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cyprus73
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:30 pm Posts: 88
Vehicle: 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 11:56 am |
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Hi all. Need some advise. I have an 88 WT Sierra and it leans on the drivers side. I have determined it's something to do with the leaf spring shackles. Passenger side are parallel straight up and down. The drivers side are angled at approx 45 degrees. Any ideas why and how to fix ?
BTW leafy springs have been changed and brand new. It was the same with the old springs. Approx 20-25mm difference. Checked the cache and under body and all likes fine. The distances between the body and cache are the same all the way around. Really got me puzzled.
Thks in advance Chris
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Gwagensteve
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:30 pm Posts: 13007 Location: Melbourne
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:15 pm |
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whats the cache? I've never heard this word associated with a car before. Oh - just realised - you mean chassis?
In any case, It's nothing to do with the shackles, the shackles are just reflecting the lower ride height (the leaf springs lengthen as they compress, which is what changes the shackle angle) The distance from the axle to the bumpstop will be different left to right.
Sierras are significantly heavier on the driver's side. The driver's side spring should have more arch to compensate. It's possible you've installed the passenger's side spring on the driver's side. Try swapping springs left to right on the front, this often fixes the problem.
Some lean to the right is fairly common though. In my own car (which has been converted to coil springs and uses Vitara rear springs in the front) I required a 20mm spacer on the driver's side to make the car sit level.
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alien
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:30 pm Posts: 16343 Location: Perth
Vehicle: '92 Sierra, 1.6efi, SPOA, 31s.
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 2:02 pm |
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It's called "suzuki lean" if you search it up top you'll find a heap of info on it.
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cyprus73
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:30 pm Posts: 88
Vehicle: 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:11 pm |
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Hi All.
Can i compensate for this with longer shackles on the drivers side to correct this? The leaf springs are only 2 weeks old.
Thks Chris.
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Gwagensteve
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:30 pm Posts: 13007 Location: Melbourne
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:04 pm |
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No. Definitely not.
Swap the springs left to right. That *should* fix it.
If not, consider adding a leaf to the driver's side. However, if the springs are only two weeks old and you've fitted the springs correctly, contact the vendor and see if the problem can be resolved.
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alien
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:30 pm Posts: 16343 Location: Perth
Vehicle: '92 Sierra, 1.6efi, SPOA, 31s.
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:16 pm |
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What Steve said. Otherwise, put a spacer under the passenger side to drop it down a bit (i'd suggest just one cut off leaf spring as a spacer, cos you're reducing clearance by doing this).
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just_cruizin

az supporter
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:30 pm Posts: 2867 Location: here
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:32 pm |
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Spacing the diff, only seen that on old street cars - lowering blocks
You could either add an extra leaf to the D/S or remove one from the passenger side. This is really the only correct way to fix it as it varies the spring rate mm/Newton (mass X gravity)
_________________ greenzook89 wrote: 31zook wrote: Makes me want something similar
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JrZook
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:30 pm Posts: 5517 Location: Holland Park
Vehicle: Awesome!!
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 Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 2:31 pm |
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^Agreed with JC. Adding/subtracting a leaf on the rear seems to have a much greater influence than on the front
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MrRocky
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:30 pm Posts: 4731 Location: perth
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 Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:01 pm |
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I run an extra leaf on the drivers side front, only way i managed to keep mine level
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cairns27
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:42 pm Posts: 489 Location: Macleay Island
Vehicle: '95 Vitara JXI LWB G16B
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 Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 7:32 pm |
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The blacksmith who reset mine, made the driver's side 20mm higher... all good 5 years later...
bye
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Built4thrashing
Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:30 pm Posts: 4972 Location: Dandenong .Vic
Vehicle: 1999 GV. Locked and Lifted
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 Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 5:13 pm |
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I know the easy fix to this is just add a leaf to the drivers side but when i had my sierra i made the 3rd leaf in the drivers front pack a thicker leaf.(put together my own spring packs) Most sierra leaves are50mm wide and 5mm thick. I found a 7mm thick leaf and cut it to length. Fixed the lean without making the drivers side stiff..
Just another option for you.
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cyprus73
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:30 pm Posts: 88
Vehicle: 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara
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 Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 2:34 pm |
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Thks all.
Got the rear drivers side re curved 1 1/4inch sits a little high but should settle down a little.
Just couldnt understand why as leafs were brand new and nothing looked out under the car, eg diff twisted, hangers changed.
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