Driver side lean

[octanejunkie]

I've done a fair bit of searching, and I know there are side-specific coils and trim packers that can be added to the driver side, but beside the obvious issue (more weight on the driver's side over a long period of time) what else can contribute to this "issue" - like can a stock panhard bar on a lifted truck cause or exacerbate driver side lean?

 

[kolelt]

you ?

 

[octanejunkie]

you ?

That is the typical why, my question is what else can/will contribute to it when you move the truck from it's stock configuration.

I have a lean that became noticeable after installing Tundra billies, and I've switched them between sides to no effect; still leans to driver side.

I've disconnected my sway bar and inspected/measured body mounts and body to frame gap - the issue is suspension-related.

I added a 1/4" top plate spacer to the front driver shock/spring and it still leans

I am about to order an OME 10mm trim packer for the rear spring and I have a panhard correction kit ready to weld on

The only thing I've not tried yet is to disconnect the panhard bar itself and see if the lean lessens or goes away

So yes, ME is the answer because I am fat-ish and I've not done everything - but it is in my nature to start new threads to ask, so here I am :bluejump:

 

[RAD4Runner]

you ?

...
So yes, ME

Was gonna ask if it happened after the holidays
Bwa-hah-hah-ppy new year!

 

[LittleCaesar]

I would say transfer case but given the lack of CV axles for the OP.

I'd start with new rear springs at least and go from there.

 

[96RedRunner]

Happy New Year Mike,
The rear suspension plays a bigger role in lean than the front. I believe
you will solve the issue with spacer you have coming. I don't recall what all you've done on your rig, did you recently lift it? if so new or used rear springs?
Could you have springs reversed? November think it was, a member had same
issue with new lift, everything correct up front as far as DS/PS springs. Shop
that installed lift had rear springs reversed, they swapped them problem solved.

 

[96RedRunner]

I would say transfer case but given the lack of CV axles for the OP.

I'd start with new rear springs at least and go from there.

Front Diff adds some weight to DS also I believe.

 

[BrianSD_42]

How much lean are we talking here? A picture with a tape measure (fender to ground, center wheel) is worth 1,000 words.

With the truck empty and no one sitting in it the passenger side really shouldn't sit more than 1/2 to 3/4 inch higher at most. The pan-handle bar shouldn't be an issue because it is usually installed with the truck flat no tension on the bar (while sitting flat).

I've got King's and at the same setting the passenger sit's a bit higher but not a lot. 1/2 inch difference really isn't much of a big deal at all, at least IMO.

I have a lean that became noticeable after installing Tundra billies, and I've switched them between sides to no effect; still leans to driver side.

--> The OEM Tundra front shocks w/ coils have a different spring for driver vs passenger. This is to offset natural drivers side lean. Do your Billstien springs have different part # for driver vs passenger?

I've disconnected my sway bar and inspected/measured body mounts and body to frame gap - the issue is suspension-related.

--> Yes the sway bar should have no effect on lean unless something is seriously off. While the truck is flat the sway bar should have close to no tension in at all.

I added a 1/4" top plate spacer to the front driver shock/spring and it still leans

--> I'd remove that top plate spacer. It only reduces the ride quality.

 

[AntleredRuin]

When you say more weight, obviously the driver is included in that, but don't forget the gas tank. That's a couple hundred pounds just in the gas (not including the tank itself) that's more or less situated over the rear driver side coil.

I'd say rear coils too. My cheap Moog coils were noticeably longer for the driver's side to compensate. Maybe higher quality coils have different spring ratios instead of lengths, but I'm not sure.


I'd be interested to see how things even out in a Hilux Surf. Gas tank still in the same place (I'd assume), but the driver on the other side.

 

[fourfive]

I have a lean that became noticeable after installing Tundra billies, and I've switched them between sides to no effect; still leans to driver side.

I've disconnected my sway bar and inspected/measured body mounts and body to frame gap - the issue is suspension-related.

I added a 1/4" top plate spacer to the front driver shock/spring and it still leans

I am about to order an OME 10mm trim packer for the rear spring and I have a panhard correction kit ready to weld on

Are your tundra bilsteins adjustable? You could bump up your driver’s side coil up a notch. That’s basically what I did on my coilovers. I have 1/2” more thread showing on my drivers side shock body compared to the passengers side to level out the front.

I don’t have any trim packers in the rear and it sits anywhere from mostly level to a 1/2” off depending on how much gas I have in the tank or how I have my cargo gear distributed. The occasional 1/2” difference in the rear driver/passenger’s side height isn’t visually noticeable but is there if I measure it.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I mean, not likely. If you're lifted 2" or more, you need the PCK anyway, so just weld those bítches on there and see for yourself!
How far off are you talking? What front springs are you running? I bet if you didn't measure it, you wouldn't have ever noticed. Now you're just making yourself [more]crazy!
Mine sits perfectly level with the side-specific '99 tall front springs, and side-specific Superflex rear springs.

