I installed X and Mod C’s from ATS a couple of weeks ago and let the suspension settle to see if I wanted to add 2” Icon hangers/shackles and a 4” rear block to get her leveled out. I decided to go for it and got the hangers and shackles installed but the front axle is shifted out about 1 1/2” towards the passenger side measuring from the frame. I have an Icon adjustable chromoly track bar and I drove it around with the track bar disconnected to try to get the axle to center itself and it did not change. I loosened everything up and got a lift strap and lightly pulled the frame over and adjusted the track bar and bolted it up and now I’m centered but the track bar seems to have the driver side pulled down. My driver side is 1” lower than the passenger side and when I disconnect the track bar and let it relax the axle shifts back toward the passenger side and my front end is the same measurement on both sides. I called Junior at ATS and he said he has never seen this unless the spring bushings shifted. I looked and sure enough, the springs are pushed to the driver side all the way. This still does not explain why the axle is wanting to shift to the passenger side. If that was the issue the springs would be pushed the opposite way. I am going to loosen everything up and see if I can get the springs to center on the bushings and go from there but I will not leave my axle off center more than 1/4-1/2” at most.
Anyone else seen this issue with a leaf spring lift? Pirate4X4?

I have not seen 1.5” on a leaf spring setup only a linked front.

just to be clear, how and where are you measuring ?

i measure off the sidewall of the tire to the frame next to the top of the tire , using what amounts to caliper and then a tape measure to measure the contact points of the caliber. With just a tape it is harder to get super accurate. ( Like 1/16” )

if you have 4” of total lift make sure your tie rod end up at the pitman arm is not maxed out in its travel.
If it is you will need a dropped pitman arm and dropped track bar bracket.

I am measuring from the top of the shock mount bolt to the definite edge of the tire tread on both sides. I just now finished swapping the stock 2 1/2” Excursion rear blocks to 4” rear tapered blocks with brand new longer U bolts from ATS and my driver side is still averaging 1” lower than the passenger side ftont and back and the front axle is just 1/4 off center after driving over bumpy pasture and a 5 mile romp down the highway with hard braking to hopefully jolt and settle the suspension but it’s still measuring the same. The leaf springs are hard against the driver side hangers in front which means the track bar is holding the axle towards the passenger side. If I allowed the bushings to center I’d be over 3/4” off center to the passenger side.
I’m going to drive it like this for a week then check measurements and re-torque everything on the suspension.

No sir and I am way too **** to miss something that big. I have installed about $15k worth of upgrades on this Excursion with my own two hands including about $10k under the hood. When I have to pull the axle and frame with a medium sized tractor something is just off or I just need to let it settle and see what the measurements are in a couple of weeks.
My track bar and tie rod are nearly parallel and the steering is not in a bind at all. Once I get it right I’ll take it to the shop here in town that does alignments on all the local offroad shops lifted trucks. They do it old school without computers and I have seen 45-50k on 35-40” tires on buddies rigs that are aligned there.

Wish I was there to help figure that one out.

my next step would be to measure from the frame and not the shock mount in the off chance the mount is not symmetrical.

the fact that your springs are hard against the hangers but your measurements show it is still not centered suggest that something big is amiss.

I think rock is on the right track though, if not a spring in backwards then possibley both springs do not have the same center pin dimensions. Start measuring everything you can to find where it is out of square.

As as far as your steering being parallel with the track bar that is good but the whole reason for a dropped pitman arm to begin with is to keep the ball joint in the tie rod end from bottoming out and binding up, I forget the actual degrees they are good for but a quick google search should reveal it.

These springs only mount one way, they are correctly installed. The center pin is centered. The shock mount bolt is the same distance off the frame on both sides. I can look down the springs and see the top leaf is shifted to one side. The hangers are symmetrical. Is it possible for the driver’s side to be 1” lower front and rear because the track bar is racking the whole truck? It’s like the leaf springs are crooked.

1. Technically there is 2 ways as there is a forward and back to the springs, the pin is not in the center of the spring.

2. Yes, when you pulled the axle over using force and put the spring against the hanger and fixed it in place with the track bar, that is now excerpting force on that side, force can be measured in foot lbs which if you had all four tires on a scale you would see that the side that is lower likely Is 350 pounds heavier. Remember your springs are rated as the force it takes to compress them 1 inch, the excursion takes a 330 pound per inch leaf spring. Basically what is happening is you have a 300ish pound bind on that side.

after thinking about this last night,
if it were me I would put the front on jack stands and drop the axle out.
start by measuring the center pins location on the springs front to back. Call and confirm this with the vendor.
then make any other measurements you can to determine if the springs are hanging freely in the hangers. Measure the hangers and see what or how they could possible be affecting the alignment. Without seeing it myself I have a feeling your issue will be found here. Post Pics for use if you can.

For others following along.

C does not equal 1/2 of A

i haven’t changed anything except for re-torquing everything after a thousand miles or so and having the tires rotated. I need to check measurements again but she rides true and I have had no crazy tire wear so I left it like it was. I still haven’t had an alignment and it’s got over 6,000 miles on it since the spring installation. I will check measurements and post them tomorrow. I do know for a fact that the leaf springs are still pulled hard against the driver’s side of the hangers and shackles. I drive 90-95 quite often and she runs as true as can be.

I have an adjustable track bar and the axle is centered down to the 1/8” measuring from the frame to outside of the tread on the tires. The springs are installed correctly. If I centered the springs in the center of the hangers/shackles the axle would be over 1” off center towards the passenger side. I have not measured again but when I do I will post up what I have after 6k on the springs.