frame flexing or what?!? (pic inside)
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 45
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frame flexing or what?!? (pic inside)
OK is this normal? look at the bed..then look at the cab. The bed is articulating seperate from the cab?
I climbed under it and eveyrthing looks good, what do you guys think?
normal?
I climbed under it and eveyrthing looks good, what do you guys think?
normal?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Spokane, WA
Pretty normal. Unless it is boxed or doubled, they all flex some, the longer the frame, the more flex you will see. As long as it doesn't stay like that you are OK.
Watch a tractor trailer take off from a dead stop with a load...you will see some difinit flex in those monster frames.
Kenny
Watch a tractor trailer take off from a dead stop with a load...you will see some difinit flex in those monster frames.
Kenny
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
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Thanks, I figured it was normal but I was just making sure. (im 16 and this is my first truck so im pretty nervous about a lot of stuff)
and i was very surprised what this truck would go through for being 2wd
and i was very surprised what this truck would go through for being 2wd
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 423
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From: Nova Scotia, Canada
all is well
Looks normal to me, flexing is ok, rigid is not so good IMO for a long truck. I have basically the same truck (96 XLT 4x4 S-cab) and it does the same thing. Ya got a 10+ year old truck with the rivets gettin loose over time and a single wall frame. Look at a tractor-trailer when it leaves a street light with a load on, it's all twisted up and they last just fine. I've owned three F150's and my family has had many more. We've put these trucks through unbelievable torture (commericial fisherman) and I've never seen a frame break. I've seen a totally worn out 86 F150 2wd with a mossy mackeral bowl trap loaded on it so heavy that we couldn't man-handle it on to the truck , we had to use a backhoe and it was struggling under the weight...LOL....The old girl sagged badly but didn't break. We figured it weight about 4 tons....LOL 
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
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Thanks and you wouldnt believe the deal i got on it (3,000)
I have one more question about the truck, the front sits alot lower than the rear and I'm not sure why.
I noticed my front shocks have air valves, if i added air to those would i get more front lift? or should i leave it alone?
I have one more question about the truck, the front sits alot lower than the rear and I'm not sure why.
I noticed my front shocks have air valves, if i added air to those would i get more front lift? or should i leave it alone?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Spokane, WA
if you want to raise it, look for some type of leveling kit. I have never seen airshocks on the front of a rig, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. All Ford 4*2's sit higher in the back, just the way they came. Mine was probably 2.5 inches higher than the front.
Kenny
Kenny
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Nova Scotia, Canada
That slight rake to the front is the reason a Ford truck will out haul a GM anyday, good rear springs. I used to haul 3000lbs of gravel with my 88 2wd, that old thing is sill running and could still take that easily.
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From: Remsen, NY
Consider new front springs if you drive forward, then get out and look at it from the front and the front wheels look splayed out. The front coils get weak. I don't remember my 4x2 looking like it had a rake to it. My '95 4x4 did when I bought it, new springs fixed it perfectly.