Truck "leans" on drivers side. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

norske · 05-31-2011, 06:57 PM

I've seen some posts where our trucks like to lean towards the driver's side so the driver's looks lower. I have coils, so I picked up some rubber spring boosters from Autozone, jacked up the frame, used a coil spreader tool to spread the coil
(duh), and popped them in. Took about 15 min. Now it looks great going down the road-yippie!

**leddzepp** · 05-31-2011, 07:08 PM

what do the rubber boosters look like, and do you have a part number? i might have to give this a try
Posted via Mobile Device

**oldgold70c10** · 05-31-2011, 07:17 PM

Does anyone know why they do this? I replaced my rear springs several years ago but the truck still is 3/4"-1" lower on the driver side. Maybe its the fronts?

**leddzepp** · 05-31-2011, 07:24 PM

they all seem to do this. its the chevy lean, lol.
Posted via Mobile Device

C/10 King · 05-31-2011, 07:51 PM

My black truck leans the other way with the passenger side lower, which I prefer because I'm in it by myself most of the time, so it evens out.

Shyguy · 05-31-2011, 09:04 PM

Most auto parts stores have the spring spreaders, some are rubber and some are metal. The metal ones are installed by turning in with a ratchet.

norske · 06-01-2011, 12:03 AM

I don't have the number handy, will get it tomorrow. If you ask them they'll know what you mean. I'll post a pic also.

67chevy1series · 06-01-2011, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C/10 King

My black truck leans the other way with the passenger side lower, which I prefer because I'm in it by myself most of the time, so it evens out.

nice one rene!

OJ1988 · 06-01-2011, 07:15 AM

Check those cab and core mounts for cause of lean
Posted via Mobile Device

norske · 06-01-2011, 05:54 PM

Went to take pics and discovered the boosters split in half when I drove it the couple of hundred feet to the garage. Plan B I guess. Maybe the metal wratchet types? We'll see.

**oldgold70c10** · 06-01-2011, 06:15 PM

I had the metal ones in the rear before I got new springs. They just made the ride worse. I think I should have replaced all 4 springs and not just the back, that probably would have leveled it.

CC69Rat · 06-01-2011, 07:09 PM

I have two C10s I plan to lower soon but I also have an S10 that's dropped with 2" spindles and 1.5" springs. The S10s are the same way. About 3/4" on the drivers side.

I used a spring spacer made by Beltech. It is made for the infamous Chevy Lean. It was about $25 bucks, and of course you have to take the spring out but it worked perfectly. I'd highly recommend it, of course assuming the S10 spring and the C10 front coil spring are the same diameter (?) hum .. interesting thought. Just wanted to throw that out there.

**Ironangel** · 06-01-2011, 08:54 PM

Mine had a bit of a lean to the left when I bought it. The previous owner had installed a couple of the pot metal twist-in's in the front left spring. When I disconnected the lower control arm from the spindle to install drop spindles and lower springs, I found out why it "leaned"...The spring was broken! PS. As before mentioned, make sure all four cab mounts and supports are good! Springs and mounts are relatively easy and low cost, dont waste time and money on cheap fixes that will ruin your springs and/or a control arm."just sayin"

bollybib · 06-01-2011, 10:28 PM

I thought something was screwy on mine so I measured the distance from top-of-frame to bottom-of-cab at the rear of the cab and found a difference of half an inch or so from side to side. Worth checking.

OJ1988 · 06-02-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bollybib

I thought something was screwy on mine so I measured the distance from top-of-frame to bottom-of-cab at the rear of the cab and found a difference of half an inch or so from side to side. Worth checking.

Bad cab mounts?
Posted via Mobile Device

eightbanger · 06-02-2011, 09:17 AM

I'am glad someone brought this up, same prob here but I new it would be resolved as soon as my front end rebuild and new cab mounts went in...but no, she still sits lower by an inch at the front drivers side.

Maybe it's like which side you hang...to the left or the right, and Chevy Trucks hang to the left

Rene's Truck must be bent...

bollybib · 06-02-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OJ1988

Bad cab mounts?
Posted via Mobile Device

ya i think so. more compressed on driver's side from age and driver weight i'd say. i'll level it out when it starts to cause lack of sleep thinking about it haha.

my vette had serious PS lean. it turned out to be a POS twisted frame so i replaced it. hopefully this is a "worst case" scenario.

eightbanger · 06-02-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bollybib

ya i think so. more compressed on driver's side from age and driver weight i'd say. i'll level it out when it starts to cause lack of sleep thinking about it haha.

