem. I have already replaced the rear leaves with a different pair of stock springs and it changed nothing. Looked over the body mounts too and they seemed fine. I wondered if a bent sway bar would cause this problem ? Mine looks ok, but just a thought.