 

[kolelt]

I’m running a OME spacer(s) in the back to fix this. still have a small driver side lean.

 

[3bears]

not much help, but I do know when I ordered the highlander the springs (talls) for my truck , they ordered and came specific for left and right sides
Its been over a year now, and I am a big guy...215....and have no noticeable lean..

 

[octanejunkie]

I would say transfer case but given the lack of CV axles for the OP.

I'd start with new rear springs at least and go from there.

Happy New Year Mike,
The rear suspension plays a bigger role in lean than the front. I believe
you will solve the issue with spacer you have coming. I don't recall what all you've done on your rig, did you recently lift it? if so new or used rear springs?
Could you have springs reversed? November think it was, a member had same
issue with new lift, everything correct up front as far as DS/PS springs. Shop
that installed lift had rear springs reversed, they swapped them problem solved.

I have no transfer case, or front diff, as was also mentioned. I've got OME 890 rear springs (not side-specific) that have about 100K on them, IIRC

 

[octanejunkie]

How much lean are we talking here? A picture with a tape measure (fender to ground, center wheel) is worth 1,000 words.

The after adding the top plate spacer the driver side sans driver, is only 1/2-3/4" LOWER than the passenger side.

The pan-handle bar shouldn't be an issue because it is usually installed with the truck flat no tension on the bar (while sitting flat).

I have not installed the kit yet to get my panhard bar back to level, FWIW

The OEM Tundra front shocks w/ coils have a different spring for driver vs passenger. This is to offset natural drivers side lean. Do your Billstien springs have different part # for driver vs passenger?

I am running used OEM springs, not Bilstein springs, that I thought were 99 talls, but the color marks don't match. They appear to be thick, 10-wrap coils (maybe 9.5 wrap) and have different color markings on each. One is Blue-Blue and the other Blue-Orange. I've tried them either side, no change in the lean. Maybe it's time to just buy new coils.

Yes the sway bar should have no effect on lean unless something is seriously off. While the truck is flat the sway bar should have close to no tension in at all.

Agreed. The thought was if the sway bar was bad it could affect stance, but disconnecting it had no effect, so we can rule that out.

I'd remove that top plate spacer. It only reduces the ride quality.

So far it has had no discernible effect, visual or otherwise, but it did raise the front end fender to ground measurement by about a 1/2"
Looking from the rear, the lean is more pronounced from a distance.

 

[octanejunkie]

Are your tundra bilsteins adjustable? You could bump up your driver’s side coil up a notch. That’s basically what I did on my coilovers. I have 1/2” more thread showing on my drivers side shock body compared to the passengers side to level out the front.

Yes, they are adjustable and both on the 3rd notch, for now. I will revisit this after I install a winch up front.

I don’t have any trim packers in the rear and it sits anywhere from mostly level to a 1/2” off depending on how much gas I have in the tank or how I have my cargo gear distributed. The occasional 1/2” difference in the rear driver/passenger’s side height isn’t visually noticeable but is there if I measure it.

Gas in the tank is always going to be a moving target, but I get the point. My truck looks unlevel at all fuel-fill levels from both the front and the rear.

I mean, not likely. If you're lifted 2" or more, you need the PCK anyway, so just weld those bítches on there and see for yourself!
How far off are you talking? What front springs are you running? I bet if you didn't measure it, you wouldn't have ever noticed. Now you're just making yourself [more]crazy!
Mine sits perfectly level with the side-specific '99 tall front springs, and side-specific Superflex rear springs.

I'm lifted 3 inches, PCK kit going on as soon as I have time.

At the most, the driver side was 3/4-1" lower than the driver side.

See my reply to Brian about front springs, pictures pending from another thread.... (wait for it)

 

[thecole1098]

When I put my 3" Toytec lift in, the Superflex coils were side dependent and they gave me a 1/4" top plate spacer for the DS front coil that seemed to eliminate my lean completely. I also have the PCK kit welded on.

 

[Kanoe]

Another vote for springs.

I've got 99 tall fronts, 2906 rears. Both are side specific and no lean with a full gas tank.

 

[octanejunkie]

When I put my 3" Toytec lift in, the Superflex coils were side dependent and they gave me a 1/4" top plate spacer for the DS front coil that seemed to eliminate my lean completely. I also have the PCK kit welded on.

$229 for SuperFlex coils or add a $20 spacer to my 890s

I'm considering all options, including 891s and a spacer, since I'm carrying more weight than expected, but I'll gonna hold off on any decisions till I mount my winch

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[02gixxersix]

My truck leans to the driver's side and my suspension is brand new. I was thinking it was a stock panhard bar issue as well.