Tundra suspension problem

[djosephm]

Hey everybody...

Anybody imparticularly good at tackling suspension problems? My tundra sits funny...

The complete left side is two inches lower than the right and I am not sure what is causing it... I just bought the truck a few months back and I am wondering what the possibilities are that the frame is bent. Note that I did put a lowering kit on, but it was sitting funny even before the kit.

I didn't think it was that much of a problem until I came home from work the other day and one of my coworkers asked me if I had a flat tire... Well it just so happens I was on uneven ground which made the problem look even worse.

Anybody have some tricks or tools I can use to find out what the problem is?

[MKYOTA]

Bad leaf spring, Bent leaf spring, Different tire pressures, Different tires/rim size, Extra weight to one side, Busted shocks, Bent frame, there are alot of potential problems.

Are both front and back 2in lower than the other or is the front/back on one side lower (eg pass side front down 2 in while pass side rear down 3 in) Measure your fender/tire distance all the way around, and tell us what it is.

[Acolytes]

Why don't you measure ride height? It will tell you if your truck is really sagging. Park the truck on a completely flat surface, get a tape measure and measure from the ground to the center of the bolt on your lower control arm (the bolt with the caster adjustment). Measure both sides and see if there is a difference in ride height. for the rear, measure from the ground to the center of the bolt that mounts the from of the leaf spring.

[MEvang]

Pretty simply, you likely have a spring problem. Either weak or broken springs. I have heard it's common for the rear leafs to break. Check each one closely, all it takes is one to break, and it will drop on that side.
Mike

[tundrainorange]

Gas tank is also on the left side, prob a worn spring to.

[djosephm]

Well I did take it in for an alignment a week ago and the front camber was all the way adjusted and it still showed .004 out of spec on the machine at the shop I took it to. The guy wanted to know if it was eveer in a wreck because he had it adjusted to the max but it was still out of factory specifications. I'm out of town until Tues morning.. Tuesday ill take it down and measure everything and maybe take it to a local shop.

[djosephm]

Originally Posted by MEvang

Pretty simply, you likely have a spring problem. Either weak or broken springs. I have heard it's common for the rear leafs to break. Check each one closely, all it takes is one to break, and it will drop on that side.
Mike

I think the leaf springs are fine because when I put on the lowering kit I had to take out the leaf springs and put them below the rear axle instead of having it above the rear axle... Are there any other springs that could cause this problem?

When I measured this morning the front had almost three inches difference measuring the wheelwells and the rear two measuring the wheelwells. The left side is lower than the right both in front and in back.

[bstaley]

Have the front shocks ever been replaced? The left and right coils have different ratings so if they accidentally got reversed it would probably lean some.

[george60]

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My 5 year old Tundra SR5 V8 that I've had from new sags on the left side.
It's probably because I weigh 260 lbs. Most of the time I drive alone.

George60

[djosephm]

Originally Posted by george60

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My 5 year old Tundra SR5 V8 that I've had from new sags on the left side.
It's probably because I weigh 260 lbs. Most of the time I drive alone.

George60

lol!!!

[MEvang]

It could very well could be the front coil springs. One spring sagging can make the hole side low. But you'll usually get the most drop at the corner of the bad spring.
You might look at the cab mounts also, It would be very odd to have a mount bushing out or a one rusted through , but it is possible.
Mike

[MKYOTA]

If I read your post right... You said you had 3in diff between the front two and 2in diff between the rear two... which means your front is the problem, likely a broken coil or bad shock, that could cause the weight of the truck to shift making the truck sit unlevel. (especially with the gas tank being on the left side of the truck)

[tundra05_trd]

Originally Posted by djosephm

Well I did take it in for an alignment a week ago and the front camber was all the way adjusted and it still showed .004 out of spec on the machine at the shop I took it to. The guy wanted to know if it was eveer in a wreck because he had it adjusted to the max but it was still out of factory specifications. I'm out of town until Tues morning.. Tuesday ill take it down and measure everything and maybe take it to a local shop.

The guy at the alignment shop should have picked up on something. The first thing you are supposed to do on an alignment is check for any obvious signs of damage on the truck. If it is sitting that crooked, there would be no way to align it correctly!

[djosephm]

Does anybody know where I can get replacement coils?

[escondidotundra]

Try switching sides. If you have the stock springs they are all of different rates. The left front coilover is stiffer than the passenger coil over. The driver leaf is also stiffer than passenger. The leaf springs have different markings on them. Look at a truck you know is right.