Hi Folks, this is something that annoys me to no end: My little 2.5 4-banger is leaning towards to driver side. When I measured the distance from the wheel wells to the ground, the left side is a full 1.5 inches lower than the right side. Now I weigh about 245 lbs and drove most of its 52k miles alone, never a really heavy load in the back. Is it possible just because of my weight that the left coil springs have weakened and cause the "lean"? Gee I would think a pick-up would have adequate springs to support the imbalance in the cab for a bit longer than 4 yrs / 52k miles on ONLY paved road.

IF you find this must be the cause, do you know if there are heavy-duty springs that would prevent this from happening down the road? I find the whole issue quite disappointing and voiced my opinion to Ford, who acknowledged it but wasn't willing to make further comments.

Thanks,
Carsten / CT

 

i think the gas tank is on the driverside of the truck and thats what causes it...

 

Are you serious???

 

yea.... gas is like 5lbs a gallon and if its all on one side of the truck it will do that... measure the distance on a full tank, then on an empty tank and if it closes the gap that thats what it is.....if the gaps still there then i dunno

 

Well that would mean on a full tank the gas weighs 80 lbs... no way would that make a difference, I think the left coils weakened prematurely.. anyway, let's see if someone else has had the same "problem"... most Rangers I see on the street are pretty level

 

mine is a tad lower on the driver-side. you cant really even tell when youre looking at it, but if you measure, its like 1/2" lower.

 

I've definitely noticed it on my truck, that it leans a little to the drivers side, but never actually measured. I've only ever really paid attention to it in my parking lot outside my apartment and have just attributed it to an un-level parking space because I usually park in the same spot. Maybe i'll go out and measure today just to see.

 

thats the wonderful ranger lean TONS of trucks have it. for reason i cant give you.

 

dang, if you guys only had torsion bars, i'd say crank the side leaning...

 

its normally the rear of the truck leaning

 

From what i understand it has to do with the fuel tank and the ever present driver on that particular side of the vehicle. and over time it just sags more on that side mine does it and so does a friend of mines ranger

 

Kevin, would be interested in the results... I have consciously looked at other (driving or parked) small trucks and never noticed the "tilt" as obvious as in mine. Maybe I fill a blow-up doll with concrete and sit it in the passenger seat HAHAH...

All the others, thanks for your comments!

 

you could have a cracked leaf on the back or maybe a hanger is going get under there and really start inspecting

 

245+80 = 325 , thats alot of weight to one side of a truck that doesnt weigh much.

Maybe bad shocks, and the coils are setting, swap it with the pass side coil..:)

 

on mine it seems like its the front drivers-side that is lowest, and the rear passenger-side is highest.

 

well i just got home from school and checked... both sides of the front suspension are equal heights, but from the top of the tire to the wheel well directly above it, (and also from the ground to the bottom of the bumper) the left side is approximately 1/2" lower than the right side... I wonder if when I crank my torsion bars I can just crank the right side a little more until it evens out?

note: heights on the back are equal from right to left side - both from the top of the wheel to the wheel well above it, and several places on the ground to the body and suspension (leaf springs): all equal on the back.

 

Your post made no sense...the suspension on both sides is equal height but one side is 1/2" higher than the other?

Do you mean your suspension ground clearance? If so then i would be really worried if it wasn't the same......

 

sorry, it made sense when i was trying to type it, but yes the suspension ground clearance is the same on both sides. different heights from the ground to the body and tire to wheel well. i don't know if that cleared it up? sorry for the confusion.

 

If people asked would you tell em the blowup doll is your girlfriend?

Aaron

 

Well, with all the posts I guess it's safe to assume that my "tilt" is a natural setting process. Since I am (probably) heavier than most other Ranger drivers here, I can see that my difference of 1.5" in ground-to-wheel well lips is well within "normal" limits. The idea of swapping coils springs left to right as suggested by Leo in post#14 seems to make sense to equal the setting process on both coils. Guess at 6'4" I should be looking into a F-150 eventually anyway, although I love the litte Ranger. Thanks again folks!

 

if its your front coil take off the wheel and start inspecting and you might have a broken spring or mount

 

Swap the coils left/right :)
or get some new ones they are pretty cheap.

 

Hmm i wondered what caused the lean myself. I have a 98 ranger and it doesnt lean (if it does its a tiny bit) i checked the distances and all of them were right the same.And im a BIG dude.6'0 375lbs and i was totally surpised that my ranger doesnt have a lean.BTW i have had it for 2 years and almost 50K miles

 

Found this an interesting topic, as I, too have been bothered with the driver's side sag. My car, though, is over 35 years old. Your (then) four year old truck should not have this problem. The fix, in my case, was the torsion bar. The attached link might be of interest, even if your Ranger is much bigger than my Karmann Ghia!
TheSamba.com :: View topic - My ghia leans on one side.....???? is there a FIX?