Leaning bed?!

[Kiwi]

With 1967-1972 Chevrolet/GMC trucks it's not uncommon to see one edge of the bed drooping slightly lower than the other. On my 1971 C10 2WD LWB truck, the passenger-side rear (near the taillight) is a smidge lower than the driver side. I've recently installed new 16-inch wheels/tires and new rear shackles (2-inch drop). The rear leaf springs and shocks on my truck appear to be in decent shape ... but who knows.

Since this is a common problem, I would assume that someone on the forum knows the cause/fix.

Thus, is the bed leaning due to:

1. Worn frame-to-bed bushings?
2. Unevenly worn/sagging rear springs
3. Junk rear shocks
4. Bed damage (bending/twisting/etc.)
5. Or ???

John

[marks1972]

my 1972 2WD LWB leanes to the drivers side. it is really getting on my nerves also. its not the shocks becouse i just put new ones on the other day and it didnt stop it.

[cdowns]

work trucks in thier 40year lifespan tend to tweak frames

[marks1972]

hey dont call my truck old it is only 38 not 40. thank you very much

[pat 70/71]

check into new springs and also check the cab mounts. make sure their good to go. shim the bed using the back of the cab body line to site through. body line level/ bed front level/ tail gate level. I used washers to shim mine. this is how I set my truck up. Its level going down the road. (followed the wife in another truck) just to make sure. cheers, Pat

[292farmer]

are u talking like this(look at gap from bed bottom to bumper) mines the bed mounts and the bolts crushed from too much weight(dont ask) and rust.
assuming the pics loaded rite first pic is gap second is bad mount on drivers side the thrid pic is good pass side mount(well surviving for now at least.

[timski69gmc]

I have a similar problem. Thought it was worn springs, so I changed them. Had the frame checked last year. Still there. Guess it must be best/damaged mounts. Will have to check them out. I haven't changed the panhard bar, so I thought it might be the problem as well. The pic doesn't look to bad, but I took it minimizing the difference. Passenger side is probably 3/4" higher. Been bugging me for years. Finally thinking I should do something about it.

[marks1972]

what is the panhard bar

[leddzepp]

You have leaf springs, based on my experience I vote number 2.

[Kiwi]

Marks1972,

A panhard bar is used with a traditional 2-, 3-, or 4-link type coil spring rear suspension. While the coil springs regulate the up/down motion of the trailing arms, the panhard rod allows the rearend to go up/down, but prevents it from going side-to-side.

[marks1972]

is that the short bar that runs to the dif on the rear end(rear swaybar)? if so i can tell you those bushings are shot. i dont think there is any more rubber in ther.

[Kiwi]

Yes, the panhard bar (also known as a panhard rod) goes side-to-side on the truck rather than running front-to-back as the rear control arms do. If the panhard bar bushings are shot, there will be excessive forward/backward movement of the rearend which will generate odd handling characteristics, wierd noises/creaks, and faster tire wear.

There are numerous ways to mount/use a panhard bar. Attached are two illustrations that better represent how the stock panhard bar works in an application such as a truck.

[Mayo]

On my truck, the left front of the bed is jacked up a little bit. I think it has some frame damage because the bumper is pushed into the bed on that side, so it probably got hit or something before I got it.

[grs]

My truck is lower on the left rear side of the bed. Here is a pic of it next to my sons lowered, body dropped 1997 Toyota truck.

[bigguy69]

mine is up on the drivers side. new ece 6' lowering kit on the back still up on that side. time to do shimmin.

[marks1972]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Yes, the panhard bar (also known as a panhard rod) goes side-to-side on the truck rather than running front-to-back as the rear control arms do. If the panhard bar bushings are shot, there will be excessive forward/backward movement of the rearend which will generate odd handling characteristics, wierd noises/creaks, and faster tire wear.

There are numerous ways to mount/use a panhard bar. Attached are two illustrations that better represent how the stock panhard bar works in an application such as a truck.

yep thats it no bushings left.

[Downtown]

You guys are going to love this story. I remember my dad taking his 1970 CST longbed to the small town dealership. It was for the bed leaning on his brand new pickup. The owner took one look at it and said " no problem, we will fix it right now". He came back with two big mechanics. They got on the high side of the rear bumper and started to bounce up and down rather vigorously. When they finished the bed sat straight and we never had another problem. So if the frame was tweaked, I guess they just tweaked it the other way. 40 years later and I can still see them doing it.

[Huck]

Hell, my 2000 and my 2002 Silverado's both saged on the drivers side. I replaced a DRIVERS SIDE spring which seemed to show sag as maybe the weight of the the gas tank was a factor but they used the exact same spring (part number etc.) on the drivers side. It will still sag a bit at times so------check the air in the tires, the tire size, the body to axle, the axle to ground, and then -----SHIM, SHIM, SHIM WHEREVER TO MAKE IT THE WAY YOU WANT IT. Also make sure you are on absolutely flat surface--da.

[timski69gmc]

Two big mechanics in the back, that's good. Do they still do that at the dealerships today, maybe I could take mine down? Think they would mind laying on the passenger side of the box, under the tonneau cover? That would level it out. I have a worn out cab bushing on the drivers side as well, so the whole thing looks off. Come to think of it, my rear bumper leans that way too.

[72lb4x4]

Don't forget the front of the truck has an impact on the rear. A sagging front spring will lift the rear at the opposite corner.

I put new springs on the back of my Chevelle before the light over my head came on and I realized one of my front wheels/tires was a small 14" and the other was a big 15". Felt a bit dumb but that's normal.

[timski69gmc]

Good point. Also worth checking into.

[marks1972]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Marks1972,

A panhard bar is used with a traditional 2-, 3-, or 4-link type coil spring rear suspension. While the coil springs regulate the up/down motion of the trailing arms, the panhard rod allows the rearend to go up/down, but prevents it from going side-to-side.

Ok. I ordered those bushings today. Not bad only 11.95 through classic parts for the complete set. They should be here in Agee days so we will see if that helps

[marks1972]

Sorry that is supposed to say a couple of days

[marks1972]

Ok so I got the Panhard bar bushings in yesterday. Instald them today. It still leans. Not as bad but still leans. The venders are calling them trackarm or rear stabilizers. It rides better and sounds better now. I think next I am going to replace the tailing arm bushings then the springs.

[tkmad]

Ahhh, the ol bachelor lean.

Get yourself a 'healthy' lady to balace out the passenger side when you go cruising. Problem solved!