Skyjacker lift question...

[ironbutter]

Installed my skyjacker 2.5" Lift today and one side measures 1/4" lower than the other. Anyone else had this experience?

[SS Tim]

Where and how specifically are you measuring the difference?

[DWilbur]

The concrete floor you are measuring from could be out as much as 1/4" +or -. check the floor and then measure to the frame. 1/4" is not that much. I installed a 6" skyjacker lift on my truck and had to replace the rear springs as it sat lower that the front. with new stock rear springs it sits level.

[special-K]

I'll say 1/4" isn't much,as well,and surely could be in the slab. All it would take is an 1/8" catty corner hi/low to produce that. Slabs are rarely perfect and seldom level. Without measurements in the exact same spot from before the lift you really can't pin it on the springs anyway. If you really need to check of it's a difference in springs,you'll want to remove them and lay one on top of the other while laying on the side. I'd suggest running a bolt through the spring eyes to assure accurate alignment.
Ive installed lifts on a lot of trucks and I've never measured for any differences. Never saw the need. I guess if something was obviously wrong I would have. But,1/4" I don't think would even be obvious to my carpenter's trained eye. Maybe I've driven trucks off that much and never knew it.

[ironbutter]

Thanks for the replies, to be clear, the measurement is from the top of the spring directly in front of the U Bolt Plate to the bottom of the frame. I remeasured it this morning in better light, and there is a 3/8" difference between the two measured distances. The reason I measured it, is because my architects trained eye can see the difference in height when I stand ten feet away in front of my truck. I have never installed a lift, but this seems to be an issue of the springs being slightly different shape. There was no noticeable sag or tilt before with the stock springs. Unfortunately I could not lay the two springs next to each other because one of the springs in my original order was lost by UPS, and after a week of phone calls I got tired of waiting and went to another retailer and bought the second one and installed it last night. Rather than take the whole thing apart, I thought I would put it on the board to find opinions on whether a 3/8" difference is common with lift springs.

[ironbutter]

Update. I called Skyjacker and spoke with them about it. They said that 3/8" is within their range of acceptable variation in shape. So, I guess what I have learned is that if you want your lift to be even, you should stand at the parts counter and lay the two springs next to each other and get the two springs that are the closest in shape. Lesson learned.

[BLAZERMAN]

You might try loosening the shackle bolts and cycling the front suspension some then rechecking. Other than that I wouldn't worry to much about 3/8" till you get the weight of the motor and sheet metal on and see what happens when the springs settle a little.

[CUSTOM/10]

Um.... going by the picture, You don't even have the motor, trany or front clip on the truck ! Everything will change once the truck is together, so I wouldn't even be measuring it at this ponit !

[ironbutter]

Wow two exclamation points and an "um..." huh. If you can explain how the motion of mass on a spring will create an evening effect on two different shaped springs, I would like to hear it. I measured the truck in the same state with the stock springs and it was dead even. Its pretty simple, Skyjacker builds springs, no two springs will be exactly the same, their stated tolerance for deviation is 3/8". I happened to get 2 that are at the high end of their deviation tolerance. Good information from them. It is what it is.

[CUSTOM/10]

I'm just saying that there are so many variables that could cause a 1/4" difference, wait until the truck is assembled and see what you have. Heck if it's high on the drivers side then maybe it will be level when you sit in it. "LOL"

I meant no offence with anything I said.

[ironbutter]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, swap the high one to the drivers side... Im gonna get it all together and see where she sits. Thanks for the responses no offense taken. Tonight I get to fight with the kick down cable on my new trans to add to the fun

[CUSTOM/10]

I have the exact same lift in my truck, mine has the motor & trany in it but no cab or bed. I'll measure mine when I get home tonight and see if I have a difference from side to side.

Gary

[turp mcspray]

You have to realize that even if the springs are exactly the same height, they are not going to support the same amount of weight. For example the transfer case and heat/ac box, and a/c compressor are all heavy items, and are all located on one side of the vehicle.
I sure wouldn't get to excited over 1/4" in difference.

