Bent frame? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

74CustomK20 · 11-25-2015, 07:18 PM

Guys this is my truck at this stage, no bed 8" front lift 12" rear lift and 3" body. Lol. Anyway. My springs are off. The rear when I changed stock to 4" diy4x hangers, the rear end with springs was a MAJOR PITA to line up. I'm talking 3 or 4 ratchet straps to try n line it up. And afterward my shackles aren't straight up and down, they're both kicked out at the bottom. I took some pics. Also my old shackles the bushings weren't centered they were out more one side than the other. I'm curious wth is going on... plus my front the spring itself only on the passenger side, is kicked out at the axle... anyone have ideas?

CrewCab59 · 11-25-2015, 08:36 PM

Let's start with the front suspension.

You need to check the center pin in the spring , it could be broken , bent or it not setting flush in the perch pin hole.

The spring bushing ,sleeve needs to be checked , the shackle hanger frame bushing . The springs are not spread out and don't look twisted.

The rear , can you take better pics looking down the frame rail ?

74CustomK20 · 11-25-2015, 09:12 PM

I will take some in daylight, as it's dark of course. If worst comes to worse I have a 1 ton frame

but so much work!! I'd rather fix this one. Anyway.I did the front springs a year or so ago, and they were free so I guess I won't complain. They are super lift springs... anyway Will take more pics. As for rear, the springs do look straight but the shackle side to side angle just worries me... would shorter ones help?

CrewCab59 · 11-25-2015, 09:39 PM

Hard to tell on the rear shackle , a straight edge on the upper bolt to see if it's start of the twist or is spring twist. The other way to check is block the frame and remove the lower bolt and see if the twist is in the shackle ( might be bent , welded wrong or the frame channel .

Up date with pics.

kalbert · 11-25-2015, 10:19 PM

Those shackles really ought to have a bar tieing them together. As is they can twist and slop around. With a brace they'll be square and do a better job of keeping the spring square.

Also, mount the springs to the frame first then mount the axle to the springs. Otherwise you'll have problems like you describe, the springs will be cocked on the perches.

74CustomK20 · 11-25-2015, 10:31 PM

So springs then axle. Alright I will loosen it up when I'm able to work on it again (Saturday probably) but between this I can take pics if need be. So long as my U-Bolts stay good I'll be happy... those were not cheap lol.

74CustomK20 · 11-26-2015, 05:37 PM

OK pics of looking down both sides.

74CustomK20 · 11-26-2015, 05:38 PM

Other side...

74CustomK20 · 11-27-2015, 04:38 AM

Thinking of also going to 4.5" shackles and toeing them together... thoights? Because right now they are facing forwards and backwards.

CrewCab59 · 11-27-2015, 12:23 PM

In pics #7 looks like you have a shackle hanger / busing problem , the spring isn't inline with the hanger, you also have a gap between the outer shackle and the bushing.

I would place a straight edge against the frame and measure over to the bottom of the hanger and compare to the other side. This will tell you if the frame, shackle hanger is damaged.

74CustomK20 · 11-30-2015, 05:55 PM

Update... nothing done but I did move it from on the hill to levek gravel ground

11-25-2015, 07:18 PM	#1
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Bent frame? Guys this is my truck at this stage, no bed 8" front lift 12" rear lift and 3" body. Lol. Anyway. My springs are off. The rear when I changed stock to 4" diy4x hangers, the rear end with springs was a MAJOR PITA to line up. I'm talking 3 or 4 ratchet straps to try n line it up. And afterward my shackles aren't straight up and down, they're both kicked out at the bottom. I took some pics. Also my old shackles the bushings weren't centered they were out more one side than the other. I'm curious wth is going on... plus my front the spring itself only on the passenger side, is kicked out at the axle... anyone have ideas? Attached Images __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-25-2015, 08:36 PM	#2
CrewCab59 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,185	Re: Bent frame? Let's start with the front suspension. You need to check the center pin in the spring , it could be broken , bent or it not setting flush in the perch pin hole. The spring bushing ,sleeve needs to be checked , the shackle hanger frame bushing . The springs are not spread out and don't look twisted. The rear , can you take better pics looking down the frame rail ? __________________ 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 4x4 burb 1971 GMC SWB CST 4x4 1972 GMC k20 4x4 (X- brush truck ) 1971 Chevy CST Blazer 4x4 1971 Chevy C/10 1970 Cab Chassis C30 157" 1971 Cab Chassis Custom 30 Deluxe 157" 292/4spd ( Napco Replica ) 1988 Chevy V30 4x4 wrecker challenger 4812

