Frame not sitting level ??????????

[198plus]

I just installed my stock coil springs on the back and it does not set level ?????

There's 3/8 of an inch difference at each side at back of frame to the floor difference and the floor is dead level.

Any suggestions ??????

[daverod]

Put some more air in your tire.

[198plus]

I wished it was that simple. This is driving me crazy !!!!!!

[daverod]

Originally Posted by 198plus

I wished it was that simple. This is driving me crazy !!!!!!

How do you know it's not that simple? 3/8 doest sound like a lot? Alittle less tire tread, little less air, alittle weaker spring? Take a sledge and give it a wack. If it doesn't fix it it might make you feel better.

[198plus]

You can see it at axle height to frame........maybe one spring is whacked.

[daverod]

Swap it to the other side. Maybe it's just not seated right. You can't drive it can you. I'd take it of a drive then tighten it up again, Then I'd hit it with the sledge. Maybe just spin the coil around 90

[198plus]

I'm positive it's seated right.......just went and measured again with my glasses on and it is more like 1/2 inch.

[ol Curt]

I have had some of the same problem. One side sits slightly lower...enough it drives my wife nuts, but livable to me. I did ask some of the guys about this awhile back as my grandpa hauled some heavy loads in this thing at one time. A good body shop will have a frame machine that they can straighten this with fairly easily in most cases (or so I was told).

[markeb01]

I had the same problem on my 1960, 5/8" lower on the driver side.

To confirm exactly what is wrong I'd suggest jacking up the truck and resting the frame on 4 jackstands. Then measure side to side to see if there is a variance and how much, or if it remains the same as when the chassis is loaded.

You can also try this only resting the front or rear of the frame on stands and measuring side to side on the other end. This will narrow it down to front springs, rear springs, a frame alignment problem, or it could even be trailing arm bushings, bad cab mounts, bed mounts, etc.

If you have gas shocks, you might check to make sure one of them hasn't gone bad. Especially in the rear, having one good gas shock against a dead one will lift the good side.

When I first recognized the leaning problem I swapped rear springs side for side since it was easy to do, and it had no effect. On my truck this indicated the problem was my new 1 inch lowering springs in the front. Since it was too much trouble and expense to replace front springs or try swapping them side for side, I installed a 1 inch "rubber dual groove spring spacer" on the left front spring. I managed to get about 3/4 of the rubber coil installed in my spring, and it leveled the truck perfectly. A quick search on Ebay will show you what they look like.

If you just bought your rear springs I wouldn't resort to a spacer. Since they are so easy to remove I'd take them back and ask for another pair.

Personally I gave up on buying springs at a parts store or restoration supplier. My front springs started to mismatch within a month and the new rear springs were so heavy the chassis wouldn't bounce. I waited too long to return them and had to go back to my original springs for a while. When it came time to improve the ride quality on my truck I had a custom spring shop make news springs which were tested dimensionally and under load. They were expensive but the truck now rides like a passenger car. Good luck, M.

[ChiefRocka]

Keep in mind the 'front' could also be causing a problem....Make sure the front is perfect as well.

Or as mentioned position the front on even stands on an even ground to eliminate the front as a problem.

[ol Curt]

I might be wrong here, but doesn't the shop manual for these trucks give ground to specified points on the frame measurements? I thought that is the info the body shops used. I could be wrong...first time this hour!

[retodd7711]

_Place a fat girl in the passenger seat.

[Alan's Classic]

I would level the center section. Picture a square under the cab from cab bolt to cab bolt. But level the frame at those points, not the cab bolts (mounts). Once the center section is level from side-to-side and front-to-back then do your comparision measurements on a level floor. That will show exactly what is going on. I thought I had a frame data sheet showing the heights at different points on the frame, but I don't.

[198plus]

The center section is fairly level in this pic, rear tires off ground.........You can see the difference. If tires are on ground same thing.

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

I would level the center section. Picture a square under the cab from cab bolt to cab bolt. But level the frame at those points, not the cab bolts (mounts). Once the center section is level from side-to-side and front-to-back then do your comparision measurements on a level floor. That will show exactly what is going on. I thought I had a frame data sheet showing the heights at different points on the frame, but I don't.

[TheDark1]

Try taking the panhard bar off of one end and see if it sits level.

[joe231]

in that pic...you springs look whacked out

[GruntMoanCough]

Is it possible that you tightened the suspension mounting bolts without the weight of the truck on them? Control arm and tie rod bushings binding?

[198plus]

Now that you say that.........The passenger side spring definitely looks whacked.

Originally Posted by joe231

in that pic...you springs look whacked out