Possible frame is twisted??

[Mattys1970C-10]

So I was looking at the suspension yesterday and now im gettin kinda worried that its not a backyard lowering job, but that its a twisted frame on this truck I just bought. somebody told me that the right rear corner of the truck sat higher than the left, I said it was parked on a hill but my OCD (plus the fear of spending 4500 bucks on a twisted truck) drove me to check. I dont know how to verify if the springs were heated to lower the truck, and they did one side a little differnt than the other, because it sits like a 4.5 6, or how to verify the frame is all good. are there points I can measure? Things to look for? Sellers to hunt for?? any help is greatly appreciated

[sKnNyPpY]

Probably just the Chevy Lean. Unless you are having alignment or other issues I wouldn't worry too much. I've got the GMC Lean, hey, the truck is 43 years old

[CC69Rat]

Yep, the infamous Chevy Lean. They all have it you just notice it more on a lowered truck. Belltech even makes a spacer to correct it. Even S10s have it.

Some of my friends will cut about a 1/8 turn off the coil spring to compensate and get it sitting level. It's not that the right rear is too high, it's the left front too low. ..If that makes any sense at all.

I have heard all kinds of reasons why they did it.. but who knows man. It shows more on some truck than others too.

[72_Cheyenne_Super]

If you want to double check for a twist you can measure corner to corner (LF to RR, RF to LR) and compare measurements; generally there is an obvious sign to look for like a bent frame horn for example. An alignment shop will pick it up right away too

[CC69Rat]

It could very well be twisted slightly.. All trucks are different. Just remember back in the day these trucks were 'new' they were being used like trucks. Hauling heavy stuff, pulling a tractor out of a ditch.. who knows what else. It could have been in a collision at some point and fixed.. you just never know.

My point is its an old truck. Do what you can to fix it and just enjoy it for what it is. If you want a new truck, buy a new truck. Just my .02

[hugger6933]

How do your gaps all look? Can you get the truck to a level place that would be the first thing then take measurements from the front frame horns go back about 8 inches to rule out the frame horn or the bumper bracket then do it on the other side same on the back. That would be the best to determine if your frame is close make sure the air pressure is the same in the tires all the way around. Jim

[Carmen Black]

I am glad I looked at this thread. I must have chevy lean also. I had never even heard of it. My trucks PO had heated the rear springs until they looked like a stack of pancakes and the truck rode on the bump stops and when you hit a pothole, your kidneys would start hurting.

Well I decided to fix the heated springs. So some four inch drop coils, adjustable track bar, shock relocators and new shocks from ECE and she rides great. However, when I measured from the floor to the top of the rear wheel wells, I was higher on the passenger side by about an inch. I even disconnected the shocks and track bar to see if that affected it and there was no change.

If you post pictures of your springs, I am sure someone can tell you quickly what is going on with them. And I am not sure if you are also talking about your front springs also, but people usually cut them instead of heating.

[Stu Pidd]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

...back in the day these trucks were 'new' they were being used like trucks.

You mean I'm not supposed to keep using mine as a truck?

[Mattys1970C-10]

ill get some pics up. the springs look exactly like the ones in the 4 6 drop and the truck rides amazing, potholes and all. If the front left is too low, and this is causing the right rear to be up high, does that mean I could fix this by putting new parts in the front?

[Mattys1970C-10]

the gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheelwell is closer on the driver side in the rear, noticably