It doesn't fix it! or at least in my case, nor did the front end rebuild as I said...maybe my frame is a little bent from an fender bender in the past.

bollybib · 06-02-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eightbanger

It doesn't fix it! or at least in my case, nor did the front end rebuild as I said...maybe my frame is a little bent from an fender bender in the past.

i don't know the solution, if any. there are a lot of variables that have to be sorted out. but i would think that at least the frame to body dimensions should be equal from side to side.

**leddzepp** · 06-02-2011, 10:18 AM

this was brought up in a recent thread by smorg007. tweaked frame was the consensus reached since most folks had all new suspension parts and cab/core mounts.
Posted via Mobile Device

bollybib · 06-08-2011, 02:12 PM

I should clarify about my "something was screwy" remark in Post #14. What I noticed was that the top of the front of the bed was not parallel with the paint line below the rear window on the cab.

After recently spending time working on my truck with the frame under the bed exposed, it is hard for me to imagine that these rugged frames can be distorted, but they obviously can.

I went back and looked at my photo album of my Vette frame-off that I did back in 1988. This frame is of ladder-type construction similar to our trucks. Back then I made the same assumption as a lot of people have here and first blamed the suspension for the lean, so I rebuilt it and nothing changed. Subsequent investigation led me to the frame. Here are a couple of pics showing the problem that I took back then.

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Here is the link to smorg007's thread on tweaked frames:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=463980

These "leaner" threads have some good info so I thought it was worthwhile to add my dos centavos.

Peace,

Jim

norske · 06-08-2011, 04:47 PM

I'm going to measure frame to the ground on the front. I never noticed it from the front but who knows, it may be leaning the whole length. Will also measure the distance from top to bottom of the springs and see what turns up.

bollybib · 06-08-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norske

I'm going to measure frame to the ground on the front. I never noticed it from the front but who knows, it may be leaning the whole length. Will also measure the distance from top to bottom of the springs and see what turns up.

If that is what you suspect, wouldn't hurt to have it checked out by a professional, too.

05-31-2011, 07:08 PM	#2
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,996	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. what do the rubber boosters look like, and do you have a part number? i might have to give this a try Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man

05-31-2011, 07:17 PM	#3
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,026	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. Does anyone know why they do this? I replaced my rear springs several years ago but the truck still is 3/4"-1" lower on the driver side. Maybe its the fronts? __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel

05-31-2011, 07:24 PM	#4
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,996	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. they all seem to do this. its the chevy lean, lol. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man

05-31-2011, 07:51 PM	#5
C/10 King Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: A****er, CA Posts: 5,594	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. My black truck leans the other way with the passenger side lower, which I prefer because I'm in it by myself most of the time, so it evens out. __________________ C/10 Rene 1966 Short Fleet "The Hag" 1967 CST Short Fleet "Dark Poly" 1971 Short Fleet 1970 Jimmy Custom 2 WD "Golden Ticket" 1972 Blazer 2 WD "Retro Blaze" Last edited by C/10 King; 05-31-2011 at 07:54 PM.

05-31-2011, 09:04 PM	#6
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. Most auto parts stores have the spring spreaders, some are rubber and some are metal. The metal ones are installed by turning in with a ratchet. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

05-31-2011, 06:57 PM	#1
norske Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 117	Truck "leans" on drivers side. I've seen some posts where our trucks like to lean towards the driver's side so the driver's looks lower. I have coils, so I picked up some rubber spring boosters from Autozone, jacked up the frame, used a coil spreader tool to spread the coil (duh), and popped them in. Took about 15 min. Now it looks great going down the road-yippie!

06-01-2011, 12:03 AM	#7
norske Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 117	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I don't have the number handy, will get it tomorrow. If you ask them they'll know what you mean. I'll post a pic also.

06-01-2011, 07:15 AM	#9
OJ1988 Just a car guy Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 991	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. Check those cab and core mounts for cause of lean Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1955 belair Blown Pro Street cruiser 1971 Camaro Pro Touring 1973 Vega Drag Car 1970 C20 tow rig

06-01-2011, 05:54 PM	#10
norske Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 117	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. Went to take pics and discovered the boosters split in half when I drove it the couple of hundred feet to the garage. Plan B I guess. Maybe the metal wratchet types? We'll see.

