How can I correct my lean?

madizell

Explorer
Jeeps, especially older Jeeps, seem to have the same issue, generally with a lean to the left side. Most investigations result in the same answers you got from yours: springs are the same each side so swapping won't change anything, etc. If anyone has found a definitive answer, I have not heard of it.

Personally, I think it is largely attributable to internal friction in the springs and shackles that tend to damp out some of the finer spring response, but then you would be able to roll the chassis away from the lean and have the vehicle stay put with no lean or a lean to the other side. Sometimes this is the case, sometimes not. You can also try removing the shocks from the equation, then tilt the vehicle back and forth to see where it settles. it may or may not change anything, but it removes one variable.

The 300 pounds on the low side is something you could try to deal with, since 300 pounds is close to 2 standard adult passengers standing on the left rear corner of the vehicle. That would make most folks rides tilt a bit. Besides, 300 pounds is a whole bunch of weight, especially as the weight measured at each corner is a shared weight, i.e., the gremlin you are looking for might weigh even more than 300 pounds. Test the weight shift theory by putting 300 pounds in the right rear corner to see if it makes a difference. If it does, start moving things around if you can.

Another idea I have is that some of our cars, especially the older ones again, have their springs rather far inboard from the perimeter of the vehicle. This makes control of the load difficult without resorting to inordinately stiff springs. Modern suspensions place the load bearing devices far outboard as they will go for maximum control with minimum input. However, shifting springs to the outboard of the chassis is not an easy thing to do, and the results might, at best, be uncertain. Still, by reducing the lever moment on the springs, the springs you have will be better able to respond to and control the weight they carry. If the lean really bugs you, you could look into hanging springs on the outside of the chassis.

Having different shackle lengths might alter the static stance, but it also changes the spring response. You will probably get a squirrelly ride if you have shackles of significantly different length on one side versus the other. I would not do that. If you really want to change the lift on one side to counter the lean, do it with shims under the spring pack. 3/4 of an inch is not hard to do. 1 1/4 inch is to far to correct with shims and something else is wrong, and since shackle lift yields only one half lift for each unit of length, getting 1 1/4 inches of lift would require a shackle 2 1/2 inches longer on one side than the other. Don't do this. You won't like it.
 
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