How To: Correct Chevy Lean

[terryl]

Quote: Originally Posted by azpoolman

***Newbie Alert***

So from all the reading that I have done in the thread... I just want to clarify something.

I have a '99 S10 and when the fuel tank is full there is a noticable lean towards the driver side. Adjusting the sway arm will correct this problem?

When measuring... Do I not worry about measuring the lean in the back... and just measure the lean between the two front wheels?

Also... lets say that its an 1" difference... would it make better sense to take a 1/2" down on the left and add 1/2" of washers to the right? Or just to take the full 1" out of the right?

I would not mess with the swaybar at all. You would be putting uneven load on it if you do. Just put the proper spacer on top of the coil. It will raise the back some to. Also since the fuel tank is on the left side, when it's full, it will always be lower on that side than it is when it is empty. When you take measurements always have the same amount of fuel in it. I like to just have it full when I measure anything for accurate comparison.

[JJ83]

I'm trying to fix this problem on my S-10 rigtht now also. I agree with Terryl. If i cut the sway link i'll create more pressure on one side. My question is what causes the lean in the first place? Has anybody taken out the sway to see if its straight or do they bend? If so, wouldn't the obviously solution be to replace the sway bar with a aftermarket they shouldn't bend? If its not the sway bar (like i've heard from the dealer) then it would have to be a design flaw from GM. Making a coil spring spacer the next solution.

[greencactus3]

Quote: Originally Posted by JJ83

I'm trying to fix this problem on my S-10 rigtht now also. I agree with Terryl. If i cut the sway link i'll create more pressure on one side. My question is what causes the lean in the first place? Has anybody taken out the sway to see if its straight or do they bend? If so, wouldn't the obviously solution be to replace the sway bar with a aftermarket they shouldn't bend? If its not the sway bar (like i've heard from the dealer) then it would have to be a design flaw from GM. Making a coil spring spacer the next solution.

i still dont understand you.... swaybars work in torsion... so yes, the have to bend..... what are you saying?

[BudRacing]

To answer his question, the coil spacer is the most appropriate and easy fix.

[JJ83]

Ya i got a 5/8 coil spring isolator on order. A factory installer told me that by the time it gets to the wheel the lift doubles. I don't really understand how that works but here's what were thinking.

5/8"....it'll crush to 1/2"....then by the time it makes it out to the wheel it'll double to 1" which is exactly what we need.

*Has anybody heard of the lift doubling by the time it gets to the wheel, or do i have to get 2 and put them on top of each other some how. Right now my driver's side is 3/4" lower than the passengers.

[whosbad]

the doubling is due to the spring pocket being about half way out to the balljoints from the pivot point, so if the spring is raised 1/2" the axle stub would be raised 1" (2 to 1).

BTW I'll stick with modifying my springs and let the swaybar do it's thing, limiting roll.

[Cauzin_Statik]

I think I will just stick with the Energy Suspesion Coil Spacer that is like $15

[JJ83]

Thats the same one i got cauzin....but i paid $22 for mine!

[Cauzin_Statik]

Yeah, I got a discount because my xGF worked at Jegs at the time. Same with the ES End Links. Too bad I am not still with her because Cragar is gonna upsize the Soft 8's to 18s-20s.

[JJ83]

How did it work for you Cauzin? Is your truck perfectly level now or is it still off? How much did it lift it?

[nimrod8560]

Can Chevy lean be alleviated by having a fuel cell installed in the middle of the frame rails?

[terryl]

Guess it would help some. Are you gonna sit in the middle to?

[nimrod8560]

Quote: Originally Posted by terryl

Guess it would help some. Are you gonna sit in the middle too?

lol, not when I'm outside lookin' at it.

[Cauzin_Statik]

Quote: Originally Posted by JJ83

How did it work for you Cauzin? Is your truck perfectly level now or is it still off? How much did it lift it?

At half a tank of gas its even. Full about a 1/4" off. So its perfect.

[JJ83]

Hmm.....I think thats as close as were gonna get without leaning the other way, lol. Thanks.

One more thing. How much was it leaning before you put the spacer in? Please say 1", lol.

[Cauzin_Statik]

Quote: Originally Posted by JJ83

Hmm.....I think thats as close as were gonna get without leaning the other way, lol. Thanks.

One more thing. How much was it leaning before you put the spacer in? Please say 1", lol.

About an 1" to an 1 1/2"

[morbid8573]

I've heard a spacer is the way to go more times than I have this even tho this is a bit quicker.. Do spacers come in sizes or universal? And what kind should I get? AAP has like aluminem adjustables, rubber, and some other kind.

[JJ83]

They come in sizes for a specific applications made with different stuff. Ones that i would consider for my truck are either Belltech's or Energy Suspension. Energy i believe makes a few sizes and Belltech i think only makes .75". Keep in mind that whatever size you get the lift will double. Keep that in mind when ordering.

