Sag on Front Left

Hello All,

My 05 Access Cab 4x4 has sag in the front left. I can't figure out what it is. I've changed the struts. Maybe a bend in one of the A arms? Anyone have any guesses? The truck did sit with flat tires on that side of the truck for 2-3 years. Could that have done something. Hopefully the pictures help. I can add more if someone needs to see specific places. I appreciate all your help in advance.

 

Interesting, since you say the tires were flat on that one side, maybe that put uneven tension on the right side spring causing it to compress more than the other? After 2-3 years of being compressed like that, I wonder if that would be enough to permanently "shorten" it.

 

I actually thought the same thing. Struts and springs came as a package and didn't fix it when i changed them.

 

I've heard of the "tundra lean" but i'm not sure if that affects 1st gen, spending a short time googling / searching on the forum i have only seen that occur 2nd gen+?

 

How does the rear measure up, out of curiosity?

Can you snap some pics of underneath, from the front bumper corners showing the suspension overall, maybe a couple of shots from under the truck below the door jamb pointing forward? Then one from each side from above the wheel so we can look at the control arms.

@Pnwtundy lean definitely affects 1GT, but is usually like 1/4" or so.

 

That looks like something is legit broken on the driver side

 

Flat tires wouldn't cause that kind of lean. That looks to be about 2", I'd guess maybe the spring is weak/bad if something isn't bent.

If the flat tires were on the drivers side, it'd load the passenger side heavier. Which should cause the lean to be the other direction.


Mine was 1/2" or so but I corrected it with a spacer on top of the strut to compensate.

 

Mine has a sag on one side but in the ass end. I think my leaf pack is tired. About 2 inch difference if I recall correctly. Was going to change out leaf packs but haven't gotten around to it.

 

Ok Shifty, Here are the pictures. I might be a worse photographer than i am a mechanic so stay with me.

 

Yo is that the wrong shock/spring??? Lol

 

Also, when i changed the struts/springs, changing the driver side where the lean is, was much harder than the right side. It was literally all i could do to get it on. Passenger side was decently easy.

 

Could you post the part numbers of the struts you used?

Edit: and springs, any other suspension items you replaced

 

They were just some cheap ones i picked up from Rock Auto. It's just an around town truck so didn't need anything fancy or expensive.

$72 FCS 1345564R Complete Strut Assembly

FCS 1345564R & FCS 1345564L.

 

What the hell is going on with the springs? Look at the spacing at the top half of this one spring; I expect springs to typically be uniform in spacing from top to bottom, or at least progressively reducing from top to bottom.

​

 

That's a good catch, I could find one review from scamazon, maybe take it with a grain of salt, but:

"
too short
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018
compression makes it sit 3" too short!!!! can't tell until its on!!
"

FCS 1345564R Complete Strut Assembly

$72 FCS 1345564R Complete Strut Assembly

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJF6R3Y

 

At that price point, not knowing the brand, and seeing 3/5 stars, I'm guessing it's a shit product at a shit price, and the spring on that one side is fucked.

 

So if you were guessing, I replaced a broken stock spring with a shitty new spring? Awesome!

 

@shifty` agreed. Though @BeauShamRo this issue existed before changing the struts, correct? Do you know if they were OEM?

 

Is the side with the wonky spring higher? (as I would expect it to be, at least 2x-3x the height of the difference in height)

If you measure from the center of the lower shock bolt to the edge of the spring bucket on both sides, while the truck is on the ground under its own weight, are they equal lengths?

 

It absolutely did exist before i changed them. I don't know if they were stock or not but they had been on the truck for a long time. I am guessing not because the bottom bolt on the left side was not stock. it was a bigger size than the right.

 

Nope. The spring with the weird spacing is on the driver side. Thats the side with the sag.

 

Ok, but what's that measurement.

Also, do you see any signs of welding being done? That's a shitload of rust IMO.

How are the upper and lower balljoints looking? Identical in nature, and both look to be whole?

 

Already got the truck out of the shop. I will have to get back to you on the measurement and any welding done. I honestly don't think there is any welding. Also, the rust just seems to be surface rust. I live in a generally dry climate even if it's raining today.

I replaced the lower ball joints with oem parts already. I will have to check on the uppers.

 

damn, lesson learned homie. At least go with something along the lines of OEM. You could have got some bilstein 4600’s and some stock springs BNIB for around $700. Probably $500 or less if you pieced everything together.

that’s not bad for zero headaches and being back on the road asap

 

I ran those FCS shocks on my truck for a couple of years until I could afford to switch to Billsteins. They were fine, especially considering the price. I do remember that they are marked "L" and "R", perhaps to compensate for the normal driver side lean? As it turns out I still have them...I'll try to get out to the garage tomorrow and measure them up.

On the rust issue, I'd like to see a few shots of the frame stiffener area. Significant rust there could literally cause the frame to bend, perhaps causing this lean. Perhaps...

Have you ever seen those pictures of Tunrdas that have folded in half on a lift? There are many...here's just the first one I found (actually a Tacoma, but you get the idea):