06-01-2011, 06:15 PM	#11
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,026	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I had the metal ones in the rear before I got new springs. They just made the ride worse. I think I should have replaced all 4 springs and not just the back, that probably would have leveled it. __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel

06-01-2011, 07:09 PM	#12
CC69Rat Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga TN Posts: 6,208	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I have two C10s I plan to lower soon but I also have an S10 that's dropped with 2" spindles and 1.5" springs. The S10s are the same way. About 3/4" on the drivers side. I used a spring spacer made by Beltech. It is made for the infamous Chevy Lean. It was about $25 bucks, and of course you have to take the spring out but it worked perfectly. I'd highly recommend it, of course assuming the S10 spring and the C10 front coil spring are the same diameter (?) hum .. interesting thought. Just wanted to throw that out there. __________________ Chad 1967 C10 SWB - Project Savannah - 6.0/4L80 Currently underway 1968 C10 SWB - TOTY 2018, 50th Anniversary Tribute Project * Sold * Pride and Joy 1986 Silverado Short Fleet - Scarlet Sold 1985 Silverado Short Fleet Sold 2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 - Lifted, Built 1992 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 - Lifted 2013 Honda Accord EX-L v6 Coupe 6spd (wife's ride)

06-01-2011, 08:54 PM	#13
Ironangel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Falls City, Nebraska "100 Miles From Nowhere" Posts: 2,219	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. Mine had a bit of a lean to the left when I bought it. The previous owner had installed a couple of the pot metal twist-in's in the front left spring. When I disconnected the lower control arm from the spindle to install drop spindles and lower springs, I found out why it "leaned"...The spring was broken! PS. As before mentioned, make sure all four cab mounts and supports are good! Springs and mounts are relatively easy and low cost, dont waste time and money on cheap fixes that will ruin your springs and/or a control arm."just sayin" Attached Images __________________ Michael of the clan Hill, "Two Seventy Two's" 71 1-ton Dually 350 4-Speed 71 C/50 Grain Truck, 350 Split-Axle 4-Speed 02 3/4 ton Express 14 Indian Chief Vintage 1952 Ford 8N, "Only Ford Allowed On The Property" "Be American, Buy American" Last edited by Ironangel; 06-01-2011 at 09:06 PM.

06-01-2011, 10:28 PM	#14
bollybib Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 1,584	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I thought something was screwy on mine so I measured the distance from top-of-frame to bottom-of-cab at the rear of the cab and found a difference of half an inch or so from side to side. Worth checking. __________________ - Jim - My Daily Driver is a 1969 Chevrolet Custom/20 Fleetside 350/TH400/Eaton H052 4.10 and its Project thread is here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456911 Last edited by bollybib; 06-01-2011 at 10:36 PM.

06-02-2011, 09:17 AM	#16
eightbanger 454 MAKES IT ROAR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Essex, U.K Posts: 2,701	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I'am glad someone brought this up, same prob here but I new it would be resolved as soon as my front end rebuild and new cab mounts went in...but no, she still sits lower by an inch at the front drivers side. Maybe it's like which side you hang...to the left or the right, and Chevy Trucks hang to the left Rene's Truck must be bent... __________________ Nigel. An American living in a British body. 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 10 454 "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" - Thomas Jefferson No more pain. 03.12.60 -- 12.28.10 http://www.youtube.com/Eightbanger

06-02-2011, 10:18 AM	#20
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,996	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. this was brought up in a recent thread by smorg007. tweaked frame was the consensus reached since most folks had all new suspension parts and cab/core mounts. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man



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06-08-2011, 02:12 PM	#21
bollybib Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 1,584	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I should clarify about my "something was screwy" remark in Post #14. What I noticed was that the top of the front of the bed was not parallel with the paint line below the rear window on the cab. After recently spending time working on my truck with the frame under the bed exposed, it is hard for me to imagine that these rugged frames can be distorted, but they obviously can. I went back and looked at my photo album of my Vette frame-off that I did back in 1988. This frame is of ladder-type construction similar to our trucks. Back then I made the same assumption as a lot of people have here and first blamed the suspension for the lean, so I rebuilt it and nothing changed. Subsequent investigation led me to the frame. Here are a couple of pics showing the problem that I took back then. Here is the link to smorg007's thread on tweaked frames: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=463980 These "leaner" threads have some good info so I thought it was worthwhile to add my dos centavos. Peace, Jim __________________ - Jim - My Daily Driver is a 1969 Chevrolet Custom/20 Fleetside 350/TH400/Eaton H052 4.10 and its Project thread is here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456911 Last edited by bollybib; 06-08-2011 at 02:14 PM.

06-08-2011, 04:47 PM	#22
norske Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 117	Re: Truck "leans" on drivers side. I'm going to measure frame to the ground on the front. I never noticed it from the front but who knows, it may be leaning the whole length. Will also measure the distance from top to bottom of the springs and see what turns up.

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