Uneven Bed and Cab Height
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5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
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Uneven Bed and Cab Height
So I’ve been having some complications with my standard cab long bed 1987 F-150. It had old rubber cab mounts, and a rear mount was rusted through, so I welded up the hole and replaced with polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension. Now, my front bumper has about a 1 inch gap from the cab (this is new and all around, not just at the front, so I don’t think it’s “bumper sag”). The bed is also uneven with the cab, on one side lower by about about .25” and the other maybe .5-.75”. I was just going to shim the bed and try raising the bumper, but when I try to shim the side of the bed with the bigger gap the bolt is too short to reach through. Has anyone experienced this? Is this normal, and can I just run a longer bolt and be done with it, or is there a bigger issue at play?
Last edited by User 11924; Aug 17, 2021 at 04:06 PM.
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5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
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Bed Rails are Good
I just thought I should add before anyone asks - the rails underneath the bed are in good condition and have not rotted away. I’m wondering if the polyurethane mounts are just larger than the original rubber mounts.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
It is very hard to diagnose what you should do without being there and seeing what is going on. The only suggestions I have are: Did you replace the radiator support bushing mounts? Are you positive you have the bushings located in the right area and they didn't get mixed up? If both answers are yes then your idea about the shim and longer bolt sound like your only options with it like the way it is now. Another thought is possibly your frame as been bent??? Good luck with it and hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in for you.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
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Years ago, I replaced my body mounts on my 93 F150 with new Prothane polyurethane mounts.
No rusted mounts.
Afterward the cab body line sits up about 1/4" higher than the bed's body line.
Not a big deal. You don't really notice it as long as you don't dwell over things like this.
This same thing happens every time the frame flexes even just a little bit anyways.
If I wanted to fix it I would add spacers to the bed to bring the level up a smidge. Best time for that would have been when the bed was on the cart I used to prep it for paint.
I've refinished several of these trucks. My latest one is my 93, which had never been wrecked. These trucks, even when new, were anything but precise.
No rusted mounts.
Afterward the cab body line sits up about 1/4" higher than the bed's body line.
Not a big deal. You don't really notice it as long as you don't dwell over things like this.
This same thing happens every time the frame flexes even just a little bit anyways.
If I wanted to fix it I would add spacers to the bed to bring the level up a smidge. Best time for that would have been when the bed was on the cart I used to prep it for paint.
I've refinished several of these trucks. My latest one is my 93, which had never been wrecked. These trucks, even when new, were anything but precise.
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5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
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Likes: 1
Update
Thank you both for your responses. Since my original posting I did shim the front of the bed, and it looks alright. I also raised the front bumper, and that looks great. I’ve had the bed off before and the frame looked fine, so when I get the chance I will need to carefully examine my bed to make sure it is straight, as I noticed the tailgate does not close properly. That’s all I can think of at this point. Again, thanks for your input.
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