Left front lower?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 356
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From: Columbus, OH area
Left front lower?
I noticed as I was walking up to my truck, which was parked on flat ground that the left front is lower. I measured from the top of the tire to the arch of the wheel well and verified this. Not really affecting drivability of the truck but now its gonna bug me. The rest of the truck seems find. What could it be? Spring? Shock?
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,250
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From: Katy, Republic of Texas
Yup, with most all vehicles, front drivers side tends to sag first due to more load over that wheel because of the constant driver weight. Drivers side overall usually sits lower as well due to the fuel tank being on the drivers side.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 33
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From: Oklahoma City
My .02 Cents
With vehicle suspension systems, the spring is what takes the weight of the vehicle and the shock will dampen the oscillations of the spring (remove your shock and keep the spring and you will have a very bouncy and unsafe ride). So the shock is not what to blame.
Check to see that all 4 tires are the same size, Pepboys has a good how to on this here.
If all tires are the same size, check PSI. This is less likely to be the culprit but will eliminate a variable for your debugging.
If you want to try to prove it is the spring:
1) Park your truck on flat ground
2) Take new height measurements, i recommend ground to the top of wheel well.
3) Remove both springs and swap places. Check to see if the heights follow the springs or not.
When you remove the spring, check to see that the bushings on the springs are in good condition, or at least present in the truck. Springs and spring bushings are reasonibly cheep, 75$ish for the spring set, 12$ per bushing making the total approx. 100$.
Part Numbers:
Spring SET: MOOG 80098 Rock Auto <- Select Coil Spring Option Spring set/insulator: MOOG K160063 Rock Auto<-- Select Coil Spring Seat/Insulator Assuming I did my hyperlinking correctly, that should bring you to the correct places
Springs are reasonably easy to replace, common hand tools, large hammer, crowbar/pry bar, and spring compressor(you can rent that from o'rileys for free), jacks/jackstands.
It is weird to see the springs get this much wear with the lighter engine (4.2 V6). My '99 has the 5.4 V8 and the difference between left and right is 1" (<-- Will confirm that tomorrow)
Check to see that all 4 tires are the same size, Pepboys has a good how to on this here.
If all tires are the same size, check PSI. This is less likely to be the culprit but will eliminate a variable for your debugging.
If you want to try to prove it is the spring:
1) Park your truck on flat ground
2) Take new height measurements, i recommend ground to the top of wheel well.
3) Remove both springs and swap places. Check to see if the heights follow the springs or not.
When you remove the spring, check to see that the bushings on the springs are in good condition, or at least present in the truck. Springs and spring bushings are reasonibly cheep, 75$ish for the spring set, 12$ per bushing making the total approx. 100$.
Part Numbers:
Spring SET: MOOG 80098 Rock Auto <- Select Coil Spring Option Spring set/insulator: MOOG K160063 Rock Auto<-- Select Coil Spring Seat/Insulator Assuming I did my hyperlinking correctly, that should bring you to the correct places
Springs are reasonably easy to replace, common hand tools, large hammer, crowbar/pry bar, and spring compressor(you can rent that from o'rileys for free), jacks/jackstands.
It is weird to see the springs get this much wear with the lighter engine (4.2 V6). My '99 has the 5.4 V8 and the difference between left and right is 1" (<-- Will confirm that tomorrow)
