1990 Suburban - body leaning to driver side? (long post w/pics)

[bigburb]

*All measurements are close, but may not be exact. You should be able to get the gist of it, though.*

OK, so here's the deal. My suburban's body leans toward the drivers side. It did this before and after the lift, so I know that's not part of it. Plus, the body bushings look to be in pretty good shape, but I don't know s%*t about body bushings or how to tell if they're good or not.

I measured the height from the top of the tire to the trim on the fender well on all 4 tires, and here is the results:

D. side front: 11"
D. side rear: 9 1/2"
P. side front: 11"
P. side rear: 10 1/2"

It seems to be about 1" lower overall. Here's a pic from the back:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail15.jpg

And the front. It seems worse in the rear, but it could just be me:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail12.jpg

And here's body-panel-to-floor measurements on all 4 corners:

Left front, approx. 26":
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail9.jpg

Right front, approx. 26 3/4":
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail8.jpg

Left rear, approx. 28 1/4":
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail11.jpg

Right rear, approx. 29 1/4":
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail10.jpg

Also, this may or may not be related to the body leaning, but the passenger side front tire seems to stick out further than the driver's side. Here's some pics to compare, I have a metal ruler leaning from the outside of both tires against the trim the top of the fender well, if you can see it:

P. side:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail14.jpg

D. side:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/mail13.jpg

I've kinda ignored it up until now, but it's really starting to bug me. Any help or suggestions would be great! :great:

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Z-71]

If I were you I guess I would check the leaf springs (especially the driver side rear) for cracks,check the bushings,and check the arc of it.Its just a guess but I bet thats where the problem lies.good luck

[tbplus10]

Did you use new leaf packs with the lift, 0r did it use AAL's?
If you used AAL's you need to check the spring arch they might be worn.
If you used new leaf packs you might have a frame issue with this truck. Do you know the history of the truck from new?
Was it ever wrecked?

[bigburb]

Well, I guess I should have mentioned that the lift cosisted of new leafs for the front and blocks for the rear. I did put AAL's that were given to me by a friend around the same time as the lift, though.

How would I go about checking the arch?

[Z-71]

I would measure from the center bolt to the frame and compare it to the other side that will tell you right there if its in the leafs or not.I had the same thing on a 84 silverado and the rear driver side leaf had a cracked leaf in it...I bought a new set for the rear and it sat as straight as can be.I'll almost garantee you will find the problem is in the leafs.Let us know what you find.

[bigburb]

Hmmm... the old 'burb could use some new rear leafs. Hell, it could use new leafs all around. The rears are CREAKY (and possibly cracked, will check that tomorrow lol), and the fronts... well let's just say you would probably have a softer ride with a couple of welded solid pieces of steel spacing the axle from the frame. I mean OH MY GOD, this thing has absolutely the worst ride of any vehicle I have ridden in because of those front springs :gasp:.

I don't know what brand they are, because the whole lift was a $150 junkyard special that I pulled off an old k5:rofl: Give me some slack, I was a senior in high school working at a fast food joint at the time I put the lift on:na:

And to Z-71; what do you mean "from the center bolt to the frame"?

[cadillacmike]

Hey man. I would bet that the leaf is sagged or broken in the rear drivers side. My buddies 91 K5 did that, and we found out (after new shocks, and a bunch of other bushings ect) that the spring was sagged. We put two new leafs in, and boom, straight as can be! Hope this helps. OH. and Z-71 probably ment to measure from the center of the U-Bolt that holds the leaf to the axle to the body and compare sides. If its there, then that should tell you the leaf is sagged, unless you get under there and see its broken. All it takes to lean that heavy body is one broken leaf. Hope this helps, and BTW nice burbin!

[Z-71]

Right at the middle of the leaf spring where the u-bolts hold it to the axle measure from there straight up to the frame just make sure its straight up or your measurement will be off. Sorry about saying "center bolt" lol... I'm not very good at explaining stuff sometimes but I was talking about the little nub that helps hold the axle straight but you can't even see that with everything assembled.

[bigburb]

OK, this is strange... I took Z-71's advice and measure from the top of the hump in the u-bolt plate (since you can see the center leaf bolt lol) to the bottom of the frame on both rear springs, and it was the same on both sides! I even checked the fronts while I was at it, and they're both the same too. Idk if it'll make a difference, but I'll measure again after driving the 10 miles each way to and from college. Like I said, it probabaly won't do anything, but you never know :rules:

I'll check for broken leafs during my 2 hour break between my first and second classes and report back, right now it's still too dark to tell.

And thanks cadillacmike! I love my 'burb :party:

[91Sub4x4]

I'm glad someone made a thread about this- I have the exact same problem on my 91, so much that it makes me curious every time I look at it. I was told my leaf springs are in great shape and to check the rear axle tube. Last time I changed the oil, I took a look at the axle and it almost looks like it's bent but it may be an illusion due to the body being closer since it's leaning on that side. OR...it might be closer to that side because the axle tube is bent. I haven't taken the time to find out yet.

[bigburb]

I'm glad someone made a thread about this- I have the exact same problem on my 91, so much that it makes me curious every time I look at it. I was told my leaf springs are in great shape and to check the rear axle tube. Last time I changed the oil, I took a look at the axle and it almost looks like it's bent but it may be an illusion due to the body being closer since it's leaning on that side. OR...it might be closer to that side because the axle tube is bent. I haven't taken the time to find out yet.

