leans to the left

[john sigler]

I've got a '78 an '73 scout II. both lean to the left. I just put a 4" suspension lift on the '78 and new bushings, shackles, tie rod ends, ball joints, draglink, and axle u-joints. Still leans to the left. Is this something correctable?

[john sigler]

Seriously?! Taller leaf springs. So, The remedy is to swap leaf spring sides. What a pain. Wish I knew that bit of information before. Thanks for the input.

[LoneStarScout]

Have you checked for the 1/2" metal spacer? On the stock setup, your Scouts should have 1/2" thick steel spacer that is under the axle but above your leaf springs. These spacers should be on the passenger side, both front and rear axles. If you don't have them, your Scouts will sit high on the passenger side (supposedly). The spacers are designed to lower the side that they are installed on. If the PO has had any suspension work done on the Scout, most people just toss the spacers away, thinking they're not important.

My Scout sat low on my passenger side (opposite of yours) so I removed the spacers. Now my Scout sits level, so I have discovered that every Scout is different.

I would check to make sure the spacers are there before you start swapping springs. I have personally never seen a lift kit that specified left and right on the lift springs

Good Luck

PS. My Scout leaned on the stock setup. When I installed my 4" lift springs and lft kit, it still leaned the same amount and the same direction (to the right/passenger side). The spacers (removing them for my truck) was the only thing that fixed my lean.

[john sigler]

Both half inch spacers are gone. Any suggestions on where to get replacements?

[LoneStarScout]

I'd offer to give you mine, but I threw them away....sorry! :rolleyes:

They wouldn't be hard to fab up. Take a piece of flat bar 1/2" thick and 2" wide, and cut it into 4" pieces. Then drill a hole in the middle. I'm not sure what size hole, but big enough so your center pin on your springs will go through, or.....call Super Scout Specialists or any other LightLine dealer, and see if they have any laying around.

I really think that if you install the spacers, your lean will be fixed. Putting them on your passenger side under the axle should lower that side enough to be even with your drivers side.

Another thing to check, is make sure your body mounts and body mount bushings are in good shape. The polyurethane bushings are a good upgrade if you're still using the original rubber ones that are mashed after 30 years. Plus, it'll give you about 3/4" lift from where you're sitting right now!

HTH

[john sigler]

No problem, I'll make some and see what happens. Thanks for the info.

[bluescout]

Come to think of it...

Scout is a little over 5.5' wide. The spring perches are a touch over 3'. That's 1.25 feet of Scout past the springs on each side. 1.25 ÷ 3 = .41.

So... adding 1/2 spacer to the right side will drop the right side 1/2" X 1.41 or .7", and raise the left 1/2" X .41 or .2 inches. So at the fenders, a 1/2 spacer makes for almost an inch difference. Not the world but more than just the 1/2 inch.

[LoneStarScout]

You're right on BlueScout. My truck leaned low to the passenger side an inch, and removing the 1/2" spacers raised it up that much. Made a huge difference.

I probably should have posted that up in my first reply. You'll get more of a difference than just a 1/2 inch.


Hope it works out for you John

[bluescout]

Finally being the son of a mechanical engineer pays off!!!! :D

Hi, my name is Rob and I'm a nerdaholic...

[LoneStarScout]

Lol, I'm the son of an aerospace engineer, and it didn't make a damn bit of difference! I still suck at all types of mathematics and equations. Why do you think I majored in music....only had to take college algebra!