cruiser lean and steering

[rutbeer]

Does it make sense that cruiser lean would make your truck pull to the opposite side of the lean while driving?
If you think about it, a spring will lengthen slightly as it compresses, so in theory, it would push the axle slightly forward on that side, thus changing the angle of axle relative to the frame. If both springs are doing it on one side, then both the axles are kicked out towards the ends of the frame on one side. Maybe both combined would make it pull?

Mine leans at least an inch, and I think more than that, to the driver's side. Yes, I should lose a few pounds. Anyway, it pulls to the passenger side and I can't seem to adjust it out. I can see the spring pin in the hole of each axle perch and can verify that they are where they "should" be and there's no more room for adjustment in the good direction.

Thoughts?

 

[xjnation]

Measure center to center of your axles both sides to see if there is any difference. I don't think you'll find much if any. Maybe just needs aligned.

 

[ocdbeetle]

Deep thinkers award of the day.....

I'm with the alignment though......

It just seems If spring lean made it pull, a bumpy highway would almost throw you off the road....

 

[rutbeer]

Yeah, deep thinking! I can't help it....I'm unemployed as of last week.

Alignment shop is next, but what is there to be aligned exactly in a full leaf spring truck? I had the frame checked last year, so that's not it. It's possible an axle tube is bent, but I highly doubt that.
Rough numbers for conversation purposes, the spring pin is about .25" and the axle perch hole is about .5" in diameter. That allows you to move the axle forward or back relative to the leaf spring a tiny bit in any direction. I've actually done that....front axle is pulled back on driver's side, and pushed forward on the passenger. The rear was done just the opposite....driver side pulled in and passenger pushed out. That "should" make it pull the opposite direction, but it's not. The only adjustment left is the toe in/ toe out of the front end, but that should be irrelevant here. The only thing I haven't checked is the distance from axle to axle at either side. Kind of hard to do with a tape measure, but I guess I can clamp one end. Should be fun.

 

[ocdbeetle]

I don't think its pulling like you think it would because the wheels on the front axle arent fixed as on the rear axle....The moment you start driving, you steer the wheels on the front axle which would compensate for the variance you're talking about....If the front wheels didnt steer I agree it would pull itself into a circle.....

The front steering will always compensate for the variance...

As far as it pulling, I'd have to check the toe, tires, or brakes dragging....

 

[redbone]

In the Haynes manual they give the measurements for the tie rods and other steering connections. When I replaced my tie rod ends I used these measurements and it drives great.