How can I correct my lean?

[James86004]

My 109 is leaning to the left, which is a problem not only aesthetically, but because the left front bump stop gets hit quite frequently. The left front is about 3/4" lower at the bumpstop, and the left rear is 1.125" lower. I borrowed some load cells, and used them to measure the static load on each spring, and also the spring rate of each spring.

The spring rates are identical from side to side, so I don't think swapping them side to side will help.

The front springs each have an equal load on them, and the left rear has 300 lbs more on it that the right. So, to trim the Rover, I have to figure out how to shift 150 lbs from the left rear to the right rear. Or, I could just trim the left front bump stop off.

Any other suggestions?

 

[stevenmd]

rust? type of leaf springs? how old are they?

 

[KodiaK Commando]

Had that problem on a neighbors Land Rover. We dissassembled the springs to derust and inspect. Two of the individual leaves on the passenger rear had been over stressed sometime. We had Betts Spring make two new rear spring packs to the stock design plus friction pads. What a difference! Between the addition of graphite impregnated poly disks at the end of each leaf and having new steel. Ride quality was definitely better and no more lean. It's been 5-6 years now and still no lean. I imagine any good spring shop could reproduce the spring. Bett's had a book of stock spring designs from about 1960 on up. I had Deaver do a set for my 1967 Commando that were awesome as well.

Center bolts are about $3.50 each from a spring shop, so its not horrible to R&R your spring pack. You can also buy the friction disks and drill your own holes if yours doesn't allready have them. It takes patience and good cutting fluid, but waaay worth it. Good luck.

 

[Connie]

I suggest getting a passenger that's good to talk to and feeding them lots and lots of cheeseburgers.:jump:

Seriously though my Father in laws' Rangie in England leaned to the left also. Somebody told me years ago that they were built to lean slightly to the left so that the driver would even it out. 'Course that doesn't work when the steering wheel is on the other side. Plus they could have just been talkin' **********. (I do know a couple of very unreliable sources, and I don't remember who told me that)

If you can't get it straightened out then "it's a feature"

 

[theexile]

The FJ40 Land cruisers were also notorious for having a lean. Assuming your Rover is leaf sprung and sprung under. What Toyota offered as a dealer fix was shims that went between the leaf pack and the axle on the high side of the truck.
But like others have suggested check the condition of your springs,there bushings and all the mounts.

 

[Alaska Mike]

From what I've heard, Land Rover had matched springs, designed to counter the driver and gas tank being on the same side on RHD models. Someone could have switched springs to the wrong side if this is a RHD.

However, it also could be a bad spring. It happens.

 

[NeilWilson]

As Alaska Mike says, the front springs (normal rate) are handed, there are also LHD/RHD fronts springs available to help with the sag.

Neil

 

[James86004]

Thanks for all the responses so far. I guess I should have added some more information.

It is a right hand drive model, so my weight does counteract the lean somewhat. But I think it is too far forward. Besides, any time we use the vehicle it has my wife and daughter and all our gear in it. I have tried putting all the dense stuff on the right hand side, like the cooler, me, and the tools. Not enough of an effect.

The springs are almost new TI Console parabolics. Before I installed them, I checked to see if there was any difference in each pair. The arches were the same, and the part number stamped on them was the same. Now I have measured their spring rate, and it is also the same from side to side. So, I don't think swapping them will help. I think I do need slightly stiffer springs on the left, but I am looking for cheap options.

It sounds like adding some shims to the right rear between the axle and the spring would help. If it was good enough for Toyota, then it should be good enough for me. That would have the effect of lowering the right-rear, thus raising the left front.

 

[I Leak Oil]

Did the truck sit level before the almost new springs were installed? If you're confident the springs are the same then check the frame and spring bushings. Usually it's the frame bushings that go because they are always tougher to change:Mechanic: You can also try loosening the shackle bolts and drive the truck for a couple of miles then torque the shackle bolts and nuts down. This helped with my first set of original springs a few years ago. When I installed my RM springs my truck listed to one side. I did the whole swapping sides routine as recommended by RM but after that didn't solve the issue I notice one of my procomp gas shocks was toast! To their credit RM sent me a new rear spring (mine wasn't bad to begin with?) and a new shock. The shock fixed the problem.
Jason T.

 

[James86004]

It sat level before, but it also had 1 ton springs that were very hard. They didn't deflect hardly at all.

I changed the frame bushings when I changed the springs.

 

[Linus Tremaine]

hi james!

Tom put the longer military shackles on one side of my dormobile to off set the lean. I have TI console parabolics too.

 

[James86004]

Thanks, Linus. Since I have the military chassis with military shackles already, maybe I could put the civie shackle on the high side?

 

[Linus Tremaine]

probably

James,
I dont see why not. You would end up with the same arrangement. I dont know how common this is among leaning land rovers, but I can see no problem with it. Its been working well for me for a while and worked well for tom for some time before that.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I'm sorry......but!

The answer is so simple...........and I don't know why you didn't think of this before............!

What you must do is...........

Always...........Always...........bring a buddy along.........and feed him 1 Pound Burritos until your rig sits up straight!


So Easy.........and I know you can do it!

............hehe:shakin: :wings:


Now just where is my Big Burrito Smilie when I need him>?!!!!:26_7_2:

 

[I Leak Oil]

Burritos! Great idea! But.....who wants to sit in the truck with a friend who's eaten a few pounds of burritos? Would need to be a diesel truck as spark plugs would be very dangerous.


Jason T.