FZJ80 leans to the left with OME Springs

[BTLSHP]

I chickened out. My jack stands top out at 17" and my trolley jack at 15" even with a neighbors jack I could not get enough axle frame separation to free the coil. But I did confirm the rear are OME and backwards.

Now I have to find a job that will do it for a reasonable rate.

 

[Broski]

For what you’re going to pay someone else to do the job you could invest in some HF 12 ton jack stands.
It’s really a quite simple job disconnect the pan hard at the axle and it will drop right down!
Then you will have a bigger safer set of stands for future use/jobs

 

[BTLSHP]

I like your logic …. Perhaps an improved floor jack as well. My 2.25 ton trolley jack is pretty tired.

 

[BILT4ME]

I like your logic …. Perhaps an improved floor jack as well. My 2.25 ton trolley jack is pretty tired.

I changed both front and rear springs and shocks in my sloped driveway with a floor jack and two 12T jack stands in 8 hours. That included drilling out 2 rusted broken bolts. By myself.

I found that the front was considerably easier than the rear. You would think it would be the other way around.

 

[BTLSHP]

Yes, but reading your comments suggests you are in a league or two ahead of me.

We were close today as in the springs were loose and I could have used a compressor to get them out, but I just felt as if my set-up was wonky and my floor jack was bottomed out under the right side of the axle.

Ok, the good news is HF is putting Jack Stands and floor jacks on sale next week -35% off. Can I get away with the 6T? The 12T are huge, I out have no place to store them.

 

[COS80]

We were close today as in the springs were loose and I could have used a compressor to get them out

That's what I did.

 

[BILT4ME]

Yes, but reading your comments suggests you are in a league or two ahead of me.

We were close today as in the springs were loose and I could have used a compressor to get them out, but I just felt as if my set-up was wonky and my floor jack was bottomed out under the right side of the axle.

Ok, the good news is HF is putting Jack Stands and floor jacks on sale next week -35% off. Can I get away with the 6T? The 12T are huge, I out have no place to store them.

Maybe.

You may have to take off the tires to get the clearance needed. Depends on the height of the jack stands.
Place the stands on the frame just towards center of the front or rear suspension connection.
Jack up the truck using the axles.
Place the stands.
Lower onto the stands
Jack up the axle to remove the wheels.

 

[Nad Aitch]

Last time I did it i left the tires on, put a hi lift under the slider, then used the factory bottle jack between the bump stop and axle to give me that last little shove and hold the truck up should the hi lift fall.

Nobody died and I installed 2 rear spacers before the kiddo woke up from his nooner nap.

I wouldn't overthink this.

 

[BTLSHP]

Got the rears! Okay, got my tired jack stands up on two 2x8s I use for crappy ramp and suddenly things pretty much fell into place. I did take the wheels off and I ultimately took the bump stop out sliding the bottom of the spring forward but pulling it out through the bump stop.

No damage to ABD wires, brake line or LSPV, so this is a win.



Now:
RL 21" RR 21.25"
versus
RL 20.5" RR 21.75"

I will tackle the front later this week.

 

[BTLSHP]

The front springs were not nearly the challenge the rear presented. I could not loosen either shock, so I relied on spring compressors. Not certain getting rid of the list was really worth the effort in the greater scheme of things, but I will sleep better.

 

[Broski]

The front springs were not nearly the challenge the rear presented. I could not loosen either shock, so I relied on spring compressors. Not certain getting rid of the list was really worth the effort in the greater scheme of things, but I will sleep better.

IMO knowing that it’s right is worth the effort.
I would not be able to look at my rig lisping and not try to correct it.

Glad you got it figured out with a little investment in time.

 

[BTLSHP]

IMO knowing that it’s right is worth the effort.
I would not be able to look at my rig lisping and not try to correct it.

Glad you got it figured out with a little investment in time.

Thanks as ever for the encouragement. I would hate to hand it to my kid with a silly problem like springs on the wrong side. It is going to be hard going back to caring for my Audi. But I will find excuses to work on it…

 

[COS80]

IMO knowing that it’s right is worth the effort.
I would not be able to look at my rig lisping and not try to correct it.

Glad you got it figured out with a little investment in time.

I'm with you. That lean drove me batty until I fixed it.

 

[BTLSHP]

I'm with you. That lean drove me batty until I fixed it.

It would have been way simpler if I had realized this issue at the time I was rebuilding the front knuckles!

But, it is parked in the driveway and looks level now.

 

[Stew80UT]

Mine leaned until I corrected the geometry of the pan hard bars. Have you done this? They should be as close to parallel to the axle as possible. There are also adjustable bars for sale that will do the job for now, or drop down brackets to correct it. Messing with the springs never helped my lean

 

[Broski]

Mine leaned until I corrected the geometry of the pan hard bars. Have you done this? They should be as close to parallel to the axle as possible. There are also adjustable bars for sale that will do the job for now, or drop down brackets to correct it. Messing with the springs never helped my lean

PanHard bar has nothing to do with lean !
Locates and centers the axle only.

 

[BTLSHP]

I hate to admit it but I could not identify the panhard bar to save my life. I really know very little about suspensions. Right now the flare to hub center measurement at all four corners is right on 20.5”. So, I am happy. I had to exit the dump over the scales the other day and with half a tank of gas, and third row seats it weighs right on 5,300 pounds. FWIW.

A local tech looked at it briefly and made a few suggestions. One was to get some Waxoyl applied to the inner wheel wells. They are rust free but there are places where the original heavy plastic paint is gone.

 

[Stew80UT]

PanHard bar has nothing to do with lean !
Locates and centers the axle only.

I agree with you but I messed with springs and spacers and BS for like two months and then a corrected that geometry and it went away. Maybe a fluke idk, just sharing my experience

I thought it was because my rear axle was really off center and the weight of the fuel tank would make it lean left

 

[Broski]

I agree with you but I messed with springs and spacers and BS for like two months and then a corrected that geometry and it went away. Maybe a fluke idk, just sharing my experience

I thought it was because my rear axle was really off center and the weight of the fuel tank would make it lean left

Ok don’t mean to offend.
I think it was a fluke.
IMO the rear axle couldn’t be off enough to do that and still be driven.
The weight of the tank, the battery & the driver all on the left is why the longer springs go on that side.