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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 09:17 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by mailseth
Thanks for the replies everyone! So, a new sway bar instead of radius rods and 4.53 gearing?

I just got back from the shop working on the auto lock hubs. They said the vacuum is sealed, the hubs work when vacuum is manually applied, and the solenoid works. But it seems to be a problem with the controller module not sending a signal to the solenoid. I guess I’ll just get used to turning the hubs?

I see no evidence of suspension work beyond the lift kit in the paperwork. So maybe it could use new springs? Here are a few photos. Let me know if there is something else you’d like a look at.


Get your current wander/handeling issue sorted out BEFORE adding and additional parts such as a sway bar to your setup, the more springs ( sway bars are a spring ) the more complicated it is to differiante what is doing what and get sorted out.
when I tune a vehicle I start by removing all sway bars and steering dampener, get it handeling as near perfect as possible and then add any additional devices as required, On the Ex, a well balanced setup doesn’t need a front or rear sway bar and even if you do add one they do nothing for wander, a rear sway bar is used to reduce understeer or reduce body roll if you do a lot of twisty mountain road driving, their effect is negligible on straight flat highways where your wander is prevelant and in fact make the ride jarring side to side around town.

Back to your current setup, yes the rear spring looks to be stock, however a better pic is required so I can see more of the rear spring, trying a pic from the driveline looking out and from the axle forward all the way to the spring hanger.

while you are under there can you measure the aluminum block and the factory block. It appear your rear lift is provided by the addition of the silver colored block

also, we need the measurments from the center of your hub to the bottom of the fender lip both from and rear.

With 4* of caster we can rule out a lack of caster,
Edit.... going to make another post about toe

did you get a chance to check the front wheel bearings and ball joints ?
jack up the front axle so the tire is off the ground a few inches and use a large pry bar between the ground and tire... even a slight wiggle is a bad sign....and I mean a tiny wiggle so be be diligent.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 10:45 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by pirate4x4_camo
start a new thread so we don’t derail getting Mailseth sorted out.
Just added it to my existing thread
 
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 10:53 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by mailseth
The hubs don't auto-lock. I just had them re-lubed and the o-rings replaced today, but still don't seem to be auto-locking. The local shop is gonna look at the vacuum system and hopefully figure something out.
Willing to put money on it being your PVH solenoid. My hubs weren't auto-locking and the solenoid is a common weak link in the chain. At $30 for an aftermarket replacement and the easiest swap out you could ask for, you could save yourself serious shop $$$.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 11:06 PM
  #19  
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Thanks pirate4x4_camo, I'll get under there later and take some more photos. (It's cold, wet, & dark out right now.)

Originally Posted by BatteriesNotIncluded
Willing to put money on it being your PVH solenoid. My hubs weren't auto-locking and the solenoid is a common weak link in the chain. At $30 for an aftermarket replacement and the easiest swap out you could ask for, you could save yourself serious shop $$$.
The folks at the shop that just looked at it said they tried swapping out the solenoid, and it was still unresponsive. Sounded like they put a volt meter across it and they saw no change in current when it was supposed to actuate.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 12:24 AM
  #20  
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Mailseth,
i am in Lincoln but will be going through Davis on Saturday and can take some time to have a look see.
Fwiw, I don’t have a rate, at least for this, just helpin out, now if you need a race truck designed and built that would be a diffrent story
send me your phone number and we can meet up sat afternoon.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 12:52 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by pirate4x4_camo
Mailseth,
i am in Lincoln but will be going through Davis on Saturday and can take some time to have a look see.
Fwiw, I don’t have a rate, at least for this, just helpin out, now if you need a race truck designed and built that would be a diffrent story
send me your phone number and we can meet up sat afternoon.
The GF, the Ex, and I will be up in Tahoe on Saturday, but then back in Davis Sunday and early next week, but we can figure something out. My ph is 608 335 8068 since I don't have access to the PM system yet (need 10 days of membership).
 
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 07:29 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by mailseth
The folks at the shop that just looked at it said they tried swapping out the solenoid, and it was still unresponsive. Sounded like they put a volt meter across it and they saw no change in current when it was supposed to actuate.

​​​​​There are a couple of relays on the driver's side that should make an audible click when the cab switch is moved from 2H to 4H for example. If it's electrical that's where I'd start.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 02:24 PM
  #23  
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Alignment settings

looking at your spec sheet that place ripped you off, I’d take it back and have them fix it or take it to a compentent shop.

Ideal would be
-.06* total toe
steer ahead .00*
Caster 4*


with that and your air pressures set to 50 front 55 rear it should not wander.
A compentent shop will not align the vehicle if any components are worn out so if that will answer the unit bearing and ball joint question

 
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Old Mar 8, 2019 | 07:47 PM
  #24  
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Im back in town with the Ex in daylight and got some more photos & measurements. I haven’t had the chance to push the front wheel yet.







 
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Old Mar 8, 2019 | 08:15 PM
  #25  
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Your measurements are off, at least the stock block. It’s not 1 1/2”.
When measuring the center to fender measure vertically.
 
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Old Mar 8, 2019 | 09:30 PM
  #26  
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1. I see somebody added an additional leaf to the rear spring pack, looks like an “add a leaf” which makes it worse because not only does add to much springs rate they have more arch then your other springs, that binds the leafs above and below it causing additional friction which prevent the suspension from articulating. All in all a poor setup for handeling and ride quality.

2. As mentioned, Measure vertically to the bottom of the fender arch, or to the bottom of the hugest point in the fender opening.

3. Double check the block measurment... I am not aware of any factory block that is 1.5” the end points of the red line is point to measure
 
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Old Mar 10, 2019 | 01:43 AM
  #27  
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Alright. I think I screwed up all the measurements. Here’s another try.




 
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Old Mar 10, 2019 | 09:48 AM
  #28  
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Your front is lifted 3” but I can not confirm those are procomp springs from the pic, however your leaf found suggest they are are at least the approx correct spring rate and they look to be in good working order.

the back is lifted a total 2.5” 2” is from the aluminum block and 1/2” is from the add a leaf on a stock rear spring pack.
The stock Ex rear suspension was less then ideal to begin with and these mods made it worse. I would change it if it were mine. however this is not the root cause of your poor handeling.

your wander is almost certainly from your current alignment setup. See my post #24 above for the fix.

 
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Old Mar 10, 2019 | 11:16 AM
  #29  
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If I’m reading you right, that’s not horrible news. I just need to take it to the alignment shop and insist on matching your numbers? Might have been a rip off, but it is supposed to have lifetime alignments now, so next one is free.

Would the issues with the rear suspension be fixed with the installation of Procomp 22415 springs that you mentioned earlier? Would that also mean just removing the block?

thanks for taking the time to look at this!
 
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Old Mar 10, 2019 | 07:32 PM
  #30  
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well it isnt horrible news but it also is far cry from a professionally installed suspension, techinacally speaking they paid for it so yhst makes them professional but it is a hack.

i would expect you will need to pay for another alignment and yes if it were mine i would insist on those settings unless some guru convinced me otherwise or offered to reset it to my spec if i didnt like theirs.
 
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