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-   -   Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=599362)

poov71 10-06-2013 11:42 AM

Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
77 SWB.. Lowered with 3"spindles and one inch coils.. Rear is a flip..
The passenger side rear sits approximately 1 3/4" higher.. The front of the truck is spot on and it does not appear that the cab is unlevel. The bed is tilted about 1/2" lower to the driver's side which accounts for some of the issue. That leaves 1 1/4" to address.. So..

1. Shim the bed on the driver's side to gain the 1/2" lost there? Anything wrong with doing this?
2. Could I remove a leaf from the passenger's side (only) to make up for some of the height difference? Is there any issues with doing this? If not, which one would you recommend removing?

Thanks you for your time and advice..

Sabaka454 10-06-2013 11:47 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Most likely spring fatigue. I would replace the springs and bushings and wouldn't advise pulling out a leaf. You'd be better off shimming the bed until you replace the springs.

king-918 10-06-2013 11:54 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabaka454 (Post 6301831)
Most likely spring fatigue. I would replace the springs and bushings and wouldn't advise pulling out a leaf. You'd be better off shimming the bed until you replace the springs.

x2
But I bag it and never sag again.

Tuff 1986 10-06-2013 06:35 PM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
I have the same problem on my truck.. The bed is lower on the drivers side.. I have removed one leaf from both sides and swapped them over with no results.. I would like to drop the passenger side about an inch.. Any ideas would help..

poov71 10-06-2013 06:56 PM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Fatigue could be possible. The truck has only 43,000 miles on it so maybe not.. I'm pleased with how rear driver's side sits, which is the lower side, so I really would prefer to drop the passenger side to match.. I failed to mention that it is an 8 pack leaf.. What would be the negatives of removing a leaf?

rwhit57 10-06-2013 10:07 PM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
I had the same problem, I put new springs on the front and air shocks on the rear that I could air up separately. For about a year I had to air the left up more to level it out, now it sits almost perfect on it's own. Go figure.

KQQL IT 10-06-2013 10:09 PM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Switch the leafs left to right. Had to one my 73 to get it level

king-918 10-07-2013 01:25 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
The elephant in the room is a bent frame

rwhit57 10-07-2013 02:41 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by king-918 (Post 6303096)
The elephant in the room is a bent frame

I know it's been discussed before, but I doubt they all have bent frames. I would think the culprit is the majority have driver's side fuel tanks. The weight of the driver and the fuel over the years weakens the springs and typically most lean to the driver's side. Not to dispell what you're saying completely, I would say it sure could be possible the two frame rails can get out of align causing it also, but I'm betting most lean to the driver's side.

Tuff 1986 10-07-2013 03:23 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by poov71 (Post 6302355)
Fatigue could be possible. The truck has only 43,000 miles on it so maybe not.. I'm pleased with how rear driver's side sits, which is the lower side, so I really would prefer to drop the passenger side to match.. I failed to mention that it is an 8 pack leaf.. What would be the negatives of removing a leaf?

I removed one leaf from my pack of 4.. And truck runs and drives good.. No bounce or anything.. But I do not plan on putting anything but groceries back there nothing too heavy.. And I am ok with that... Has anyone tried putting weight on the higher side and tightening the rear leaf hanger?

INSIDIOUS '86 10-07-2013 04:19 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Anyone look at thier cab bushings lately. If the front is pretty close and the read is far out then its prob a leaf pack. Tighten leafs down with load on the rear. Seen air shocks as well cause this same situation one held air and the other didn't. Leaf springs have also been known to cause this issue with one side sagging

Keith Seymore 10-07-2013 07:19 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Keep in mind many trucks had lean when new.

About once a year we would kick off some "science experiment" to try to fix box lean in the assembly plant.

It would be a hot topic for a few months and then fizzle out, until the next time somebody got all excited about it.

I'd shim it and be done with it (which is what I did on my truck).

K

Rich84 10-07-2013 07:49 AM

Re: Truck leaning..I Have an Idea..need opinions
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rwhit57 (Post 6302771)
I had the same problem, I put new springs on the front and air shocks on the rear that I could air up separately. For about a year I had to air the left up more to level it out, now it sits almost perfect on it's own. Go figure.

That's weird...I had to shim the front drivers side, which sagged before and after all new springs front and back..I got tired of looking at the front bumper looking crooked. So yesterday I removed most of the shims and took some measurements. It now sits within about an 1/8" from ground to wheel well on both sides and the bumper looks level.


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