Lopsided . . . what gives?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Lopsided . . . what gives?
Well my lift is nearing completion. Everytime I think I'm done I wake up the next morning and say "hey . . . another inch or two would be cool". My girlfriend has been telling me this for years so maybe it's a subliminal message being whispered at night. In any event I test fit my new front hangers today and they worked great. I'm about as high as this truck is going to get without being impounded. The hangers are going to allow me to drop the bumper down low enough to laugh at the cops when they stop me. 
Now I need to cut 6" off them and build the cross support so I can start crushing Hondas. Anyway, on to my question:
My truck is 1" higher on the passenger's side than on the drivers side (seems to be from the cab back). This is not new, it was like this before I lifted it. My old rear leafs were thrashed so I thought maybe they were the culprit but it's exactly the same now. I'm wondering if it's a combination of the transfer case hanging on that side plus the full gas tank but I'm really not sure. Does anyone else have this issue? I'm hoping the frame is not twisted. Now I'm thinking of just giving the driver's side rear just a little bit more lift to even everything out but I'd really rather not. The lack of symetry would eat me alive. Sooo if you have any ideas let me know.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../60734.520.390
Now I need to cut 6" off them and build the cross support so I can start crushing Hondas. Anyway, on to my question:My truck is 1" higher on the passenger's side than on the drivers side (seems to be from the cab back). This is not new, it was like this before I lifted it. My old rear leafs were thrashed so I thought maybe they were the culprit but it's exactly the same now. I'm wondering if it's a combination of the transfer case hanging on that side plus the full gas tank but I'm really not sure. Does anyone else have this issue? I'm hoping the frame is not twisted. Now I'm thinking of just giving the driver's side rear just a little bit more lift to even everything out but I'd really rather not. The lack of symetry would eat me alive. Sooo if you have any ideas let me know.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../60734.520.390
Last edited by IB Tim; Dec 11, 2004 at 12:25 PM. Reason: Removed [img]
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Houston, Texas
I think this is a common problem with all vehicles. Try swapping the springs side to side. I know folks do this sometimes because the torque of newer jeep engines push to the rear pass side.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Centerville, Iowa
Is the inch the same on the back AND the front? Both sets of leaf springs new? All I saw you mention were the rears, which is also why I ask about the front to back. The full tank probably has something to do with it (It's enough to matter when aiming headlights at least), but I'm not sure that a full tank of gas can account for an entire 1".
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
The inch is measuring to the frame at the very back. Up front the measurements are almost identical. I measured at the T-case crossmember and had 30 on the driver's side and 30.25 on the passenger's side. The front springs are new, the rear are used. I could try swapping the rear springs to see if it makes a difference but it seemed odd that it leaned the same way before as it is now. I guess 20 gallons of gas would give me about 150 pounds or so on that side of the rig. The T-case hangs that way . . . so maybe another 80 pounds of the T-case leaning toward the driver's side. It just seems goofy to me. I can't imagine them coming from the factory like this. Stick my fat butt in there and it'll probably tip over! 
I'm just hoping I don't have a twisted frame from beating the poor truck up.
I'm just hoping I don't have a twisted frame from beating the poor truck up.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
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my 94 sits 3/4 of an inch lower on the drivers side(looking from the rear) I cant figure it out eather. ive taken many measurements. I got 1 three" body lift block and i am going to cut it at 3/4" and install it at the last bed bolt. all my body lines are correct, just the very end of the bed sags 3/4"
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Funny you mentioned that Steve because I was thinking of doing the exact same thing a while back. I thought the bed itself was twisted and I was just going to prop that back corner up to fix it. It wasn't until tonight that I realized it was at the frame that I was having issues. Goofy.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
Actually that is exactly how ford fixed my 95 with a twisted box was to put a shim in the low corner.
Ivan just for grins, and giggles put something weighing around 160lbs in the bed on the right side, and see if it levels out, if so then I would say it's the full tank. you might also try the swapping springs like you mentioned just to see.
One other thing just to check is measure the axle tube hieght from the floor on both sides, and/or measure the distance from the axle tube to the frame, and see if you have the same difference in hieght on those measurements as the frame to ground hieght.
Ivan just for grins, and giggles put something weighing around 160lbs in the bed on the right side, and see if it levels out, if so then I would say it's the full tank. you might also try the swapping springs like you mentioned just to see.
One other thing just to check is measure the axle tube hieght from the floor on both sides, and/or measure the distance from the axle tube to the frame, and see if you have the same difference in hieght on those measurements as the frame to ground hieght.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Centerville, Iowa
I was thinking that 20 gallons of gas would be more then 200 pounds, wouldn't it? Pure water is something like 8.3 lbs/gallon...I'd have figured gas was heavier being more of a solution of sorts.
Those springs would have probably been worn down to sag on that side just like yours were. Sounds like a perfectly viable explanation...especially since it has a few corroborators. So..those springs are probably suffering the same thing your old springs did.
That side also has the transfer case drop & front driveshaft...as well as its always hauled you around (Or the previous owner) through all adventures.
Those springs would have probably been worn down to sag on that side just like yours were. Sounds like a perfectly viable explanation...especially since it has a few corroborators. So..those springs are probably suffering the same thing your old springs did.
That side also has the transfer case drop & front driveshaft...as well as its always hauled you around (Or the previous owner) through all adventures.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
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IVAN, I called performance accessories (928-636-0979) and told them my truck was in an accident. thats the only way i could get just one spacer and not a whole kit, 6.00. before i bought the truck it was rear ended, the bumper was pushed down a little bit and i looked under it and it looked like the only damage was the bumper brackets themselves. a month later, i installed my lift and then it was noticable that the very end corner was sagging(nothing worse than a lop-sided rear end, annoying to look at) under closer inspection i noticed that the last 6" of the frame on that side was pushed down just a smidge, but that is where the rear spring mount is. so thats the problem, pretty much cosmetic to me. i will instal the spacer i got, then just balance out the bumper. you wont even notice it, im doing it today, i know i need a longer bed bolt but i can probobly go to home depot or lowes
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
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Mine was sagging a little-no where near 1" but I swapped the springs side to side when I repainted and put the poly bushings in. My theory was that either the weight was off side to side, or the spring was sagging. Either way, after 30 years, I figured I would give the one a break and work the other one a little more. Of course, like I said, mine was barely noticeable.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Bryan/College Station
Is the sag on the bed mounted keg fridge side? 
If so, move it to the other side of the bed.
I agree with the annoyance factor. My bed looks to be twisted also, but not enough for me to mess with right now.....still need to finish mounting the eight lugs on the front of the Bronco.
Chris
If so, move it to the other side of the bed.I agree with the annoyance factor. My bed looks to be twisted also, but not enough for me to mess with right now.....still need to finish mounting the eight lugs on the front of the Bronco.
Chris
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
So the concensus is that everyone who has experienced this phenomenon has found it to be the driver's side which is sagging? If this is the case then I'm not too worried and I'll shim up the bed or something later. I was just concerned about a twisted frame . . . just about ready to pull the bed off and do some tricky work with the fork lift to fix it.
I was kind of kicking around the idea of putting a high capacity tank in the rear and getting rid of the side tank. This would be about enough to convince me it's a good idea.
I was kind of kicking around the idea of putting a high capacity tank in the rear and getting rid of the side tank. This would be about enough to convince me it's a good idea.