Trim packers - Will I need to worry about caster bushings, etc?

[ashooter]

Questions about fine-tuning my suspension

I have OME 861/862 "low lift" springs, and they have sort of settled down to a point where I'm thinking about adding a 30mm trim packer to the lowest corner and then using OME 10mm and 5mm packers to even things out and try to get rid of the slight sideways lean and "stinkbug" deal.

My question is, with the 20mm(+/-) lift that the OME springs gave me, plus the max of 30mm from the trim packers, will I end up lifting the truck enough that I'll need to worry about caster correction?

 

[Brunt Force Trauma]

Hard to say. Different trucks can get by with different pucks. Find out what your caster is now and see if its bordering on needing correction. I doubt it will if you say the lift has settled. 15mm is not even an inch.

 

[mattafact]

I have Js up front with a trim pack and stock bushings. It's not too bad on the highway.

 

[landtank]

I installed the low lift springs from OEM and the truck needed the yellow caster bushings. Adding another 30mm migt or might not require more correction to stay with in factory specs.

But if you are on factory bushings now the OEM yellows are a definite after the packer install.

 

[ashooter]

Okay, now that I've done some actual measurements and it looks like most of my problem is left-leaning body, let me rephrase my original question... I think I'll plan to go ahead and install OME caster bushings, but let me run this by y'all and see what you think.

First is current measurement straight down from fender edge to tire tread, then trim packer I plan to add, then the expected result.

LF: 4 3/8" + 25mm = 5.36"
RF: 5" + 10mm = 5.39"
LR: 5" + 15mm = 5.59"
RR: 5 5/8" + 0mm = 5.62"

Any thoughts??? Is this body lean a normal thing meant to compensate for the road crown when going down the highway?

The truck drives fine and tracks straight as-is, so I'm a little leary about fixing it if it ain't broke, but it just looks funny to me.

 

[Chef J]

I'm in a similar spot, winch on the front and PM1 both to come will only make things worse, I intend on a rear bumper as well so once thats all on I'll decide what the rig needs. Might want to consider living with it for now if you plan to add any weight in the future then seeing where you end up. I just hope I don't want to go for taller springs after I add the additional 150# front and rear.

 

[Brunt Force Trauma]

I dont think I would add different size packers to all the springs. Why is your truck leaning sideways? Did you make sure the correct spring are in the correct places? The 80s have slightly different height springs that are side specific.

 

[ashooter]

I dont think I would add different size packers to all the springs. Why is your truck leaning sideways? Did you make sure the correct spring are in the correct places? The 80s have slightly different height springs that are side specific.

There's only about 1/2" difference between the left side and right side, so I'm probably the only person that notices it. And yes, the springs were installed correctly.

After thinking about it, I think I'm going to add the caster bushings and just go with 15mm on the left side and 10mm on the right, and not worry about the slight stinkbuggishness. I'm probably going to add a IPOR rear bumper and tire carrier pretty soon anyway, which should drop the tail a little bit.

 

[ashooter]

In case anybody cares, the math doesn't necessarily work out the way you'd expect, since the trim packers are squishy enough that they don't end up as thick under the springs as they are coming out of the box. Because of that, I'm not sure how long they'll stay in one piece, either. (edited to add - no caster bushings and everything seems fine)

I ended up having to trial & error it a bit before I got it more-or-less level. And I'm suspicious that the guy that installed my springs may have put the "A" spring on the left side in the rear... It took 20mm to bring that left side up to the same height as the right. Some day when I get bored I may end up switching the rear springs around, just to see what happens.

I wonder how many Cruisers are driving around with springs on the wrong side.

 

[Brunt Force Trauma]

I wonder how many Cruisers are driving around with springs on the wrong side.

Look like just one.

 

[ashooter]

Look like just one.

I don't know... I did some searching here and found LOTS of comments about guys with trucks leaning 1/2" to an inch toward the left. Seems to be pretty common, so I wonder how much of that is incorrectly installed springs or if there's something else going on.