Front bumper moves when not on flat ground
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Front bumper moves when not on flat ground
This seems really strange to me. My bumper is moving when my ex isn't parked on flat ground. Almost like the frame is twisting. Enough that it shifted up and cracked my grill. Anyone have any insight on what could be going on? I didn't snap a pic but I'll try to get one. Get back on flat ground and it relaxes back to where it should be, flat and level.
thanks
thanks
Last edited by andy9743; Jul 10, 2017 at 12:18 PM. Reason: Words
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Central Florida
This seems really strange to me. My bumper is moving when my ex isn't parked on flat ground. Almost like the frame is twisting. Enough that it shifted up and cracked my grill. Anyone have any insight on what could be going on? I didn't snap a pic but I'll try to get one. Get back on flat ground and it relaxes back to where it should be, flat and level.
thanks
thanks
I would check the core support bushings/ body mounts and the frame. Crawl under there and look.
You in the rust belt?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
The '03 frame flexes a lot compared to newer trucks. Every new generation they advertise that they've "strengthened the frame XXX%" and that's for just about any truck. Our generations was XXX% stronger than the previous and so on.
I can't find my picture but I snapped one when I was off-roading and got stuck on the side of a hill. The bumper was touching the turn signal housing on one side and had a huge gap on the other so these frames do twist, especially when you're hanging one wheel in the air.
If you want to adjust your bumper it is only 6 bolts. There is one bolt in each fender well holding the side brackets and then 4 main bolts near the fog lights/tow hooks. You can loosen them and adjust your bumper to be straight and establish the gap you prefer between the grill/lights/corners that you like as there is a little play in there for adjustments. Make sure you're on level ground if you do this.
I can't find my picture but I snapped one when I was off-roading and got stuck on the side of a hill. The bumper was touching the turn signal housing on one side and had a huge gap on the other so these frames do twist, especially when you're hanging one wheel in the air.
If you want to adjust your bumper it is only 6 bolts. There is one bolt in each fender well holding the side brackets and then 4 main bolts near the fog lights/tow hooks. You can loosen them and adjust your bumper to be straight and establish the gap you prefer between the grill/lights/corners that you like as there is a little play in there for adjustments. Make sure you're on level ground if you do this.
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Ohio ?
i'd check the bottom crossmember of the rad cradle hasn't rotted or got thin enough to flex
if it has the good news is that the rad cradle can be replaced
bad news is that it's unfortunately welded to the inner fenders instead of being bolted
check the rad isn't dropping away from the two top rad supports/mounts
more good news is the rad is wider than the space between the frame rails so it won't drop out the bottom
the bottom of the rad cradle has rotted badly in my 01 - for now it has some really big zip ties holding each corner of the rad up
I ran them through the rad cradle and under each corner of the rad so they support it kinda like a pair of sturips
i'd check the bottom crossmember of the rad cradle hasn't rotted or got thin enough to flex
if it has the good news is that the rad cradle can be replaced
bad news is that it's unfortunately welded to the inner fenders instead of being bolted
check the rad isn't dropping away from the two top rad supports/mounts
more good news is the rad is wider than the space between the frame rails so it won't drop out the bottom
the bottom of the rad cradle has rotted badly in my 01 - for now it has some really big zip ties holding each corner of the rad up
I ran them through the rad cradle and under each corner of the rad so they support it kinda like a pair of sturips
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got under her the other night. body mounts look good. rad support aside from minor, minor surface rust looks good. the bumper had been replaced at some point i'm going to make sure all 6 bolts are tight. at this point im not sure. when i noticed the issue i was on uneven ground but nothing that i would consider "off road". i was not on the road but not wheeling. the bumper is straight and has good gaps when on flat ground. i'll try to snap a few pics this weekend if i can recreate it.
idk if at this point i just accept it as frame flex? i would have thought that i would have read more about it on here if that was the case?
i am in northwest ohio.
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