Low on the left

Hi gang. Hit an uneven concrete joint in the highway while driving. Felt a big bang which actually startled me and made me say, "felt like something busted", from the left front. Now the drivers left front is lower than the right and I think the tire is rubbing into the wheel well when going over bumps. Could that be a spring or shock...? Any suggestions welcomed...haven't crawled under it yet...thanks !! Would like to have an idea before taking it to a mechanic..

 

Have at look at the bottom of the shock and at the coil spring. Take pics and post if you can.

Are you running a spacer lift or any sort of lift?

 

Might be a shock blow out. Take a look and some pics and post up.

 

Thanks, I shall...!

 

I am totally stock, no spacers or lifts and original shocks and springs. Bro says it could be a bushing and shocks generally don't cause the truck to shift like that ? Haven't been able to get a pic yet. Shocks are old.

 

Maybe we’re splitting hairs, but they are coil-over shocks. I know, everyone is lazy or cool and calls them coil-overs.

When the bottom rod of the shock goes on vacation up inside the shock, then the corner of the truck drops.



This one likely happened thanks to a spacer lift and no bumpstop spacers since it’s not rusted out, but heavy rusting of the shock can / will do the same in time.

Or OP has a broken coil.

 

If you have original shocks, your bushings will definitely be bad and your shocks are probably bad too. But pics are worth 1,000 words. Post up some clear shots of the shock & spring area & we can likely tell you the issue.

 

The broken coil or lower coil perch would be my best guesses.

1st gen trucks have a different shock design so what you pictured can't happen since the lower eye is directly welded to the shock body.

 

They can still collapse when rusted out. Happened to my friend with his 2000 Tundra while moving across the country towing a large enclosed trailer. He hit a pothole slowing down for a stoplight, and boom.

Compared to all the other potholes he did / would hit on that trip at highway speed, he had someone looking out for him.

 

Here is what I have relative to a pic...

 

Yup shock is borked.

Bottom eye snapped right off.

 

Sooo, when I take it to the mechanic, what kind of a fix am I looking at, as I know little about suspension. Just don't want to get borked..!!

 

Need to swap the shock. Prob should do both sides.

 

Both front shocks, probably should do upper mounts too. Have them check the ball joints as well. Figure $500 probably.

 

Man everything is pretty rusty under there. You’re ready for a whole new assembly. Complete coil over time. And look into protecting your chassis with something like fluid film. Looks like your spring cups are about to fail too.

 

That was the next thing I was going to ask...very much appreciated. I just wanna thank everyone for their input and I'm gracious for your time..!!

 

I live in the Chicago region and salt seems to be the choice for the streets in the winter. Lots and lots and lots of salt.....

 

what is fluid film...?

 

It’s a animal-based lubricant protectant that you can spray on. It comes in a aerosol can or you can get a gallon and spray it on with a paint gun. It’s a once a year application. There are other products out there similar or better. I’m forgetting their names right now. But don’t put on an undercoating. That just covers up the rust and provides it a nice incubator for cancer. It sounds like a lot of work and it is but you should thoroughly inspect your frame, knock down all the loose rust and maybe use something like POR 15.

 

Spray on product from a aerosol can. Honestly, if you're planning on keeping this truck you really need to devote a solid weekend to doing something about that rust. That looks bad. Let us know your plans/willingness to do this and we can give you more feedback.


https://www.fluid-film.com/products/

 

Welcome to the rust belt. That's about normal for anything older than 2010ish here.

 

what would I need to use to work on the rust...I do not have access to a lift but neighbor has jack and stands...

 

yeah, 16 years of Illinois winters and they use salt like it is part of the road concrete mix...there is a constant white film on vehicles 5-6 months yearly

 

I’d spray the entire frame with an extra large can of PB Blaster ‘Penetrating’ oil to soak into all the pores and act as a starter/primer for the second round of Moly Lithium Grease layer (2 small tubs). Use a large sponge and start slathering every square inch of metal with a thin Moly layer like polishing shoes. Take you about two days.

Pictured is a grease plunger I fabbed up. Its a flexible fiberglass stick with a rag wrapped around a sponge cut to size to jam down into the box frame areas.

 

thank you, sir..!!

 

I’d thoroughly inspect that frame before sinking much money into it.

 

What do I look for...cracks, holes etc..? The truck has mostly been used for daily driving to work about 7 miles both ways for 16 years. Is there a company who does the rust restore with the correct products?. I know under coating isn't a good idea as it traps moisture.

 

I must say this is a great truck, would like to get another 110k out of it. Willing to sink a few bucks into it. It's better than a new truck payment and new trucks are huge...couldn't get one into my garage...!!