Help - A real mystery !!

[TobyArnot]

O.K. I'll try to make it brief. "70 Stepside. Sat about 3/4" lower on the drivers side. After 2-1/2" spindles + one coil cut with springs switched from right to left. Still lower on the drivers side (about 1/2"). Short story - Decided it was too low, bought a set of take outs from board member BowtieBill, told myself that that would raise it back up (uncut) and all would be well!
NOW, to the mystery ! . When I dropped the lowers to remove the cut spring from the driver's side, all went well. Installed the take-out (uncut) spring, got the top and bottom lined up and bingo. Left side done. Moved to the right side and dropped the lower and pulled out the cut spring and plugged in the uncut spring. Lined it up top and bottom and started jacking the lower back up. LO AND BEHOLD - the ball joint stud would barely reach the hole in the spindle. I double checked everything that I could think of. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER - but after removing the upper bump stop and some "creative" jack maneuvers, managed to get the threads up thru the spindle and the nut started. Needless to say, I was glad to get that thing connected. Anyway, pulled the nut down to snug it up. Decided to let the jacks down for a look and my gosh, the driver's side look great but the right side to 2 or 2-1/2" taller than the left. What am I missing??? I'm thinking about putting the cut spring back in the right side. Can I run two slightly different spring rates if he darn thing will just sit level!!!

I'll listen to all and thanks for listening to me.

Toby

[makman1297]

I would check to make sure that nothing is bent or put together wrong. Is the lower arm sitting in the mount properly, where the u bolts go around it. It has a hole drilled in it to lock it into place.

[TobyArnot]

Thanks, but I didn't loosen the cross-shafts. PO rebuilt front end about five years ago, so it's mostly new stuff. Just loosened the lower ball joint and let the lower control-arm down. Nothing bent that I can see. Gonna' take another poke at it soon and try to see what's going on.

Anybody else ? ? ?

[John Fabris]

Without seeing it myself, hard to determine what is wrong.

But if you are sure the springs are the same, then I would check the upper and lower A Arms and make sure they are the same and not mis matched. After that, check the spindles to make sure they are not different.

Take pictures of both sides of suspension with wheels off and post here to see.

[dznucks]

If you are positive your springs are seated correctly, both top and bottom.

the only other thing i can think of is one is a heavy duty spring and ones not.

[TobyArnot]

Got a chance to get under da' truck for a few minutes, today. May have found the sagging problem - see pic. Looks like the left rear lower control arm bushing is beat. Can I rebuild or must I replace the shafts and bushings??
Still haven't addressed the "jacked-up" right side. One battle at a time.

[truckdude239]

how about picture of the right side

[Classic Heartbeat]

I would say it's old used springs. I would measure the back too. These trucks tend to have what I fondly call the Chevrolet lean... My beliefe is throughout the long lives of these trucks they mainly had someone in the driver's seat. Therefor the trucks tended to lean that direction because they hauled driver arround, wearing the drivers side springs a little more than the passinger. Weather it's true or not I don't know. I just know the problem is usualy fixed with new springs. WES

[TobyArnot]

O.K. Got under there and took some pictures. looks like the rear lower a-arm bushing is destroying the shaft and the arm ???
What do you think?

[70shortfleet]

Originally Posted by TobyArnot

O.K. Got under there and took some pictures. looks like the rear lower a-arm bushing is destroying the shaft and the arm ???
What do you think?

That doesn't look too safe to drive!! I think I would put a new bushing in and you might even need a different lower a-frame

[raycow]

I don't think I have ever seen one that bad. At the very least, you will need a shaft and bushing kit. Take it apart before ordering so you can see if the control arm is damaged too.

Ray

[id_unavailable]

that shaft has to be in 2 pieces. Are you sure the difference is not coming from the rear springs? I have a bagged toyota if i put more air in the drivers rear bag the passenger front drops an the drivers front lifts.

[w3lfd]

PO rebuilt front end about five years ago.

I would have to say it's quite likely that the PO is a liar based on the pics you just posted. Or he doesn't understand the definitions of "rebuild" or "front end". Third possibility being he had no clue what he was doing.

If I were in your situation I would be going over the entire suspension setup looking for issues. That is just scary down there. One thing i've learned, never take a PO's word for it that they did something. Been burned too many times by assuming they were being honest. Also, time seems to get warped in the mind sometimes.

[bigsnookmaster]

That's the " Corvette" option offset bushing! Just kidding! That looks real bad, as stated before, you might want to check the whole suspension real good to avoid a disaster! Good luck!

[TobyArnot]

Hello and Good Advice from ALL!
I'm in the process of dismantling the whole front end. Found some damage to the left, lower a-arm. Looks like I'm gonna' need a donor part, I don't think this one can be saved. The bushing threads in the a-arm are wiped out. Not to mention the shafts and bushing.
Here's pics of the rear, lower, driver's side . Passenger side looks much better, but I'm going in just to be sure.

Thanks again to all.

[19stepSide72]

Wow that's just nasty. Good luck.
Posted via Mobile Device

[raycow]

If you are at the point of having to replace a control arm, you might want to consider changing to 73-up control arms and shafts. This design uses metal encased rubber bushings instead of the threaded metal kind.

Advantages: Replacement parts are cheaper and easier to find. No greasing required. Some owners claim the rubber bushings are quieter or ride better. I haven't noticed this myself, but it could very well be true if you are replacing a badly worn set of metal bushings.

Disadvantages: None that I am aware of, except that it won't look stock.

The swap is almost a bolt-in. You will need to enlarge the holes for the U-bolts. If you are staying with drum brakes, you will need to install your 70 balljoints in the later control arms.

Ray

[TobyArnot]

I wish I could, but limited funds - Found a donor part and will install new lower shafts kits and ball joints. The uppers are good, I greased them until clean grease came out and they look and feel o.k. I want to be safe but not completely broke!

Thanks,

[Putter]

Wow. Makes me wonder......MY '69 has always looked lower on the driver side to me, too. Never really thought to look at those areas. *added to check list of to-do items*

[Jacfourteen]

Wow, glad you caught that before all hell broke lose driving down the road! Mine can be squeeky at times I think I will be looking into this a little further now.