[terryl]

Quote: Originally Posted by JJ83

They come in sizes for a specific applications made with different stuff. Ones that i would consider for my truck are either Belltech's or Energy Suspension. Energy i believe makes a few sizes and Belltech i think only makes .75". Keep in mind that whatever size you get the lift will double. Keep that in mind when ordering.

Belltech's is actually 1/2". They call it 3/4" because it has a 1/4" lip that fits down into the coil. (.5 + .25 = .75)

[tohoopty]

how to correct chevy lean.dont buy a chevy.

[terryl]

That won't correct it. Only prevent it.

[JJ83]

Well I ordered the 5/8" one from energy suspension. If i'm right it should lift that side 1" after it crushes. It should hardly crush at all maybe 1/8."

[morbid8573]

Wait so why figure double?? Feel dumb asking that cause it's probly something simple but better I know than find out the hard way..

[JJ83]

See post #156. You'll get your answer there.

[morbid8573]

Ahh I got it. Thanks.

[JJ83]

What a pain in the ass today was. I got everything that i needed but i got stumped putting the coil spring back in. How did you guys do it? Did you have to use spring condensors? Their definately not as easy to get in as they were without the spacer. I doubt that just 5/8" more is causing this much of a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Cauzin_Statik]

Quote: Originally Posted by JJ83

What a pain in the ass today was. I got everything that i needed but i got stumped putting the coil spring back in. How did you guys do it? Did you have to use spring condensors? Their definately not as easy to get in as they were without the spacer. I doubt that just 5/8" more is causing this much of a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Usually you just have to ge the coil in there so you can assemble everything. The isolater will settle after a few miles.

[JJ83]

well it was a real prick, but after hours of effort I finally got it in there. Sits alot better now. Thanks for the help and comments tho.

[JJ83]

Ok so i put in my 5/8" energy suspension spacer and i'm still leaning about 1/2"! Should i put another spacer in there? Is that safe? What you guys think?

[BudRacing]

I wouldn't stack spacers. Is that with a full tank of gas?

[JJ83]

No half tank of gas. Any ideas? Help! I wanna get rid of this damn lean!

[JJ83]

Keep in mind that my alignment is slightly off. the driver's side does have a lil bit more negative camber than the right but not enough to cause all this.

[BudRacing]

You never know. A proper alignment might make it better. Camber is one of those funny things that affects all kinds of angles.

[JJ83]

If the alignment doesn't work i'm thinking i need to put both spacers in there. I was thinking i could ziptie both of the spacers to the spring. Not with one but like 12. As ghetto as that is it might actually work. I mean zipties are such a bitch to get off, and added weight will only push straight up on the upper control arm. What do you guys think? I know its ghetto but its now my personal quest to get rid of this damn lean!

[love my s10s]

i did it and it didnt work for me what now

[JJ83]

Quote: Originally Posted by love my s10s

i did it and it didnt work for me what now

What exactly did you do? Stack the spacers or just put one in?

[rican 25]

anyone know why performance center doesnt recognize the part # for Belltechs coil spacer? I am searching for Part #4930 but nothing pops up... Summit has it but I would like to get it all at one spot... any help is greatly appreciated... thanks

[dropped dime]

do you have to torque the sway bar link?
cuz i just bought some and on the bag it says ur supposed to torque them but it don't give specs.

[BudRacing]

Nothing specific. Just snug them until the bushing starts to bulge slightly.

[85chevydimeinblue]

has anyone thought that the gas tank is on the driver side making the chevy lean?

[BudRacing]

It's been thought of, but doesn't explain why blazers with centered tanks have the lean too.

My guess is that the upper control arm mounts aren't in the exact spot they should be in on every truck, hence why some trucks lean is worse than others. That's just one of many theories that hasn't been proved or disproved. Now that I think it over, it might not the problem at all...

[2nddailydriver]

Heres my go;

98' ZQ8 with drop spindles up front, 1-1/2" or so driver side lean. Put the Beltech 4930 spacer and got the drivers side about how I wanted it, BUT my Passenger side raised almost 1.5-2" higher, and I never touched the passenger side. . .?

[BudRacing]

It's a real bitch ain't it?

[chicagotypewriter]

i put air shocks on my truck. it helped out with my lean. just throwing that out there.

[1mean4.3]

Just my experience with cutting the end link bolt. I dropped mine from a 2/3 to a 4/5 and it just made the chevy lean more noticable. So I searched and found this thread. Well the trick works, it leveled out the truck but now it pulls to the right and I just had an alignment done after the added drop. So needless to say I'm going to spend another 5 bucks and buy new bolts and go back to stock length and buy some coil spacers like I should have done to begin with. It was a quick fix, but not the right fix.

[terryl]

Good decision ^^