1999 ujz100 leans to the left

[blancoh2o]

First off, I would like to say you have an awesome website here. I have been lurking around here for the past few days and I feel like I will get genuine help from you guys. It is refreshing to see a forum without all the brand bashing and belittlement found around the www. It is great to see how you support and or debate each other on issues that are important to each other, YOUR LandCruiser.

Our mainly stock 1999 UJZ100 Landcruiser leans a slight bit to the left. (there is a full inch difference measured at the back and 1/2 inch in the front) I used the upper wheelrim and lower fender well lip as a measuring point as recomended by others on the board. I also put a bubble level on the front and rear bumpers. The lean is not a figment of my imagination.

We are the third owners and I am not sure when it started leaning. I did notice it a while back, but just thought our garage floor wasn't level.

So, after doing my research here on the forum, I thought I would mark the front torsion bar for a reference point while the rig is weighted on all four tires. Jack up the front end and place some jackstands on the frame, then slowly crank some more torque on the left T-bar. Lower it down, go a for a drive and then re-assess the lean. If I am going the right direction I should know it at that point. If not, I will back the t-bar to it's original position and start leaning towards a rear spring issue rather than a t-bar problem.

Does anything sound fishy with my thought process. Do you think I will mess anything up by trying this process of elimination? Do you have any other ideas.

Thanks everyone in advance for you input.

I would post pictures of our 100, but you all know what a stock charcoal grey 100 looks like with a brushguard up front.

Steve,
Oregon

 

[SINCITY100]

First off... Welcome !

Of course we know what a stock charcoal 100 looks like, but I dont think I`ve ever seen a pic of a stock charcoal 100 that leans to the left before ..hmm.. sounds interesting

Personally, I think you are on the right track to fiddle with the T-bar(s) a bit first and see what happens. Who knows, maybe the previous owner was tinkering with the front suspension and then put it back to "good enough" ?

How`s your alignment ? Hows the tire wear ? Does it seem to track well ? how about showing any sign of pulling or (even worse) frame damage or any indication its been improperly repaired after an accident ?

I bet it just needs a minor adjustment via the T-bar(s) , but I would suggest that you get the factory specs for ride height to make sure that its not in fact the right side being too high versus the left side being too low..


I`m sure someone else in here will disagree with me though ( they usually do ) but dont listen to them...


Once again, welcome to our forum and feel free to share your questions AND your own ownership experiences with us ..

Sooo...where`s that pic of the leaning tower of Cruiser ?

 

[blancoh2o]

I will get a picture of it soon. My wife drives it to work and being that it get dark so early here this time of year, I will have to wait for the weekend.

The tires wear evenly, it doesn't pull and I did have it alligned about a year ago. It did have a clean carfax when we got it and there is no signs of a frame repair. A friend of mine that is a mechanic at the Toyota dealership couldn't detect any frame damage either. I really hope that isn't my issue. May be someone did torque the T-bar and didn't get them even when they did so. I am going to work on it tomorrow night and report back.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

[SINCITY100]

A friend of mine that is a mechanic at the Toyota dealership couldn't detect any frame damage either.

Uh, a word of warning.. I wouldn`t advertise that you have a buddy at the Toyota dealership, these guys HATE dealerships and their employees


Keep us informed... Oh, and I forgot to mention (the obvious) be sure to have your rig re-aligned once you get the height issue resolved, your tires will appreciate it.

Peace !

 

[dclee]

Ah, the famous Land Cruiser Lean! Don't worry, yours is not the first (and will not be the last) to suffer from this. Common even on older wagons (well, at least back to the 80 Series). Drove our 100 off the dealer lot with five miles on the odometer and it had the lean even then. Pretty much fixed it by fiddling with the T-bar adjustment. Good luck!

 

[aedavis]

My 2001 LC was leaning on the driver's side when I bought it. I fixed it pretty much as you described in your original post (adjust torsion bar, check, adjust again, check).

Allan

 

[NMuzj100]

A few related threads ...


Torsion Bar Install from Bull's buildup thread with fantastic pictures of the torsion bar system

Torsion Bar Adjustment thread - Spressoman 2005

Cranking the T-bars - Jan 2006

2002 L.C. Leans/Sags? - With worldwide FSM specs and diagram

How do (or should) I crank the T-bars? - Good AHC content as well

LX470 - Appears to list to one side...help!

 

[blancoh2o]

Here is a picture of ours.

 

[blancoh2o]

OK, that was easy! The entire vehicle is within 1/8" at each wheel now. The LF T-Bar was the only thing I touched. My bolts were very easy to turn, I didn't use any penetrating oil or breaker bar. Just a big ratchet as suggested.
I will keep an eye on it now, then take it to the allignment shop. I am assuming that the T-Bar adjustment messed with the caster a bit, no?
Thanks again guys!

 

[macneill]

I wuz looking forward to seeing some Shott's pix here!

 

[blancoh2o]

Update,

I just got a new set of tires. The tire store stated that I did have some un-even wear. I didn't notice any abnormal wear, but will take their word for it.


I hope that they don't bring the lean back to adjust the caster on the left side. I will let you know.

 

[tom.]

What would have happened if the Anchor Arm Adjusting Bolts are tighten to much on both sides (I have got about 3/4 inch of bolt left to the max)?
Could it cause any damages to another suspension components?