Stupid question... Why does my truck lean to the left

[dasfinc]

I've seen ALOT of 98+ Rangers that have a bit of lean to the left on them...

My 98 2wd had a bit of a lean to the left when I got it, and I found that it had a cracked leaf on the driver side...

Since then I've replaced EVERYTHING suspension wise *Shackles, leads, axle, shocks* in the rear through the course of my 2/3 drop, and it still appears to lean a little to the left.

I had it on a lift getting its exhaust done and it appears that the axle hangs a little lower on the left side... Anything that commonly causes this? Any way that when I did the suspension work that I installed a faulty or wrong strut on my driver side *Or reversed them?* I swear up and down that I double checked the part numbers, and they are different for left/right, and I suspect if I switch them it may sag the opposite direction...

Any suggestions?
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vapourizers

 

[Casper98]

It's the Ranger lean, battery, gas tank, and driver are all on that side

 

[colby450xc]

Basically what he said above. The ranger I have now doesn't have the lean, yet. My 93 did though, and I added the bottom leaf from another ranger to fix it, whether it be just because the leaf pack is thicker, or just having the added suspension of another leaf, it fixed it for the time being.

 

[dasfinc]

It's the Ranger lean, battery, gas tank, and driver are all on that side

Even with no driver, and a near empty tank it leans a solid half to 3/4th an inch to the left, Just the bed, front looks level.
________
smoke weed every day

 

[MountainMike]

It's the Ranger lean, battery, gas tank, and driver are all on that side

Plus all the steering linkages and the likes.

Also the reason the Ranger tends to lean is a little bizarre. They was a Super Duty in the shop some time ago with no front clip and I noticed the engine is slightly offset to the right to counter act the weight imbalance. But the Ranger has the engine centralized, making it more susceptible the the "lean""

 

[straycat]

My 99 Ranger does the 'lean' as well. It has as long as I remember it has. I bought it new. It seems to lean a bit more right after a full tank of gas. I notice it front and rear on the drivers side. I put 5 sand bags on the right side of the rear bed and that seemd to help so much. I drove around for a few weeks and removed them and this helped...but a month later it started doing it again.

I have thought many times about relocating the gas tank.......that would be a pain!!!

 

[dasfinc]

Plus all the steering linkages and the likes.

Also the reason the Ranger tends to lean is a little bizarre. They was a Super Duty in the shop some time ago with no front clip and I noticed the engine is slightly offset to the right to counter act the weight imbalance. But the Ranger has the engine centralized, making it more susceptible the the "lean""

I have a 5.0 in mine, so I think any origional engineering there is moot, Lol
________
YZ426F

 

[gribly]

Even with no driver, and a near empty tank it leans a solid half to 3/4th an inch to the left, Just the bed, front looks level.

If it's your bed, you could have tweaked the frame with your 5.0 or maybe you have a bad bed mount?

 

[Shran]

My 86 leans A LOT to the left... you guys' 3/4" is nothing... I've got like 3"

No idea what is causing it, I'm not fat and nothing looks bent or broken.. but it really pisses me off... I am going to try swapping leaf springs side for side sometime and see if the lean follows them since it's much worse in the rear.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Years of riding around with the fuel tank and driver will cause the springs to wear more on the driver side.

Mine does it, the batt on mine is the passenger side.

Also, all the 4x4 stuff is on the drivers side (T-Case, driveshaft)

 

[That Baker Guy]

what about the body mounts? could one of those around the gas tank or the the drivers seat be mashed down to where it isnt as thick as the right?

 

[dasfinc]

Years of riding around with the fuel tank and driver will cause the springs to wear more on the driver side.

Mine does it, the batt on mine is the passenger side.

Also, all the 4x4 stuff is on the drivers side (T-Case, driveshaft)

All springs are brand new, and its a 2WD

If it's your bed, you could have tweaked the frame with your 5.0 or maybe you have a bad bed mount?

Leaned before I ever gave life to it with the V-8. Would be kinda cool though, Lol.

what about the body mounts? could one of those around the gas tank or the the drivers seat be mashed down to where it isnt as thick as the right?

Gribly/Baker, Didn't think about the body/bed mounts.... I'll have to take a look at that later on today, dunno why that didn't occur to me, albiet it'd be odd...
________
vapir no2

 

[feellnfroggy]

One of my shackle mounts is bent. and my shackle due to the busted spring rests 2 inches behind the bolt, while the good one rests 1 inch in front of the bolt. I would check your spring mounts. compare one side to the other.

 

[tajvelocity]

My 99 leaned when lowered. I'm hoping that when I lift it, the problem will magically correct itself...but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[strvger]

think i answered this before in another forum here.

it leans so water will run off the truck when it's raining... to the left.

jk