11-25-2015, 09:12 PM	#3
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? I will take some in daylight, as it's dark of course. If worst comes to worse I have a 1 ton frame but so much work!! I'd rather fix this one. Anyway.I did the front springs a year or so ago, and they were free so I guess I won't complain. They are super lift springs... anyway Will take more pics. As for rear, the springs do look straight but the shackle side to side angle just worries me... would shorter ones help? __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-25-2015, 09:39 PM	#4
CrewCab59 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,185	Re: Bent frame? Hard to tell on the rear shackle , a straight edge on the upper bolt to see if it's start of the twist or is spring twist. The other way to check is block the frame and remove the lower bolt and see if the twist is in the shackle ( might be bent , welded wrong or the frame channel . Up date with pics. __________________ 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 4x4 burb 1971 GMC SWB CST 4x4 1972 GMC k20 4x4 (X- brush truck ) 1971 Chevy CST Blazer 4x4 1971 Chevy C/10 1970 Cab Chassis C30 157" 1971 Cab Chassis Custom 30 Deluxe 157" 292/4spd ( Napco Replica ) 1988 Chevy V30 4x4 wrecker challenger 4812

11-25-2015, 10:19 PM	#5
kalbert Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 509	Re: Bent frame? Those shackles really ought to have a bar tieing them together. As is they can twist and slop around. With a brace they'll be square and do a better job of keeping the spring square. Also, mount the springs to the frame first then mount the axle to the springs. Otherwise you'll have problems like you describe, the springs will be cocked on the perches.

11-25-2015, 10:31 PM	#6
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? So springs then axle. Alright I will loosen it up when I'm able to work on it again (Saturday probably) but between this I can take pics if need be. So long as my U-Bolts stay good I'll be happy... those were not cheap lol. __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-26-2015, 05:37 PM	#7
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? OK pics of looking down both sides. Attached Images __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-26-2015, 05:38 PM	#8
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? Other side... Attached Images __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-27-2015, 04:38 AM	#9
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? Thinking of also going to 4.5" shackles and toeing them together... thoights? Because right now they are facing forwards and backwards. __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.

11-27-2015, 12:23 PM	#10
CrewCab59 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,185	Re: Bent frame? In pics #7 looks like you have a shackle hanger / busing problem , the spring isn't inline with the hanger, you also have a gap between the outer shackle and the bushing. I would place a straight edge against the frame and measure over to the bottom of the hanger and compare to the other side. This will tell you if the frame, shackle hanger is damaged. __________________ 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 4x4 burb 1971 GMC SWB CST 4x4 1972 GMC k20 4x4 (X- brush truck ) 1971 Chevy CST Blazer 4x4 1971 Chevy C/10 1970 Cab Chassis C30 157" 1971 Cab Chassis Custom 30 Deluxe 157" 292/4spd ( Napco Replica ) 1988 Chevy V30 4x4 wrecker challenger 4812

11-30-2015, 05:55 PM	#11
74CustomK20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tell City, IN Posts: 637	Re: Bent frame? Update... nothing done but I did move it from on the hill to levek gravel ground __________________ Big Nate Carp. Local 224. Buy made in the USA! 03 F350 6.0 Daily Race Truck. 79 C70 366 Project Dump.



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