Tacoma lean…. Fact or fiction.

I’ve seen many posts over the years about tacomas slightly leaning to the drivers side. Is this actually a thing or just figments of people’s imagination or surface level the trucks sitting on?

 

I say fiction, cause I’ve never noticed it or seen it as pronounced as some. But every truck is different

 

It's a legit thing. Caused by fuel, battery, and driver all being on the same side of the truck.

Is it blown out of proportion of forums? Yes.

Does it exist in other vehicles? Yes. Google search "Jeep lean" for tons of similar complaints. My 2001 XJ had a notable lean.

It's also exaggerated (more noticeable) with lifted vehicles.

 

Fact, more of an issue after 5 years. I see them every day, usually 1" lower drivers side.

In traffic look at 2nd gens and compare the mudflaps distance to the ground to get an idea.

 

Would this cause major alignment issues considering the suspension is sagging?

 

What’s the proper way to measure to get the 1 inch difference?

 

Ten years, 128,000 miles on my truck: No lean. All four mudflaps equal-distance from the pavement below; (L/R front and L/R rear) Bottom leaf (on the driver's side) unloaded and within a fraction of the right-rear and carrying no load whatsoever unless/until I put five sandbags (70 lbs each) into the bed for the winter... It rides better, but it's still even side-to-side and the leaf is not fully loaded: there is still some space between #3 and #4 on the bottom.

Fact/Fiction/Urban Legend? Dunno. Maybe on a truck with a huge diesel tank on one side? Makes sense. Just not apparent on my 10-year old truck FWIW.

 

I have no idea as to the lean on other trucks, but I measured mine several times before I installed 5100 Bilstein shocks. I got a 1/4” lower height on the drivers side at 1/4 tank of gas. It was 3/8” lower with the tank full. I decided this was not enough of a difference to worry about. I’ve had the Bilstein shocks on the 3rd perch (about 1.1” lift) for about a year. The lean measures the same now as it did then.

 

My 1985 GMC K3500SRW 6.2 diesel visibly leans to the driver side, thanks to the fuel tank being on the driver side, and it has 67k on it.

 

Let’s see, 75lbs group 31 battery, 325lbs driver. All my taco can do is left turns! But seriously, not even with that I don’t have a lean to the left.

 

Taco lean is a conspiracy constructed by the lift companies to sell us all the 1/2” useless spacer with our lift packages. Best way to fix the lean, lose 20-30lbs

 

When I changed the suspension I added a spacer fot the lean. Now I can see my hood titled towards the pax side. ..and a gained a few pounds since. So it is a myth

 

bro I hope you’re kidding about the 325lbs, but the group 31 battery tracks lol

 

It’s crazy how much stuff is out there for sale to control leans that don’t make much difference. I saw a Tacoma at the mall the other day leaning to passenger side. I figured owner had added something to compensate but made it look worse the other way. Mine might lean a bit somewhere. I can’t see it or feel it when driving… no worries.

 

Tape measures don't lie.

Taco driver side lean is absolutely a thing.

Go up to any brand new taco on the lot and they will have ~1/2 in of lean and will only get worse.

Edit -and that will be without a full tank of gas or a driver in the driver seat.

 

Or use a level

 

As long as the ground is level.

 

Most vehicles probably aren't perfectly level, just most other owners could give AF.
The world is full of imperfect things, but full of many great things,,,, your choice as to how ya choose to spend your limited days viewing it.

 

Mine is and has always been one inch lower on the back left since day one.