Suspension problem

[Chris Harrach]

Need a little advice: My 97 EB has a pronounsed list or lean if you will, to the passenger side. Ive replaced the shocks and ball joints since I've had it, and I cant see any visable damage or broken components under the vehicle. Im guessing its the springs that need replacing next. Anything else I may be overlooking? Thanks in advance.

 

[gmanpaint]

To help narrow it down, If you would take a couple Pictures from the rear & the front (from a few feet back), it would help us determine if it is the leaf packs, or the torsion bars set up, causing your lean.

If your certain nothing is broken (like a leaf shackle), it is one of those two things suspension wise.

The only other thing that I can think of causing a passenger side lean would be a busted body mount(s). Drivers side lean is more common due to weight of fuel tank and operator weight, so this is kinda rare, and should be easy to diagnose.

 

[Chris Harrach]

Thanks for the reply Gmanpaint. I'll take a picture first thing in the morning & post it. I hope its something relatively simple to repair. There's no kind of adverse driving characteristics, or exsessive bounce or bottoming out when going over bumpy roads. Just that irritating lean. }8-(

 

[SoNic67]

Shocks will not keep the frame raised. Only the springs keep the frame "floating" above the axles.
Leafs in back, torsion bars in front. Of course toghether with all the associated mounting hardware.

 

[Chris Harrach]

Well I measured the difference and the passenger side in back, is one & threequarters of an inch LOWER than the driver side. Its about the same in the front. Sooooooo, new springs and torsion bars all around, right?

 

[SoNic67]

Start with the leafs. The torsion bars you might be able to adjust... after you have the new leafs.

 

[Turdle]

Measure the front again, at the lower control arm bolts. They should be exact. If the passenger side is a tad lower try the passenger torsion adjuster, give it a couple turns clockwise.

Then, check your sway bar links, front and rear. Also check the swaybar frame bushings.
Check to see if both shackles look to be at the same angle-they should be equal distance from the bumper- ( checking for broken spring)





Then, you might fill the gas tank, and sit in the driver seat, then have someone measure side to side for you.

 

[SoNic67]

Then, you might fill the gas tank, and sit in the driver seat, then have someone measure side to side for you.

Good one, I just remembered that sometimes is a source of error in measurements and was ready to type that now!

 

[Chris Harrach]

Thanks SoNic67 & Turdle. I'll put your suggestions to use this weekend. Hopefully i'll get it squared away. I'll let you know the outcome.

 

[Chris Harrach]

Suspension Problem (Solved I hope)

After reading all of the available information on this forum, I was able to finally adjust my torsion bars and get rid of the annoying passenger side lean.

The head of the adjuster bolt on the passenger side was sticking out from the housing at an angle, which I heard was normal, but Im not sure if the amount of visable bolt head was. Anyway, I adjusted the bolt all the way in (almost to the top.). I then had to go to the drivers side and lower it, in order to finally get both left & right even. I dont know how the front got so uneven, and I guess I just never really noticed it until it became obvious.

I was able to do the raising and lowering of the front end, first by jacking the passenger side up, but finished off by letting it sit without rasing it at all. This has had an added bonus of also leveling off the rear, which noticably sagged on the passenger side.

I used PB Blaster on both adjuster bolts which helped with the turning of them, but I was lucky that neither one was rusted.

Its been a little over 24hrs since I did this and so far the vehicle has remained even. The performance is good, as I no longer have a hard dip of the rightside of the truck when I turn to the left. There is no noticable shake or shimmy when I go 50 + MPH. I'll make a final inspection of it to do any necessary adjustments, and make sure the truck is sitting even.hen its off to the alignment shop this week end. Thanks to everyone who has posted on this site with all the great and informative information that they've shared. I couldnt have done it without you guys. If there is anything else I need to be aware of in this TT adjustmet, please let me know.

Thanks again!!
Chris H.