My truck is leaning!

vincarrillo · 06-07-2010, 04:32 PM

Took the trash out this morning and while walking up the driveway towards the front of the truck (about 50 feet) I noticed it leans towards the driver side. Got my tape measure and starting on the passenger side picked a point on the wheel well, measured down to a point on the tire - came to 8 inches. Did the same on the driver side and it came to 7 1/4 inches! The driveway is two years old and was designed so water runs off to the south, making my discovery even worse since the passenger side of the truck is on the south side. Just to make sure I turned the truck around, rear facing the street and measured again - same results.

Turned the truck around again and when I sat on the driver side I became aware it does appear I am sitting slightly lower than when I sit on the passenger seat. The weirdness is the back-end is even on both sides.

No accidents, collisions and only 2k miles worth of mostly street driving since we bought the truck in November - could something have worn out on the driver side that quick? Called the dealership and a service guy told me there is nothing they can do "if it falls within specs" so I guess it is mechanically sound for the front end to lean.

UPDATE 03.15.12

Lean issued resolved by ORW after installing coilovers up front and bilstein shocks in back. Truck now sits a bit higher in the front but more importantly, is level from side to side!

vilim12 · 06-07-2010, 06:06 PM

Front end lean more than the back is normal, and so is some side to side. Our trucks are made like that cause of the weight of how much gad is in the tank. Your tank is on the left side

pd298 · 06-07-2010, 07:21 PM

27 gallons of fuel (1 gallon of gas weighs 8lbs) so 27x8=216. Your truck has 216 lbs of excess weight on the left side when your fuel tank is full, not to mention the weight of the tank itself.

Bhudda454 · 06-07-2010, 07:47 PM

The truth here is the dealerships have no idea why it leans. I had both rear springs and the drivers side shock replaced. Still leans. And that myth about the gas tank is just that. If Nissan had designed it to lean to offset the weight it would be low on the passenger side. Come on guys. You didn't really believe that did you?

vilim12 · 06-07-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhudda454

The truth here is the dealerships have no idea why it leans. I had both rear springs and the drivers side shock replaced. Still leans. And that myth about the gas tank is just that. If Nissan had designed it to lean to offset the weight it would be low on the passenger side. Come on guys. You didn't really believe that did you?

If hes full on gas thats alot of weight on the left side, exactly why it would be lower there. I doubt they designed anything it just goes according to your gas tank IMO

vincarrillo · 06-08-2010, 06:18 AM

Thanks for replying guys. I also thought about the 'gas tank' thing but unfortunately yesterday when I realized the lean the gas tank was less than 1/4 full - almost empty. I am just a bit concerned because it's not the whole side that is leaning, just the front driver side, almost like something is twisted I guess would be the best way to describe it.

That's why I was asking; why would just the front driver side be off almost an inch and not the whole driver side? Just looks weird now when I approach the truck from the front all I see is that lean.

zach93 · 06-08-2010, 06:56 AM

i would go to the dealership and talk to them about it, if they say its normal go measure some of the trucks on there lot, if there not leaning tell them your truck is not "normal" and at the very least you want an explanation why it is leaning then once you get an explanation call another dealership and ask if there explanation is possible, maybe even call nissan directly

sudden urge · 06-08-2010, 07:56 AM

I just measured my front end side to side difference, and it's 5/16" lower on the drivers side. I have a full tank of gas.

vincarrillo · 06-08-2010, 09:39 AM

Just got back from the dealership - the mechanic and service manager confirmed my measurement of a 3/4 inch difference. Apparently this is quite common as they did what zach suggested and measured similar trucks on the lot. The 'problem' is with the cab and it appears it is purposely or accidentally put on that way with no adjustments possible at the dealership's end to level that point on the truck.

Just for the sake of this thread I did mention the gas tank theory and they both laughed. The service manager said, "If believing that makes it easier then I guess, okay!"

Oh well. From now on I will just close one eye as I walk towards the front of the truck.

Archy · 06-08-2010, 09:53 AM

My understanding is that most all US vehicles are built to be lower on the driver side than the passenger side due to the crown built into all roads. Countries that drive on the opposite side of the road than us have their vehicles built opposite than this.

sudden urge · 06-08-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincarrillo

Just got back from the dealership - the mechanic and service manager confirmed my measurement of a 3/4 inch difference. Apparently this is quite common as they did what zach suggested and measured similar trucks on the lot. The 'problem' is with the cab and it appears it is purposely or accidentally put on that way with no adjustments possible at the dealership's end to level that point on the truck.

Just for the sake of this thread I did mention the gas tank theory and they both laughed. The service manager said, "If believing that makes it easier then I guess, okay!"

Oh well. From now on I will just close one eye as I walk towards the front of the truck.

Today was the first time I measured the front difference side to side. All the older threads measured only the rear difference. Way back when, my rear was within a 1/16" side to side, today it measured an 1/8" difference with the front showing a 5/16" difference. I don't blame you for complaining about a 3/4" difference, that would drive me up a wall every time I looked at it. What did they say was the factory spec? I find it hard to believe a 3/4" lean is within spec.

RollinPresidential · 06-08-2010, 10:11 AM

same problem here...there needs to be a mini lift or spacer to put in to correct this..

chargedTitan · 06-08-2010, 10:42 AM

My front was 3/4 " out as well. Most of it turned out to be a tweaked sway bar. In my research for a solution I also discovered that its common for one coil bucket to be welded higher than the other. Remove your sway bar and re-measure.

RollinPresidential · 06-08-2010, 11:00 AM

^ took mine off last night, i will measure tonight...

gweasel77 · 06-08-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Most of it turned out to be a tweaked sway bar

Hey chargedtitan, are you the member that told me you bent a Stillen front sway bar? Because, i've been thinking about buying one here soon.