Front end sag.

[62 short step]

Ok guys, you know I changed the original front suspension because it was sagging. Well I have the same problem with the 73-87 4" lift springs I put on the front. I guess it was'nt the old 61 springs its something else, I had the frame checked out on a frame machine at a local chevy dealer. They said no damage at all so what next? I swaped the front leafs from side to side same result. Talk about frustrated! I dont know where to look next. Its 1" lower on the drivers side than the passenger side. Should I get a 1" zero rate block and be done? Here is a pic. I know its hard to see in the pic, but its noticable in person.

[SeventyOne]

Putting a 1" zero rate on the driver side is just a bandaid appearance-wise. There must be some other factor at work here - wish I could help more but I klnow nothing about '66 and earlier chevys.

[62 short step]

Yeah I know it would be a bandaid fix, but I'm lost.

[jrdv]

Could it be weak driver side cab bushings ( rubber mount )? I'm not sure what the cab mounts look like on a 61?. I have put on numerous lift kits on 71-72's and have never had one that was exactly the same height all the way around.

I put air bags on the back of my 71 3/4 4x4 work truck because it is heavier on the drivers side ( cattle feeder ). You could do the same and air up the drivers side bag more than the passenger side in order to level it out.

john

[62 short step]

The cab mounts are old, but its definitly in the suspension. I thought about getting the leaf spring on the drivers side arched an inch. I dont know how that would affect the ride between the two springs up front.

[jrdv]

Maybe look for an "add a leaf". I assume they make some for the front? I put some on a my blazer years ago and it raised the back about 1.5 inches.

If all else fails, put a 30 inch tire on the passenger side and a 31 on the drivers side!

john

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by jrdv

Maybe look for an "add a leaf". I assume they make some for the front? I put some on a my blazer years ago and it raised the back about 1.5 inches.

If all else fails, put a 30 inch tire on the passenger side and a 31 on the drivers side!

john

That would do it!!

[special-K]

I wouldn`t do anything different to one side from the other.That will affect alot in the way of ride and handling.Can`t tell from the picture,that`s for sure.Your carport roofline doesn`t have an 8" crown in it either,right?
Have you looked into the rear suspension and frame?If that`s cocked it will affect the front stance.

[dammitmitchell]

are you absolutely sure the cab mounts are okay??
i swore after my axle swap that my truck was leaning...
i looked re-torqued, pulled shocks, wiggled, swore, drank... swore some more.... and i for some reason looked up and the cab mounts are a "little bad"... now that made a huuuge difference.. i replaced the left and then the right side looked low... so that's my future project....

i would absolutely make sure to check the cab mounts brother..
there's a very slim chance that your leafs are causng this still even after replacing them...
unless you have a 300lb weight in that one corner..
good luck

[dammitmitchell]

oh i lso thought of....
what about where your leafs connect to? shackles any good are they all the same ???
are the mounting brackets the same? etc etc..
front shocks are those in okay condition?
leaf spring bushings... how are those?
and that' is a dang good looking truck..
good luck

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by special-K

I wouldn`t do anything different to one side from the other.That will affect alot in the way of ride and handling.Can`t tell from the picture,that`s for sure.Your carport roofline doesn`t have an 8" crown in it either,right?
Have you looked into the rear suspension and frame?If that`s cocked it will affect the front stance.

Tim, no my roof is fine! It looks funny and the truck looks good! The rear is fine, i've looked at it all and its killing me why I cant figure it out. There is a local 4x4 shop here but I don't how good they are, might bring it to them.

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

are you absolutely sure the cab mounts are okay??
i swore after my axle swap that my truck was leaning...
i looked re-torqued, pulled shocks, wiggled, swore, drank... swore some more.... and i for some reason looked up and the cab mounts are a "little bad"... now that made a huuuge difference.. i replaced the left and then the right side looked low... so that's my future project....

i would absolutely make sure to check the cab mounts brother..
there's a very slim chance that your leafs are causng this still even after replacing them...
unless you have a 300lb weight in that one corner..
good luck

The reason I'm sure its in the suspension is that the drivers side rear shackle and leaf is closer to the frame than the passenger side. The shackle angle is off and i'm going to address that soon but it should be the same from side to side anyways. All the bushings are good poly. I will get new cab mounts too. Oh, thanks for the comment too!!

