78 not sitting level (side to side)
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
78 not sitting level (side to side)
Greetings all!
My 78 is not sitting level in any direction and I'm trying to figure out why. I'm not concerned at all with front to rear, but I am with side to side. I measured from the floor to the flat bed at the rear wheel centerline and it was almost 1" off.
To eliminate the possibility of the tires causing it, I put the axles on jack stands and it's stil crooked. I'm guessing it's the left rear leafs, but can't be sure.
Does anyone have a good way to find out where it's off? Where is the best place to measure to from the floor?
If it turns out to be the leafs, can I heat them up and slightly re-arch them myself, or do I have to take them into a shop?
Thanks for any info you might have.
Kevin K.
My 78 is not sitting level in any direction and I'm trying to figure out why. I'm not concerned at all with front to rear, but I am with side to side. I measured from the floor to the flat bed at the rear wheel centerline and it was almost 1" off.
To eliminate the possibility of the tires causing it, I put the axles on jack stands and it's stil crooked. I'm guessing it's the left rear leafs, but can't be sure.
Does anyone have a good way to find out where it's off? Where is the best place to measure to from the floor?
If it turns out to be the leafs, can I heat them up and slightly re-arch them myself, or do I have to take them into a shop?
Thanks for any info you might have.
Kevin K.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Boise, ID
Kevin, For a little bit more of an accurate suspension height measurement, try measuring from the frame to the axle tube on all four corners. This way you take the body/body mounts out of the equation.
If you find a sagging spring, I wouldn't have it rearched. Chances are the rearched springs will just settle back to where they were inside of a year.
If you find a sagging spring, I wouldn't have it rearched. Chances are the rearched springs will just settle back to where they were inside of a year.
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Measure like Mudder says. Unfortunately you can't heat up a spring and bend it. Heating will destroy the temper in the metal that makes it a spring.
Unlike Mudder however I have had excellent results for many years taking springs to a spring shop and having them re-arched. I suppose the springs will settle faster than the OEM springs but after many years I have not noticed any problems at all.
Unlike Mudder however I have had excellent results for many years taking springs to a spring shop and having them re-arched. I suppose the springs will settle faster than the OEM springs but after many years I have not noticed any problems at all.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
I measured it all last night and the problem seems to be in the rear DS leafs. The front right is slightly higher but I'm sure that's because of the sagging rear left.
Guess it's time for new springs.
Thanks for the help all!
Kevin K.
P.S. Mark a, mine sits that way too when I plop my fat **** in the driver's seat. hehe
Guess it's time for new springs.
Thanks for the help all!
Kevin K.
P.S. Mark a, mine sits that way too when I plop my fat **** in the driver's seat. hehe
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: BC, Canada
I've had good success just replacing the main leaf and rearching the rest. It was a good thing I checked too because one was cracked.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
I got the same problem, low on the right side, been that way for years. Had spring put in, same problem
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From: Rockport, WA
My '66 International one-ton 4x4 leans to the right. Frame to axle measurement confirms right rear spring sag, about a half inch. But the bed mounts are also rotting off and are worse on the right side --- so when I load it to the top of its four foot sideboards with damp firewood, it really shows a lean to the right.
My 1977 F250 2WD seems a little lower on the right. Definitely low on the front, too -- and I have relatively light springs, a 6,800 GVWR Looks to me like the front coils have settled, and the right more than the left. I just replaced front bump stops, and I could tell there's less space below the stop on the right side. This MIGHT have something to do with the fact the engine is mounted a little to the right of center, but I rather doubt it.
Springs get tired, and not all at the same rate.
My 1977 F250 2WD seems a little lower on the right. Definitely low on the front, too -- and I have relatively light springs, a 6,800 GVWR Looks to me like the front coils have settled, and the right more than the left. I just replaced front bump stops, and I could tell there's less space below the stop on the right side. This MIGHT have something to do with the fact the engine is mounted a little to the right of center, but I rather doubt it.
Springs get tired, and not all at the same rate.
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