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Frame twist? Body shift? What would you think? #2494967
05/12/18 12:39 AM
05/12/18 12:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,802
Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
SattyNoCar  Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,802
Between Houston & Galveston TX

A few months back, to avoid a collision on the freeway in my '93 Dakota, a basically threw the truck into a slide at 70+ MPH. It was a sudden and violent throw (to the right) with little braking that I thought was gonna roll the truck.

Now about 2 months later, truck is getting a drivers side lean much like a '70's full size PU (I haven't suddenly gained weight rolleyes ). The steering wheel is a little more off center than it was, and....as much as the passenger side rear wheel is too far out, the drivers side is too far in (like either the axle or the bed shifted) but the cab/bed alignment doesn't seem changed.

I haven't had the truck on a lift, but I crawled around underneath it looking for signs of shift, frame crack(s)...etc, etc, and didn't see anything (frame is rust free BTW)

That being said though, the truck still drives the same. It doesn't pull when you let go of the wheel at speed, nor does it pull when you brake.

Do you think any of this is related to what happened a few months back? I guess I'm a little nervous because I've had two full size truck frames fail (rust free) for different reasons.

shruggy


John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: Frame twist? Body shift? What would you think? [Re: SattyNoCar] #2494970
05/12/18 01:13 AM
05/12/18 01:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954
garnett kansas
rhad Offline
super stock
rhad  Offline
super stock

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954
garnett kansas
i would take a good hard look at the rear axle center bolts in the center of the springs,they could be bent or broke,if either has happened it will most likely run dog legged down the road,need some one to drive it towards you from a distance,its real easy to see that way


my ladder of success is missing some rungs
Re: Frame twist? Body shift? What would you think? [Re: SattyNoCar] #2495026
05/12/18 10:17 AM
05/12/18 10:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
ric3xrt Offline
pro stock
ric3xrt  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
My money is on a broken spring pack bolt


Truth has no agenda, but those with an agenda make their own truth.
Some of us are so open minded they only see their View



Re: Frame twist? Body shift? What would you think? [Re: SattyNoCar] #2495772
05/14/18 12:53 AM
05/14/18 12:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Look at the cab to frame body mounts. My bet is the rubber bushing has pulled through the frame mounting hole, or the rubber has deteriorated enough to pull through the frame hole. I've seen this happen on frames that still look brand new, its not a rust problem as much as a wear problem.

The area around the rubber sits on on the frame bracket is only about a 1/4" wider then the outside of the rubber mount itself. With age, dirt/sand/grit gets between the mount and the frame and wears on the frame's metal surface. When you get a jolt or sudden movement, the edges of the frame bracket give away very easily. To repair the area, you will need to remove the bolt, jack up the cab, pull the rubber bushing out, and replace a section of the metal around the hole. Basically you weld in a ring that is about a 1/2" wide to the existing frame bracket so the rubber has something to sit on again. You may or may not need new rubber bushings. I suspects you will need to repair at least both body mounts on the driver side, but I would also look at the passenger side as it may not be a lot better.

In my shop, that is about a $100 repair per mount, + the rubber bushing if it also needs to be replaced. I have done a lot of them. Its more an issue of the design rather then a manufacturer, everyone uses the same design. Gene

Re: Frame twist? Body shift? What would you think? [Re: SattyNoCar] #2495963
05/14/18 02:04 PM
05/14/18 02:04 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
S
savoy64 Offline
top fuel
savoy64  Offline
top fuel
S

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
i had the top spring break once and pull a couple inches apart---it didnt pull out from under the spring bolts though...







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