The axle tube? I looked at mine just now, (not very closely, I was more examining the leaf springs), but it looks straight.

And, I just looked over all the leafs in the two back springs, and didn't see any visible cracks. Any idea's???

[91Sub4x4]

This is just a theory. Have you ever seen a car at the dragstrip with a lot of power and no roll cage? When they slam on the gas the right front wheel comes off the ground because the engine is trying to roll over. The same thing happens in trucks, without the awesome wheelie, and the effect can be seen after time...almost 20 years in our case. This can easily be seen in older diesels. The bed of the truck looks much lower on the driver's side because of how often the torque has twisted the frame/body a fraction of an inch.

[Crawdaddy]

This is just a theory. Have you ever seen a car at the dragstrip with a lot of power and no roll cage? When they slam on the gas the right front wheel comes off the ground because the engine is trying to roll over. The same thing happens in trucks, without the awesome wheelie, and the effect can be seen after time...almost 20 years in our case. This can easily be seen in older diesels. The bed of the truck looks much lower on the driver's side because of how often the torque has twisted the frame/body a fraction of an inch.

That's a really cool theory, though I hope it isn't correct. If you're theory's correct, that would mean his frame is bent/torqued, no?

[Z-71]

Well that sucks...I was sure it was a suspension problem like mine was.I hate to say it but 91sub4x4 could be on to something.I'll talk to my body guy and see what he says on the matter and how to fix it.We will figure it out

[bigburb]

It doesn't sound likely, although I guess at this point just about anything is possible. I really hope that's not the case, cause that would suck lol.

[Z-71]

Well my body guy didn't shed much light on it but he did say that he really doubts that its tweaked...With all the info I gave him he thinks something is rotted under there or a body bushing/or mount is shot.When you get a chance if you could get some pics from under there esspecially of your rear body mounts and bushings that could help.

[bigburb]

Well my body guy didn't shed much light on it but he did say that he really doubts that its tweaked...With all the info I gave him he thinks something is rotted under there or a body bushing/or mount is shot.When you get a chance if you could get some pics from under there esspecially of your rear body mounts and bushings that could help.

Alright, I'll get some pics here in the next hour or so. And thanks a lot for going out of your way to help me!!

[tbplus10]

I'm glad someone made a thread about this- I have the exact same problem on my 91, so much that it makes me curious every time I look at it. I was told my leaf springs are in great shape and to check the rear axle tube. Last time I changed the oil, I took a look at the axle and it almost looks like it's bent but it may be an illusion due to the body being closer since it's leaning on that side. OR...it might be closer to that side because the axle tube is bent. I haven't taken the time to find out yet.

If your axle tube was bent you'd know it was, you'd have a problem with leaking rear axle seals and or have rear axle bearings going out.

[Z-71]

It's no problem I'm glad to help figure this out

[tbplus10]

Check all the body bushings, measure from the body mount to the frame mount at each point, this'll tell ya if a body mounts out of whack or a bushing is shot.
Then measure from the frame to the ground at various points around the truck (on a flat level surface) and compare the measurements. This measurement is essentially what a frame shop will do to find the source of your problem.

[bigburb]

OK, I just went out and took pictures of every single body bushing except for the very front 2 under the radiator. So, here they are.

Passenger side, directly above tire:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban001.jpg

Passenger side, the two very back bushings:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban002.jpg

Passenger side, in the middle roughly below middle row seat:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban008.jpg

Passenger side, roughly below passenger floorboard:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban009.jpg

Driver side, very furthest back:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban010.jpg

Driver side, just above the front rear leaf mount:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban003.jpg

Driver side, above leaf next to shock:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban004.jpg

Driver side, seocnd to last, next to spare tire holer:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban005.jpg

Driver side, in the middle roughly below middle seat:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban006.jpg

Driver side, below driver's floorboard:
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/vato_2009/Suburban007.jpg

Well, that's all of 'em (except for the very front two, like I said). Anything look out of the ordinary?

[tbplus10]

they could probably use replacing because the rubber looks like it's starting to crack but I dont think any of them look overly compressed.

[Crawdaddy]

Even though it unfortunately doesn't help you, those are some immaculate and spectacular pictures. And the mounts don't look too bad either. Again, love those pics! :great:

[Z-71]

looks pretty good...and really clean especially considering it's a 1990.Hmmm let me think on this for a little bit.

[cadillacmike]

Wow. This is a good one!!! Now im going to start asking questions to some of my friends at work and see if i can possibly shed some light on this too.

[69project]

I have the same problem but have not started the investigative work yet. How old are your shocks? Do you think maybe your rear drivers side is starting to collapse or wear out?

My rear shocks are some old air shocks so I think mine have leaked out. It worth checking.

[bigburb]

I have the same problem but have not started the investigative work yet. How old are your shocks? Do you think maybe your rear drivers side is starting to collapse or wear out?

My rear shocks are some old air shocks so I think mine have leaked out. It worth checking.

Well it's been that way since we bought it about 2 1/2 years ago. The lift has been on there for just about a year now. The original stock shocks felt pretty good when I pulled them off, too. Kinda strange, isn't it?

[egreg]

I had the exact same problem in my '86 surbanburbur. It's definitely the rear leafs. Replace all of the rear leafs. If you only replace the problematic side then your truck will lean the OTHER way.

[egreg]

I've also heard of people just adding a leaf to the problematic side. That could be a cheaper alternative.