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Leaning K5, new spring the solution?

Shawn

Shawn

Nuckin Futz!
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My 78 K5 is really leaning bad on the drivers side. Its a good 2" of difference when I measure the passenger and drivers side rear. I just replaced the front springs with new 2" springs but still has the stock rear leaves and it was leaning before I replaced the fronts. I'm thinking of just replacing the drivers side leaf spring (low side) with another new stocker just to see if it fixes the issue. Has anyone else had a rear leaf spring go bad and sag like this?

Passenger gap:
1756956781910.png

Driver gap:
1756956805253.png
 
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Well... I got one coming. We will see what happens. They also had the 1900 lb spring but I think I need the 2350 lb leaf pack.

1756917874096.png
 
I have a 78 also, but mine leans towards the passenger side. lol I have had various stock springs in mine, but it's never level.IMG_8235.JPG
 
No rusty vertical lines on any of leaves on left side?

Mine is off to driver side. With many different springs.
To fair I have never emptied it to see if loading is an issue.

Yours is beyond loading I think
 
500$k5 said:
I have a 78 also, but mine leans towards the passenger side. lol I have had various stock springs in mine, but it's never level.
Click to expand...
Interesting... and you tried replacing all 4 springs? If its 1", ok whatever, but 2" seems a little extreme on the rear. If this doesn't fix mine, I might have to take it to a frame shop. You live in Montrose? I've been going there frequently to see my mother due to health issues. Love that white K5 of yours!

Wes Harden said:
No rusty vertical lines on any of leaves on left side?

Mine is off to driver side. With many different springs.
To fair I have never emptied it to see if loading is an issue.

Yours is beyond loading I think
Click to expand...
I have not looked that close at the spring yet. I guess we'll find out when I take it out and inspect it. Mine is totally unloaded and I don't have the spare in on the passenger side spare holder which may help but very little. Hopefully this new spring does the trick. The other thing is a previous owner could have replaced that corner with the wrong 1900 lb spring if they show two different rear springs. Not sure if that spring has been replaced on either side. You never know with vehicle history for the past 45 years....
 
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Shawn said:
Interesting... and you tried replacing all 4 springs? If its 1", ok whatever, but 2" seems a little extreme on the rear. If this doesn't fix mine, I might have to take it to a frame shop. You live in Montrose? I've been going there frequently to see my mother due to health issues. Love that white K5 of yours!


I have not looked that close at the spring yet. I guess we'll find out when I take it out and inspect it. Mine is totally unloaded and I don't have the spare in on the passenger side spare holder which may help but very little. Hopefully this new spring does the trick. The other thing is a previous owner could have replaced that corner with the wrong 1900 lb spring if they show two different rear springs. Not sure if that spring has been replaced on either side. You never know with vehicle history for the past 45 years....
Click to expand...
Yes I live in Montrose. Stop in and say Hi, if you get a chance. Western Alternator. 130 N. 5th st.
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Hate to even ask…frame straight?
Click to expand...
Steering was straight when measured?
Any lockers?
Good bushings with bolts that were all tightened the same AT RIDE HIEGHT?
Nitrogen charged shocks? Both sides still holding gas?
Driver seat full of sh...?
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Hate to even ask…frame straight?
Click to expand...
Good question! I have no idea. After replacing all 4 springs, it still leans to the drivers side but only an inch this time. The rear spring was bad and different from passenger.
500$k5 said:
Yes I live in Montrose. Stop in and say Hi, if you get a chance. Western Alternator. 130 N. 5th st.
Click to expand...
Will do! My new favorite place close to you is Shelter Distillery next to the river.
1757259868255.png
K85 Octane said:
Steering was straight when measured?
Any lockers?
Good bushings with bolts that were all tightened the same AT RIDE HIEGHT?
Nitrogen charged shocks? Both sides still holding gas?
Driver seat full of sh...?
Click to expand...
Steering straight and on flat garage floor when measured 2nd time. No lockers. All bushings and 4 springs were just replaced including front and rear shackle bushings. At the time of measurement, new gas shocks on the front, old non gas shocks on rear. Zero weight in vehicle.

I recently found the drivers rear spring was sitting on the overload and the passenger was not.
1757260122458.png

Here you can see there is a difference with them both out with no weight at all. Pretty sure the driver side is shot and also different part compared to passenger.
1757260194505.png

1757260218328.png
With all 4 springs replaced, I thought that has to be it with the bad rear springs. NOPE, it still leans to the drivers side but only by an inch now. I may be taking it to a frame shop just to have them look at it.
 
Cheaper :whistle: :haha:
1757269847826.jpeg

Can you run an eye down the frame, connecting the spring mounts and seeing any difference?

Have you measured all 4 corners from the spring to the frame yet? That isolates body mounts, tires, etc etc. It does not isolate out the shackles but 1" off you'd see an ef'd shackle.
 
K85 Octane said:
Cheaper :whistle: :haha:


Can you run an eye down the frame, connecting the spring mounts and seeing any difference?

Have you measured all 4 corners from the spring to the frame yet? That isolates body mounts, tires, etc etc. It does not isolate out the shackles but 1" off you'd see an ef'd shackle.
Click to expand...
Its tempting with the 1" blocks. I'll have to take some measurements from the springs to the frame. The rear shackles are new, all the springs and shackle bushings are new including the ones in the frame. The front shackles are stock but are straight.
 
Measured frame to axle and all looks pretty even at the 4 corners. It must be my body that has a slight lean even though all the body mounts look good. Took it for another trip around the block and parked it in my driveway with a slope so its pointing uphill. Now the front is almost even but the rear is still 1" off so I'll have to take some measurements from the frame to the body and see what it looks like. Thanks everyone!
 
Shawn said:
My 78 K5 is really leaning bad on the drivers side. Its a good 2" of difference when I measure the passenger and drivers side rear. I just replaced the front springs with new 2" springs but still has the stock rear leaves and it was leaning before I replaced the fronts. I'm thinking of just replacing the drivers side leaf spring (low side) with another new stocker just to see if it fixes the issue. Has anyone else had a rear leaf spring go bad and sag like this?

Passenger gap:
View attachment 511949

Driver gap:
View attachment 511950
Click to expand...
Put new stuff on bith sides! That should take care of problem.
 
dra1967pool said:
Put new stuff on bith sides! That should take care of problem.
Click to expand...
Got 4 new springs and all related bushings bushings on both sides. Maybe just need body mounts.
 
Let's say the body mounts all look OK and the frame is a little tweaked. Is it terrible to swap a couple of body mounts to slightly taller ones? The difference needed would be less than the 1" you're seeing at the outside of the body.
 
Blue85 said:
Let's say the body mounts all look OK and the frame is a little tweaked. Is it terrible to swap a couple of body mounts to slightly taller ones? The difference needed would be less than the 1" you're seeing at the outside of the body.
Click to expand...
Agree. Could be something on the frame side but you would think that would show up on the frame to axle measurement. Its very minor now, just 1" in the back. Front seems good right to left. I could leave it alone and nobody would even notice. Before at 2" it was noticeable with the bad rear spring.
 
If you are low on the drivers side, by the time you get your spare tire on the pass side, you should be alright. Unfortunately mine is low on the pass side.
 
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