Driver's Side Suspension - Lower than Passenger

[tlin]

Requesting how you'd approach this. Measurements taken today are shared below - you can see the deltas for the two sides of my GX.

"Body Height" simply means measured from floor to a specific body panel seam (all measurements taken from identical points L vs R sides).

Suspension components in my signature...installed ~30,000 miles/5.5 years ago.

I'd like to get FL/FR and RL/RR evened out but don't know the smartest approach to take (hoping there's some simple "do it this way to make it fast/easy" wisdom someone can share).

Calling MetalTech on Monday for their inputs as well, FYI.

Thoughts?

Thanks guys....

 

[rommelrommel]

Do you have KDSS?

 

[tlin]

Do you have KDSS?

Good question - nope.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Good question - nope.

I’ve measured my hub to fender heights like 100 times over the course of 6+ years. All measured in my driveway at home.

That’s the more typical measurement to eliminate tire size when comparing lift heights.

I can tell you that my 2003 gx470 measured differently depending how I turned the wheels when I parked, which direction I parked (forward or reverse), gas tank fill level, cargo load, etc. I think if your rear diff shifts to one side it impacts ride height.

So, try reversing the direction of how you parked and measure again. See if your numbers change by 1/4” all around.

Also, there’s a well known driver side lean that should be like 1/4”. Your numbers are a little bit higher than 1/4” but 1/4” is when measuring hub to bottom of fender lip.

Here’s my recent measurements under different loads

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Oh and here are ways to fix the driver side lean:

1. Load more gear on the passenger side
2. Put a 1/2” spacer on top of the rear driver coil. I’m about to add a 3/4” Cornfed spacer on driver side and a 3/8” (10mm) ARB trim packer on the passenger’s side to help reduce my lean and give me a little lift in the rear.
3. Lift the front driver coilover 1/4” if the coilover is height ajustable

By they way, I have the eimKeith panhard correction kit PCK when I measured and this is supposed to help keep the rear axle centered when you lift. Uncentered rear axle can affect ride height from side to side.

 

[Kevin108]

It's normal. The battery, steering column, and fuel tank are all on the same side of the vehicle. But I'm interested to see what you end up doing to correct it.

 

[tlin]

Oh and here are ways to fix the driver side lean:

1. Load more gear on the passenger side
2. Put a 1/2” spacer on top of the rear driver coil. I’m about to add a 3/4” Cornfed spacer on driver side and a 3/8” (10mm) ARB trim packer on the passenger’s side to help reduce my lean and give me a little lift in the rear.
3. Lift the front driver coilover 1/4” if the coilover is height ajustable

By they way, I have the eimKeith panhard correction kit PCK when I measured and this is supposed to help keep the rear axle centered when you lift. Uncentered rear axle can affect ride height from side to side.

I'll give #2 and #3 a try...soon-ish and report back.

 

[Rednexus]

The Foam Cell Pro shocks have a threaded body to allow for ride height adjustment. If you get the Ironman adjustment tool, you should be able to adjust the ride height and get it perfectly level. Mine were set to within 1/8" or so of level out of the box.

For the rear, there is less you can do (looks like you have a Metal Tech coil conversion kit?). I also have the Ironman rear coil conversation kit, which is also threaded and pretty easy to adjust and dial in. I'm maybe 1/4" off side-to-side on the back, which I don't worry about too much.

 

[tlin]

The Foam Cell Pro shocks have a threaded body to allow for ride height adjustment. If you get the Ironman adjustment tool, you should be able to adjust the ride height and get it perfectly level. Mine were set to within 1/8" or so of level out of the box.

For the rear, there is less you can do (looks like you have a Metal Tech coil conversion kit?). I also have the Ironman rear coil conversation kit, which is also threaded and pretty easy to adjust and dial in. I'm maybe 1/4" off side-to-side on the back, which I don't worry about too much.

Yup and Yup - been doing some homework....I'll need to order the spanner wrench to adjust my front(s). I'll also be ordering some spacers for the rear (you're right, I have the MT coil conversion kit, no other options than to add spacers). Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate it!

@HomersCanyonero - I wasn't aware of the PCK - thanks for mentioning that. Ordering that as well!

The "Domino Effect" is in full swing. Sold our cabin last October, thought (briefly) that I might let the GX go but decided against it. Since then, I started tinkering and have been addressing a few "minor" things that I hadn't gotten around to.....it started with wanting an Auxbeam controller to clean up some wiring which led to:

• getting rid of the interior wood grain - still in progress
• new floor mats (black) to better match the new black interior trim
• programmable relay to modernize the turn signals (3-5 blinks for a single click)
• complete center console cleaning - full tear down - PO was a messy "soccer mom" and the amount of sticky soda residue that made the cup holder and storage lid be a PITA to open is now over (also reconditioned all the leather shift and parking brake boots which were a disaster)
• either get rid of or re-do the PlastiDip on my wheels - bigger PITA than I wanted
• upgraded rear rotors to match fronts I did last year
• suspension leveling (also need new bump stops!)
• still need to replace the subwoofer (did the four door speakers last year, sounds great but sub hasn't been done yet)
• new (to me) Bush XT 270 awning replacing my OG Foxwing

Later this year, considering headers and exhaust. No ticking but opening up the engine for some performance benefits is on my list.

When does it end???

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Yup and Yup - been doing some homework....I'll need to order the spanner wrench to adjust my front(s). I'll also be ordering some spacers for the rear (you're right, I have the MT coil conversion kit, no other options than to add spacers). Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate it!

@HomersCanyonero - I wasn't aware of the PCK - thanks for mentioning that. Ordering that as well!

The "Domino Effect" is in full swing. Sold our cabin last October, thought (briefly) that I might let the GX go but decided against it. Since then, I started tinkering and have been addressing a few "minor" things that I hadn't gotten around to.....it started with wanting an Auxbeam controller to clean up some wiring which led to:

• getting rid of the interior wood grain - still in progress
• new floor mats (black) to better match the new black interior trim
• programmable relay to modernize the turn signals (3-5 blinks for a single click)
• complete center console cleaning - full tear down - PO was a messy "soccer mom" and the amount of sticky soda residue that made the cup holder and storage lid be a PITA to open is now over (also reconditioned all the leather shift and parking brake boots which were a disaster)
• either get rid of or re-do the PlastiDip on my wheels - bigger PITA than I wanted
• upgraded rear rotors to match fronts I did last year
• suspension leveling (also need new bump stops!)
• still need to replace the subwoofer (did the four door speakers last year, sounds great but sub hasn't been done yet)
• new (to me) Bush XT 270 awning replacing my OG Foxwing

Later this year, considering headers and exhaust. No ticking but opening up the engine for some performance benefits is on my list.

When does it end???

Wow…you are in full swing.

I’ve been making little changes here and there over 6+ years. It’s a work of art, but mostly under the hood type of mods.

And yes…domino effect is a real first world problem.

Good luck and enjoy the seemingly never-ending journey!