Toyota Forum banner

Normal for one side to be 1/2" higher than the other?

1 reading
23K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  rdsaustintx  
#1 ·
Out of curiosity I measured the height from the ground to the fender on both sides of the rear axle. Driver's side was 37", passenger 37.5". Front was even. I pushed down on the bumper a few times to help the suspension readjust itself, but it settled out at the same height. Truck only has 200 miles on it, so I'm sure some settling is needed. I was just curious if anyone else noticed this on their truck.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for posting that. I thought I was alone. I have 1300 miles now on the 2008 Tacoma SR5 Access Cab 4x4 TRD offroad. It has the same lean to the left. I put a pair of Air Lift 59561 springs on it. It levels out side to side if I put 25 psi driver's side, 10 psi passenger side. That's just bullshit Toyota. You've had time to get it right. I'm pissed.
 
#7 ·
No, It's a spacer that goes on top of your front coil spring and strut. All you need to do is unbolt the top of your strut and install the spacer and bolt it back up. It's really easy and only takes about a half hour to do.
 
#8 ·
So you would install the spacer above the strut for the left front? The spring remains compressed while you do this? In other words the spacer would sandwich between the upper frame mount and the assembled strut? So it's a body lift?

The original poster stated that his front was even, although I think mine is down in front slightly on the driver's side.

But since the bed is mounted to the frame independently of the body, don't you have to raise it too? I don't see how a spacer in front that doesn't compress the spring will change the side-to-side level at the rear.

What am I missing?
 
#14 ·
The "infamous taco-lean." That pisses me off. Not that you said it, but that Tacoma has that reputation. Where was "the infamous taco-lean" when Consumer Reports and the legions of loyal Toyota owners rave? Do you just not complain about these things? Or is this dirty little secret just not worth taking the arrows from the defenders of the brand? I'm obviously not the only one bothered by it, since others are putting in their own fixes of choice. You shouldn't have to.

Fitter565, I appreciate the explanation of the spacers, but my confusion with your explanation was that you called them struts. McPherson struts don't come apart when you loosen the three bolts. These do, that's how you put the spacers in.

The problem is, it's the wrong adjustment for a lean at the rear if it's already level at the front. The adjustment needed is for the ride height on the left rear, either a higher spring rate or a spacer.

1st Cavalry, I can do at the rear what you did at the front, change the spring rate by bumping up the pressure in the air bag for the left side. That's not the point.

If the spring rates in front are correct, it should be level there unless the sway bar links are not equal.

So I call B.S. on Toyota. This is a defect.
 
#10 ·
Go out and look at your truck, You jack the truck up so there is no weight on the front suspension. There are 3 bolts on top of the spring and shock. Take the nuts off and let the shock and spring drop down. You then put the spacer over the 3 bolts and raise the shock back up and install the nuts. Tighten everything up and your done, the truck will now set level.
 
#12 ·
Same here.I have one donahoe coilover cranked up more than the other side...So I'm level now. :)
 
#15 ·
A stock truck is not supposed to lean. The oem springs are maked for a reason. Most trucks with aftermarket springs will lean beacuase the spring are not for the left or right. There universal.

Im not sure why your truck is leaning. I kow the battery and tank and driver are on the same side. But the OEM springs are supposed to make up for this.
 
#16 ·
A stock truck is not supposed to lean. The oem springs are maked for a reason. Most trucks with aftermarket springs will lean beacuase the spring are not for the left or right. There universal.

Im not sure why your truck is leaning. I kow the battery and tank and driver are on the same side. But the OEM springs are supposed to make up for this.
Agree 100%
 
#17 · (Edited)
well i plan on gettin 5100's for the front of my truck, and took some measurements of ride height, and this is what i came up with on level ground.

drivers side rear is 38''
pass. side rear is 37''

drivers side front 34''
pass side front 34 3/4'' these measurements didnt seem rite to me, so i measured again in a diff spot same result????

i thought the lean was to the drivers side which it isnt on mine and also how can the driver rear be higher but the driver front be lower,than the other side...... Is this common or not. I dont want to order the 5100's if i have an issue. And i had the rear tsb????:confused:
 
#25 ·
If you re rising one corner of your truck, what's gonna happen ?

As an example, if you re rising the front passenger side, the rear driver side will go down. Dont look at your truck like it was a rectangular box with an infinite rigidity. Just imagine a " X " drawn beetween your four wheels. If you touch an extremity of one line, this line will rotate around the other one. Depending on the position of gravity point on the truck (top view) and the distance beetween it and the intersection of the X, the movement of the 2 extremeties on the same line will not be ncessarly proportional.

Hope it can helps and please forgive my english.
 
#19 ·
#20 ·
One of my balls hangs a 1/2 inch lower than the other and I don't complain about it!

My point being is that you probably can't notice that 1/2 inch just by looking at the truck. I don't think that 1/2 inch would make any difference performance wise. Also maybe the surface under the truck when you measured was not perfectly flat or maybe a tire pressure difference. In perspective that 1/2 inch on a big truck is not all that much, probably within Toyota specs.
 
#23 ·
95% of vehicles start out & end up lop sided
it is NORMAL
for all the previous stated reasons

even as you try to even them out
the more you drive your truck......there again
90% of the time SOLO

you are wearing/compressing the drivers side More!!!
so you still end up lop sided


good luck
 
#24 ·
thanks guys just wanted to clarify, once again another question solved:clap: on with the 5100's
 
#27 ·
No idea what's acceptable, but...

After my TSB I put on a Hellwig rear sway bar. That is one hinky-azzed setup. While trying to line and even everything up, I tried taking measurements from sprung body parts. One side (I forget which) was easily 1/2" different from the other. It baffled me enough that I completely disconnected the sway bar to be sure it wasn't causing the difference. It wasn't.