['63GENIII]

I've got the same problem on the '63 except it's 1 1/2" lower on the passenger side. It was like that with the original suspension and now with the 3/4 ton axles and 1/2 ton springs that have a 4" lift. Yes it is frustrating especially after doing the swap and thinking it would cure the problem only to have it come back. Same here with getting the frame checked and everything has been measured too. I'll be watching this thread for sure.

[special-K]

I wondered if one shackle is binding.That would also affect steering because the axle would be shifted ever so little.Have you checks fore & aft measurements?
The other thing is that by coincidence you got a set of unevenly settled springs.Are they used?I think I`d take them off and have them arched.They do one then use it to model off of for the second spring maych.

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

I've got the same problem on the '63 except it's 1 1/2" lower on the passenger side. It was like that with the original suspension and now with the 3/4 ton axles and 1/2 ton springs that have a 4" lift. Yes it is frustrating especially after doing the swap and thinking it would cure the problem only to have it come back. Same here with getting the frame checked and everything has been measured too. I'll be watching this thread for sure.

Yes its very frustrating, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem. When I find something out I'll let you know.

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by special-K

I wondered if one shackle is binding.That would also affect steering because the axle would be shifted ever so little.Have you checks fore & aft measurements?

Here is a stupid ? , that means from side to side?


The other thing is that by coincidence you got a set of unevenly settled springs.Are they used?I think I`d take them off and have them arched.They do one then use it to model off of for the second spring maych.

Yes they are used, I did swap them from side to side and have the same result. I wish you guys were closer so one of you could look at it in person. It always helps to have a second set of eyes to look at it.

[special-K]

You said it.I wish I could pop over and see what`s up.you changes frames and everything,right?

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by special-K

You said it.I wish I could pop over and see what`s up.you changes frames and everything,right?

Yep I sure did. I found a thread on here were a member said that chevy 4x4 frames can get out of square and this problem of mine would result. He goes on to give instructions to fix it, but I'm not quite sure about it. Let me find it and let you all read it.

[62 short step]

Ok, here is the link.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=179059. I tried this with out chaining the truck down. It actually worked until i drove the truck, then it went back to the same. With it chained down is it bending the frame? I just don't understand how it will get it back into position without moving agin.

[thirdstreettito]

One of the Pop of your truck might have weighed a LOT so over time the drivers side got more "use" than the passenger side.

[Jtrux]

I just read this thread and I have the same problem in my 79 Ford with coils. I haven't done anything about it yet but hopefully mine's just the coils. As for yours, you've got me stumped seeing as how you've gone through everything that could be the potential culprit.

[Griffin]

O.k., this would be a huge pain in the ass but it might tell you where the problem is. Jack the truck up un a FLAT surface. Use four (or six) jack stands under the frame. Use a level on the "flat" part of the frame to make sure it's truly level front and back and side to side. Make sure it's high enough that the tires are NOT touching the ground. Measure from the groung to the rocker panels at the front, middle, and rear of the rockers on both sides. Compare from side to side. This should tell you if it's a cab mount. If not, measure from the bottom of the frame to the top of the axle tube on both sides and see if they're the same. If they are then one of the springs isn't compressing all the way. If they are the same, then you'll have to pull the front axle (leave the springs hanging) and measure from the low point of the spring to the ground and look for differences. I'm going to guess that it's either the shackle or front mount on one side of the truck since you switched them from side to side and had the same problem. Look closely at the front hanger and see if there is anything that could be binding.
(you may not see it with the springs in place.) Hope this helps.

[62 short step]

Thanks, I will try this. I've got new cab mounts orderd, so I will do this after i put the new cab mounts on. I'll let yall know if anything is different then.

[special-K]

My old shop was on a farm that sold seed and ertilizer.I had the building with the scale house and scale pad.That`s what you need.That thing was level as can be.Maybe some place would allow you to do this after hours or during a slow time.
I think chaining doesn`t matter unless the whole truck moves before it racks.I think once squared you`d want to weld ,brace,or gusset to keep it there.The suspension doesn`t give alot on these trucks so some of those "jars" when one wheel hits are enough to shift a frame,I guess.I see alot of trucks doin`the crab walk.

[62 short step]

I thought about putting some monroe air shocks up front to level it and being done with it. But it will still bug me to death if I can't figure out what the main promlem is!!