[CUSTOM/10]

Mine is also about 1/4" difference from side to side, mines taller on the drivers side.

[ironbutter]

Thanks for measuring Gary, can you me a favor and measure from the floor to the center of the side mirror? I get 1/2" higher on mine. Odd how it seems to grow the further up the truck I measure.

Trace

[CUSTOM/10]

I don't have the body on the chassis at this time. It should be in a week or so.

If click on my build link you can see where I'm at.

[CUSTOM/10]

Trace;

Something you have to understand, these where trucks back then, they didn't have the same tolerances like today's vehicles. My rocker panels were recessed about a 1/4" from the cab corners. The lines were horrible ! I had my body guy address the egregious issues, in some cases it meant pie cutting and re-welding panels. It all depends on what you want or want to pay for.

If you still have the old rubber body mounts under your cab, that could be the issue with the mirror height difference. The truck is 40 yrs old, thing settle and sag just like they do with people... "LOL"

[SS Tim]

Without "knowing" that frame was perfectly level and square without twist then it is really a moot point. As far as measuring at the mirrors that just introduces several more varaibles that can compound any difference in the side to side ride height of installed springs. Beyond the side weight differentials there are likely differences in tire height, rear spring arch, cab mount compression/deterioration, door location relative to the body even the if the mirrors are on the same body waterline.

In any event the new springs will also settle in use.
Anytime a vehicle is jacked up and any suspension component is unloaded the vehicle will need to be settled to account for suspension bind and tire scrub. So roll, bounce and wiggle side to side several times if you want meaningfull and repeatable measurements.
In many cases I have seen new vehicles with corner ride height variations of 1/2 - 3/4" doing pre-production, production and competetive vehicle testing.

[BLAZERMAN]

I agree with all that Tim said.
I mentioned loosening shackle bolts and cycling the suspension because I've seen many times especially with aftermarket springs is that a shackle bolt can be over tightened, and then when the truck is lowered one side can be in more of a bind than the other...this is especially more true when the front is so light from not having the motor and sheet metal installed. And even if your springs are the exact same shape side by side it doesn't mean they will settle at the exact same height, these springs are mass produced as cheaply as possible, there can easily be slight differences in spring rates from side to side especially coming from two different batches.

[ironbutter]

Good points all... thanks for all your help. Gary, very nice build, Im tuned in now.

I have figured out what Im gonna do... Put this 383 stroker in and see if that settles it right...



And then it will look like this again, only riding just right height-wise...



Then Im gonna see if I can even keep the front wheels on the ground.

Thanks again guys

-Trace

[BLAZERMAN]

Sharp truck! Love the color combo

[CUSTOM/10]

Nice looking truck !!!

That 383 will help settle the springs, until you get it running.... Then all that torque will twist things up... "LOL"

[DWilbur]

Originally Posted by ironbutter

Thanks for the replies, to be clear, the measurement is from the top of the spring directly in front of the U Bolt Plate to the bottom of the frame. I remeasured it this morning in better light, and there is a 3/8" difference between the two measured distances. The reason I measured it, is because my architects trained eye can see the difference in height when I stand ten feet away in front of my truck. I have never installed a lift, but this seems to be an issue of the springs being slightly different shape. There was no noticeable sag or tilt before with the stock springs. Unfortunately I could not lay the two springs next to each other because one of the springs in my original order was lost by UPS, and after a week of phone calls I got tired of waiting and went to another retailer and bought the second one and installed it last night. Rather than take the whole thing apart, I thought I would put it on the board to find opinions on whether a 3/8" difference is common with lift springs.

Typical architect always putting the eagle eye on everything. Me being a superintendent 1/4" or less I call it good. just kidding. Finish loading up the front and see what happens it may level out. my dad bought a new truck and with in 2 months the right rear leaf spring collapsed.

[ironbutter]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Me being a superintendent 1/4" or less I call it good.

You can have your 1/4", but Im going to need a change order....

[SS Tim]

ECOs, remember one small run flying machine project I initiated 128 on. Then it was time to "kill the engineers and start production". Can you tell I was a migrant aircraft worker for a while?