1987 Chevrolet V20 front leaf spring replacement

[iamtherealJayy]

It’s finally in Memphis so hopefully tomorrow my parts come just wish the weather wasn’t so terrible right now

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Finally got all my oarts and I’m putting them on now, is 60ft lb of torque hood for the tie rod ends

 

[iamtherealJayy]

All put together, torqued to 60 then plus whatever it took to get the cotter pin in. Waiting on grease then hopefully time for a test drive. I did measure the distance from the back of brakes to frame while I was measure tie rod. It is almost 2” farther on passenger side. So my axle is offset by an inch or so.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Is there anything I can take photos of to post on here to see what’s actually off? Just looking at it by eye by myself everything looks straight. But I have nothing to compare to so I can’t notice oh shoot that’s way off lol. I do kinda see the ubolt plate bump stop looks off center on both of them but it looks equally off on each(look more outer than middle). Could the leaf spring hangers be bent? I thought it had something to do with the drivers side leaf springs being shot so I replaced them hoping to center everything back up but now that I know 100% the axle is offset about an inch it’s driving me insane.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Is there anything I can take photos of to post on here to see what’s actually off? Just looking at it by eye by myself everything looks straight. But I have nothing to compare to so I can’t notice oh shoot that’s way off lol. I do kinda see the ubolt plate bump stop looks off center on both of them but it looks equally off on each(look more outer than middle). Could the leaf spring hangers be bent? I thought it had something to do with the drivers side leaf springs being shot so I replaced them hoping to center everything back up but now that I know 100% the axle is offset about an inch it’s driving me insane.

send pics silly

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So to be clear my truck is a lot of examples of what yours SHOULD NOT look like.

Different year, also various issues im sure some are easily spotted LOL

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Thing is only difference I’ve spotted so far is the lift difference and my sway bar is in the bed of my truck while yours is installed..

 

[AuroraGirl]

Thing is only difference I’ve spotted so far is the lift difference and my sway bar is in the bed of my truck while yours is installed..

thats funny
Do you have 2 leafs in your pack? my truck has hd front suspension so it would make sense on the lift part

 

[iamtherealJayy]

I meant the height, I believe mine has 3 leafs. I’ll go snag some pictures right quick

 

[iamtherealJayy]

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[iamtherealJayy]

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As promised, here’s ten photos of every angle I could think of(from the front) of the leaf springs and steering setup, everything looks fairly straight with no obvious bends or anything

 

[AuroraGirl]

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As promised, here’s ten photos of every angle I could think of(from the front) of the leaf springs and steering setup, everything looks fairly straight with no obvious bends or anything

you appear to be missing a cotter pin / the steering stabilizer may not be tightened to the tie rod fully

 

[Grit dog]

Thing is only difference I’ve spotted so far is the lift difference and my sway bar is in the bed of my truck while yours is installed..

And the fact that you already have posted numerous pics…lol.
If the axles is actually offset from the frame, that’s perplexing. I could see the crane being tweaked from what you’ve said before.
I’d keep measuring different things for reference and it will become apparent, like frame to back of fender lip in front of and behind the front axle.
Are you sure it’s the original front axle and the spring perches haven’t been re placed or re welded ?

 

[iamtherealJayy]

@AuroraGirl good eye, I need a new steering stabilizer lol. Cotter pin was missing to begin with and the threads are shot. So it’s not reusable. The front axle is the original front axle. And @Grit dog can you be more specific of what all to measure? The front fender on drivers side at the bottom isn’t bolted down it’s all bent up. So that wouldn’t be an accurate measurement. But measuring back of the disc brakes to frame is ~2” difference so axle is offset about an inch.

 

[Grit dog]

I forgot you said the fenders aren’t necessarily “accurate”
Idk, just grasping at straws with my other suggestion.
Your measurement of rotor to frame is about as good as it gets to check axle to frame center and that is obviously the issue given it is off the same as it appears compared to the body.
Idk man. I agree with you that it should seem obvious if the spring shackle/hangars are bent enough to cause this.

 

[AuroraGirl]

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no idea how applicable this is toy our 87 esp if its long bed, but maybe something here should be helpful?