Twisted Chassis

[fjdaveinoz]

Has anyone ever heard of a 45 twisting the chassis. mine since I got it has always leaned to the passenger side at the front and to the drivers side at the rear. I only bought it cheap, and there was no physical damage to the body to indiacate a previous collision, so I presumed it to simply be springs. Took the old tub body off today and was amazed in the height diffenence between the rails on the left to the right. With a spirit level on flat ground the right hand is 20mm lower then the Left. Lifted the vehicle at the front by the bumper and the rear by the towbar to eliminate any spring issues. Front now is level (one frt spring is sagged) rear is still the same!

Is there anything else I could look for. I find it hard to believe the chassis could twist like that. All Panels are original, no major damage to anything (plenty of dints and lots of rust) I presume it would have suffered big damage to twist it. Any Ideas?????

1st 2 pics centre of wheel arches (this is the biggest difference Gap is about an Inch)

 

[fjdaveinoz]

1st pic - Front Mounts (1/2 Inch)
2nd - Mounts behind wheel arch (3/4 of Inch)
3rd - second last mounts (1/2 Inch)

 

[fjdaveinoz]

last pic shows rear cross member. Here the difference is very minimal, 5 mm max.

Ignore the cab, it is sitting slightly to the left (1/2 inch) due to a dodgy mount.

 

[NTFJ45]

Hi Dave,

At first glance that chassis does look twisted

Have you checked in the chassis rails for severe corrosion or wall thickness loss?

If it is missing some of the meat so to speak, even mild 4wding could produce enough flex and torque to twist the chassis.
If the springs are sagged it is easy to determine. Measure the distance from the spring lower leaf to the top leaf and compare the left side. Worn bushes can also play a part but as mention that is alot of lean. Obvious question but are the tyres the same diameters

It is possible to straghten chassis but if rusted out a bit and possessing other defects it may be easier to source another good one.

I hope someone else comes up with some better resulting answers for you

Cheers NTFJ45

 

[rockcod]

Try disconnecting the rear sway-bar, it may be causing the twist. Were there any add-a-leafs thrown in the driver side rear leaf pack? Count the leafs.

 

[fjdaveinoz]

Lifted the entire vehicle off the ground last night, supporting it by all four corners on the bumpers, to eliminate all suspension. Disconnected sway bar, no fix. I then came to conclusion it is stuffed. Cut the shock and swaybar rod out from between both rails, to see if I could twist it back. Using High Lift Jack, it was able to flex the low side of the chassis up level with the left, however now the difference is made up in the normally level rear cross member.
It is twisted.
Now im up in the air whether to source a good used frame, or have this one repaired. The 1st option is probably cheaper and quicker.

I may aswell do the full frame off resto now!!!

 

[Leaping Deer]

I have the same issue with my rig as well (same side). Its a 77 FJ45 RHD. I was wondering if it was something like the cruiser lean all the 40 guy talk about.

 

[LC_Hamma]

I opened up this thread thinkin somebody fabbed up a new chassis & were goin to call it "twisted", hoping to see a new creation. Then I saw it was just a stocker