I had the front and rear up, jack-stands on frame and axle and leveled, swapped out the air-shocks with Monroes, and it was even to within 1/8" on both sides. Drop it to the floor and drive 10 miles, and now I have 1" lean to the left again. Am I missing something here? If the weight is off the tires, but still on the springs and axle, why would it be flat, but when dropped to the floor, it leans? Tires are same height (even wear), same pressure, but when I drop it down, I lose 1" space between the top of the driver tire and the bottom of the fender. Even swapped the rear tires, just drawing at straws, and still the lean. I need an alignment, and am scheduled for tomorrow...should I cancel it until level this thing out? EDIT--I called and cancelled the allignment until this thing levels out.
Stop and think about it. How many years has this car been driven with only the driver in the car? What do you think that will do to the springs on the drivers side?
springs are more than likely shot,or the bolt might be wearing through the rubber bushing.my money would be on the spring wearing out though.
Yep, probably the springs or if it was ever in an accident the whole unibody could have a twist. My old V8 Pinto (sorry TL) was like that. Didn't matter what you did to the suspension, it always leaned.
But what has me stumped is that when it is jacked up and set on level jackstands on the axle, still putting weight on springs and shocks, it is dead-even level. Then when I drop the car to the ground, i pick up 3/4" lean. Which is better than the 1-1/2" lean i had before yesterday. After I swap the springs, will I be forced to fabricate uneven length shackles to level it out the last bit if it is not level from the new springs. Or would I go with spacers between the springs and axle? Or something like that. New springs are on my wish list, but I am worried about replacing all the parts and still having a lean. I want it within 1/8" before I will be satisfied. I am also wondering if somehow, my front is uneven and when the front is off the ground, the rear levels out. I will jack the front up tomorrow and see if that corrects it, then work on the front, rather than the back. If the front is the issue, (the springs are new, and have been cut to drop the front 2") and I get it level, then go in for an allingment, will it knock my level off?
After you had it up in the air, the springs needed time to settle, which is exactly what happened after you drove it. Dude, you need new springs. It's that simple. Springs SPRINGS S P R I N G S !....
you said "the tires are the same height." is this because they are the same size but diff. brands? i had this prob. many years ago. how are the shocks? check and make sure one is not "flat". my brother-in-law pulls the piston all the way out and back in 3 times before installing them . how are the a frame bushings, could one side be sticking? ...frank...
Is the garage floor flat/level? I was have similar problems measuring the car in the garage until I realized that the garage floor had a slope to the drain. Took it to a large parking lot and re measured. I still had a slight lean to the drivers side but not enough for me to worry about.
Garage floor is pretty darn close to flat. Tires are a matched set of the same size, same brand, from the same car, etc. They are worn the same amount. Shocks are brand new, installed yesterday. I DO need new leaf springs, but still worry that there is something else, besides the springs, knocking off my level. The level-at-jackstand vs NOT leve-on-ground freaks me out. I can't help but think the front end is knocking the backend out, after I drop it down and level out all the weight. I will buy new springs in the near future, but I am scared to death (well...not quite to DEATH) that this will not fix the lean. Then what do I do???
Since the front coils have been cut.....Do they have the same number of coils,in your situation just a fraction could be the problem,cut on the ends or out of the middle they both have to be precise(I would've fabricated some kind of apparatus to measure the springs tension before I installed them).....place stands under the rear axles with the front on the ground,now measure each side....I curious to find out your results,I'm sure we all are...
read through this thread and got an idea I think you need to find out if your problem is front or rear. 1 measure between the leaf springs and mark a spot on the rearend that is center 2 put the car on the ground drive out of the shop about 15 feet , pull back in the shop 3 place a large socket or strong pipe 1.5-2 inch diameter on your jack 4 line up the jack and the socker parallel with the tires 5 jack the car up on your mark 6 just enough to get bothe rear tires in the air 7 if your rear fender to wheel measurement is equal your problem is front springs 8 if your rear fender to wheel measurement is different you have a rear spring problem
Dig it. Scooper, you certainly like to dig into a problem, good reading. There is an old solution for this. Car guys have been doing it since cars were invented. Improves the looks of your cars in more ways than just fixing the lean. The part is readily available, they've been making them forever, although pretty expensive. Still, most guys consider it worth it. Universal fit, all makes, all models. Can go out of calibration over the years but fun to replace anyways. nyuck, nyuck, a custom seat cover. Get one just the right weight for the passenger seat. The curvier to start with, the longer they stay in calibration.
I have a pretty, curvy passenger "seat cover" but most of the time, she stays home when I go for a drive. She is kinda embarrassed to be seen in the "ugly yellow maverick". Even though the whole town knows it is our proud project, she doesn't want her fellow teachers seeing her in it And, she looks good in the driver seat, but again, embarrassed, and can't figure out the B&M shifter.
