Wicked Sagging!

[Nelsonmd]

So I noticed some nasty sagging tonight... (sorry for the crappy light in the first pic)

Love that salt...

It isn't broken or anything, it is just sagging. I checked all around it for anything broken, but I saw nothing, and no pieces are missing from the ends of the spring.

This morning I went over a speed bump (a little fast, but it isn't a big bump) and I thought it felt a little different after that (I thought I had blown a tire). I didn't think sagging happened immediately, I thought it was gradual.

So I have to drive it to work, which sucks. I guess I will have to call some salvage yards tomorrow to see if I can find one to replace it, or I could just order the OME lift that I have been tentatively planning on buying once it warmed up. I would like to fix this right away, but unfortunately I have long hours this week that I can't miss, and may not even be able to get to a salvage yard until the weekend.

Any suggestions?

 

[RAB]

Something is goofed up, I spring wouldn't just collapse like that.
Edit.
I would say that its not sitting on the axle or the frame properly, i.e. the top and bottom of the spring aren't sitting were they'll suppose to be, which is extremely odd. Have you done any wheelin recently? Even if you did you'd have to flex the **** out of the axle to get a spring to pop out on ya.

 

[rajuncajun]

It's not unheard of, but maybe a seized/seizing shock?
Long shot, I know. I thought it might have something to do with your recent median mishap, but no idea what it could be.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Something is goofed up, I spring wouldn't just collapse like that.
Edit.
I would say that its not sitting on the axle or the frame properly, i.e. the top and bottom of the spring aren't sitting were they'll suppose to be, which is extremely odd. Have you done any wheelin recently? Even if you did you'd have to flex the **** out of the axle to get a spring to pop out on ya.

I had the same thought, but I crawled under there an checked that both were sitting correctly, and that there wasn't any chunk broken off either, and they both look fine. I can visibly see that the coils are closer together on the drivers side.

It's not unheard of, but maybe a seized/seizing shock?
Long shot, I know. I thought it might have something to do with your recent median mishap, but no idea what it could be.

The shocks are actually new. I replaced them (OEM) when I did the rear axle swap this fall because they were cheap. I thought about my accident too but I am pretty sure it happened this morning. I can tell that it feels funny and different now.

 

[Qyota]

Look at the forward lower control arm mount...it looks broken. It looks about 2" lower than the passenger side. I dunno, maybe it's supposed to be! It just sticks out to me.

Edit: I just measured mine out in the garage. Both LCA frame mounts are 11.5" from the floor. Since they are welded to the frame, that measurement should never change.

 

[J-money$$$]

Something is goofed up, I spring wouldn't just collapse like that.
Edit.
I would say that its not sitting on the axle or the frame properly, i.e. the top and bottom of the spring aren't sitting were they'll suppose to be, which is extremely odd. Have you done any wheelin recently? Even if you did you'd have to flex the **** out of the axle to get a spring to pop out on ya.

It cannot happen with the stock shocks, or any 4runner shocks for that matter, even extended travel OMEs. If you have land cruiser shocks maybe. I have had mine fall out.

So, basically i would think there is an actual problem with the springs

 

[RAB]

It cannot happen with the stock shocks, or any 4runner shocks for that matter, even extended travel OMEs. If you have land cruiser shocks maybe. I have had mine fall out.

So, basically i would think there is an actual problem with the springs

Yeah I figured.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Look at the forward lower control arm mount...it looks broken. It looks about 2" lower than the passenger side. I dunno, maybe it's supposed to be! It just sticks out to me.

Edit: I just measured mine out in the garage. Both LCA frame mounts are 11.5" from the floor. Since they are welded to the frame, that measurement should never change.

The LCA mounts are connected to the frame, which is suspended by the springs, which are dissimilarly sagging, so it makes sense that the front driver LCA mount would be closer to the ground. Good thought though.

I am leaning towards just getting the OME kit, because all the other springs are equally worn as this one, so probably have the same likelihood of this sagging happening.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Has anyone heard of springs sagging instantly like this?

 

[bike]

Tried lifting the rear of the truck and letting the rear axle unweight? Might give you a slightly better view of each of the coils.

 

[cobiker]

I've had this kind of sagging - both rear springs and especially on the driver's side, ever since I bought my 96 Limited. I concluded it was the old stock springs causing the sag and happily changed out to new OME 890s last week. In fact, I even had the OME mech put in longer of the pair of 890 springs on the driver's side. The rear with the 890s was lifted a few inches overall BUT the driver's side is still lower by about an inch.

I've checked the body mounts on the frame and the seating of the springs, as well as the shocks on both sides. Nothing to indicate why the drivers side is still lower.

I suppose the only (and simplest) solution is to slip in some trim packers or spring spacers to compensate.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Tried lifting the rear of the truck and letting the rear axle unweight? Might give you a slightly better view of each of the coils.

Yeah, I lifted the frame, and it lifted to the point where both sides looked the same. No sign of a problem.

I've had this kind of sagging - both rear springs and especially on the driver's side, ever since I bought my 96 Limited. I concluded it was the old stock springs causing the sag and happily changed out to new OME 890s last week. In fact, I even had the OME mech put in longer of the pair of 890 springs on the driver's side. The rear with the 890s was lifted a few inches overall BUT the driver's side is still lower by about an inch.

I've checked the body mounts on the frame and the seating of the springs, as well as the shocks on both sides. Nothing to indicate why the drivers side is still lower.

I suppose the only (and simplest) solution is to slip in some trim packers or spring spacers to compensate.

Well, the longer of the 2 is supposed to go on the drivers side to counteract the weight of the gas tank and the driver. I think 1" is still a bit much for that though. I need a little more than trim packers. I have about a 2" difference right to left.

 

[SkidPalace]

Yesterday was the coldest day we have had in NE in many years. It would seem that the smoking gun is a broken or cracked part after your impact with the speed bump, but which one????
Based on your first pic, it actually seems like your axle is out of line as well as sagged on the left. It looks as if your left wheel is closer to the front of the truck than the right. Of course that could just be funny photo angles. It would be awful hard to change that measurement without a broken LCA.
Have you looked long and hard at your frame? I'd hate to hear that your rust issue affected anything major like that. How's your left front corner?
Sorry, just brainstorming since I missed the thread last night.