The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Truck leaning to one side

I recently replaced the Eaton rear end with a GM 14 bolt, and after driving it to Lowes today I realized it is leaning to one side. The driver side is 1-1/2" lower than the passenger side.

You guys think its possible that removing and replacing the springs in the back could cause the truck to lean?

1963 C20.

Is it possible that it was leaning before and you didn’t notice it?

Removing and reinstalling the same springs isn’t going cause the truck to lean unless you changed something or assembled something wrong.

Sounds like you have a weak spring or broken leaf to me. Check the side thats leaning for a cracked leaf.

show us some pictures of the springs at the shackles. I had this occur before. The spring and shackle were not happy after i raised and unloaded the spring. In my case it was on the high side.

Pics........

Coil springs.
It’s a 1963 C20. I can get some pics of the springs tomorrow.

I stand corrected as well. I was thinking of leaf.

A wheel alignment customer at a shop where I was running the tuneup/diagnostic department kept complaining about an old Dodge pickup he drove pulling to the right after repeated wheel alignments. One day he drove in with his wife onboard. The truck had a list worse than the one in your pictures- - - -but to the passenger's side! We fixed it by doing the alignment with both of them sitting in the truck. It looked like he needed to use a big pry bar and a greasy shoe horn to get her into the seat!
Jerry

I stand corrected, but the same applies. Look for a broken/cracked spring, a spring that’s not in its seat. Also check the front springs for the same.

Also check the shocks. Sometimes they will get frozen in one position.

Took some measurements with the truck on the ground.

I think it is the way the spring sits in the retainer. Is this spring retainer intended to be
positioned a specific way?

There should be an index point that centers the springs when installing them. You have more problems than that, however.
C-20's of that era have a dual rate spring, the normal ride is on the the middle coils which are "softer". With a load the center coils collapse together and the truck rides on the stiffer coils. Almost all of yours seem to be nearly collapsed with out any load on it.
Not unusual for an older truck that was well used.
Fred

Those coils look like they're ready for the scrap bin. It would be interesting to see how much weight each wheel is carrying. Do you know a round track racer who might have a set of individual wheel scales? One of my competitors on the dirt track had a set of home-brewed weight checkers made from square tubing and hinges that used a regular set of bathroom scales to check wheel loading. The car was parked on three wood blocks the same height and the fourth wheel sat on the weight check device. It had a 3:1 leverage built into it. 300 pounds on the scale translated to 900 on the wheel, etc.
Jerry

So, you guys are saying the springs should not be that collapsed when sitting on the ground?

And, will 1/2 ton springs work on a 3/4 ton truck? I am not planning on carrying heavy loads, just normal driving around town.
The Truck and Car Shop in Orange only lists springs for 1/2 ton pickups.

There is a load on the springs in the picture, the truck is sitting on the ground.

What would they look like with 1000+ pounds in the bed? That's the "load" Fred is talking about.
Jerry

Well, I guess I am off to buy some new springs. Hope the 1/2 ton springs work.

There are companies that can make pretty well any spring for you. e.g. https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/coil-springs/

They don't list C20 springs on the web site, but they should be able to make a set - you have to call and ask them.

Posies springs made in PA with U.S. steel. If you WILL NOT carrying loads these are great and make your truck drive like a car.

There are also spring shops, at least around here, that will rearc your springs for ya. Might be another option?

Once a coil spring goes belly-up, I don't think there's anything practical to do but replace it. Even re-arching leaf springs is a pretty complicated, expensive procedure if it's done correctly.
Jerry

Check with Deaver Suspension in Santa Ana. They may have some suggestions.
Fred

I installed stock height, new coil springs in the back and got a new track arm (pan hard bar). I think it sits more level than before. Rides a lot better too. Next step is to replace the front springs and ball joints.

Also going to list some 2” drop springs; these did not work out for me. Couldn’t get the wheels mounted, tires a bit too wide.