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Truck leaning, soft springs

Mastiff

Mastiff

1/2 ton status
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I'm noticing that the truck leans nearly an inch to the driver's side. Well, about in inch in the back, about 0.5 inch in the front. I never really looked closely before, so not sure how long this has been going on. I have the soft ORD springs, no sway bar. I was wondering if this is to be expected to some extent? I've got my spare on the driver's side, plus the exhaust system is there, and steering stuff, for what that's worth. I did move the spare (35") over to the other side (the mount is still on the driver's side) and it shifted it maybe 0.25". I've also had the truck facing both ways to rule out the ground not being totally level, and it still leans the same way.

Anyway, I was interested in whether this is a known thing with soft springs, or maybe I have issues. Oh, and I should mention that all my body mounts are new and the springs are pretty new with fresh bushings.
 
Do you have new springs at all 4 corners? I had a bit of a lean for a long time, but it was due to 1 rear spring sagging. When I swapped the front springs for softer ones, the front was leaning by like 2". Once I fixed the back, everything sat level again. So a problem at any corner can throw everything off. And old trucks are often not completely level. I think more lift just makes it more noticeable.

Related story - my old man had a Scout with a "crooked bumper". After a while it was apparent the bumper leaned different ways after being driven. Of course the bumper was bolted to the frame and was the only straight part. Most of the body mounts had failed and the body would move around. When I think back about that thing, it's a wonder any of us lived. The back seat wasn't even bolted in...
 
Mine has leaned with two different sets of front springs so the rear spring theory makes sense.
 
1977k5 said:
Where are you measuring the 1" difference?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I should have added a disclaimer since I measured simply to the body from the tire. Not super scientific. I'll go out there today and measure from the axle tube to the frame or something like that.
 
Throw a rear swaybar on. Easy to disconnect when needed too. I think mine came from Helwig or something like that.
 
Bringing this back up. Putting a pic in below, for what it's worth. It's only a little over 1/4" difference between the axle tube and bump stop bracket (lower on driver's side), but is 3/4" when measured between tire and body. Maybe that's the normal amount of amplification since the body is outboard more, not sure. It's really noticeable. The bumper is not perfectly level with the body either, but it's actually the opposite direction (body higher on driver's side). I've been focusing on the relationship between the tank skid and the axle, where you see the lean to driver's side. Body mounts are new and that all looks good.

20160305_133918.jpg
 
You need a passenger to even out your daily ride and mash the other spring
 
Swap rears side to side and check it
 
76zimmer said:
Swap rears side to side and check it
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know. Getting those springs on is a PITA. So much arch. Had to ratchet strap them to a 4x4 to get them straight for install. Plus I'd have to remove and reinstall the shims, and buy new U-bolts maybe.

I made more measurements, and the weird thing is that the body is slightly off to the frame, but higher on the driver's side. If I evened up the body to frame alignment, it would look worse. The driver's side is the side that appears to be sagging, but axle to frame distance is only a little low on driver's side. I haven't wrapped my mind around what's going on.
 
I've got the gangster lean too. I finally gave up trying to figure it out. My solution was to just drive the piss out of it and TRY to ignore it. You really don't notice it at 70 mph anyways
 
Mastiff said:
Yeah, I know. Getting those springs on is a PITA. So much arch. Had to ratchet strap them to a 4x4 to get them straight for install. Plus I'd have to remove and reinstall the shims, and buy new U-bolts maybe.

I made more measurements, and the weird thing is that the body is slightly off to the frame, but higher on the driver's side. If I evened up the body to frame alignment, it would look worse. The driver's side is the side that appears to be sagging, but axle to frame distance is only a little low on driver's side. I haven't wrapped my mind around what's going on.
Click to expand...
I'm telling you, get a well endowed passenger.
Problem gone
 
Well I will tell you that my '70 has a lean to the right side. (Passenger is low) It has ORD springs up front. I don't know if may have done something wrong when I installed them, then within an hour checked the flex. I had to stuff the passenger side since the driveshaft wouldn't droop enough.

But I have tried to quit worrying about it since now I don't despise the ride!

I figure that maybe someday I will take them out and get them checked at my local spring shop!

I don't know when someday will get here...
 
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