Year old Dobinson's suspension sagging on left side

I have all Dobinson's suspension, aside from JBA UCA's.

L59-111-R leaf springs, and C59-352 front coils, along with Dobinson's shocks. The suspension has been on for about a year and a half, with a couple wheeling trips, but nothing too serious, I'm in FL after-all

I noticed that the left side is already sagging a full inch. I've checked it from hub to arch, frame to ground, and any other way I can think of, and it shows an inch lower on the left no matter what. I shouldn't be seeing that much sag after only a year and a half, should I?? Anything else that could be causing it??

 

@Crikeymike

 

I just spoke to the guy at Dobinson's Direct who I bought them from, can't remember his name, but he was, and always has been great to deal with. He suggested I swap suspension left to right, as well as gave me some measurements to check in the process. A bit of a PITA, but so be it. After our conversation, I agree with him, that it actually doesn't sound like the suspension, because the sag shows the same front and rear. I welcome any other suggestions in the meantime, because I don't have a clue what it could be.

Is it possible to change my post title? As it may very well not be the suspension and I'd rather not have it reflect poorly on Dobinson's if it's not.

 

Sounds like you just need to find a good solid woman and keep her on the passenger side at all times, then it should straighten out!!

Got any photos of how it's setup now? Have you added any accessories or constant weight to it since installation?

Yes, you can edit the post title, just edit your first post and it should give you that option. I do it for group buys and sales, etc.

 

Not sure why Mike, but it won't let me edit the title. Sorry about that. As far as pictures, what are you looking for? I'd be happy to take any pictures that would help.

As far as constant weight, I have a Hybrid bumper from BFF and a winch on the front. But that weight is centered. I wouldn't think it would cause a lean. The driver (ahem) is not a small man, but that shouldn't be enough to cause a lean that quickly, should it?

*edit* I also have a soft topper, but that's not very heavy.

 

Hhahaa, no the driver won't make a difference, not unless you've got frame issues perhaps. Not a bad idea to check the body mounts, the gap between the frame mount on the body versus the other side to see if there's something weird there.

Did you add any lean correction spacer up front with your lift?

Not every truck leans the same, and some never lean, it's bizarre. You're right, front bumper weight would be balanced as well as rear topper weight.

Photos of how the struts are assembled at the top to see anything that maybe stands out. Make sure the u-bolts are still tight and haven't come loose. It might have hammered the saddle down otherwise.

 

Sure thing, I'll snap some pictures of that tonight. I'm going to be starting to take the coil assemblies out this week.

As far as the body mount, in addition to hub to arch, I've also measured frame to ground, and the inch difference is also present there. I did put a 1/4 spacer in the front driver. I will also check.that body mount gap as well. Thanks.

 

What would this prove? I think you can accomplish the same result with a tape measure. Measure from the ground up to the bolts on each side. Compare side to side.

 

Well, it would prove whether or not the problem is suspension related.

 

Reading a tape is easier than swapping your suspension. If your mounting points on each side are measured up from the ground. That has to tell you something.

 

Yes, it does, but that still doesn't say suspension for sure, I don't think.

From the coil.seat of the strut, to the top strut mount, they both show 11.5, or 12" depending on which part of the coil seat you're at. Important thing is, theyre both the same. Not sure where else to look.

Yes, it's dirty. Hasn't been cleaned from the weekend.

 

Are you sure that this hasn’t always been like this. It’s called the taco lean. It’s because the left side has the gas tank. People put a spacer on the left side to correct for the lean. It’s something these trucks have always had. Some of them anyway.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/educate-me-on-the-taco-lean.286420/

 

No, it's wasn't always like this. I'm aware of taco lean, which is why there's already a spacer on the driver side. Over an inch is a bit extreme.

In addition to the fact that it's not level, I can no longer get a good alignment even though the same shop aligned it perfectly the last time. Something has changed. The fact that the sagging side is difficult to align convinces me further that something just isn't right.

 

Out of curiosity do you happen to have the original stock coils so you could compare the height to each other?
If the stock coils are different lengths. Then your new coils would also need to be. So it would matter which side they went on.

 

I do not. I'm going to do some more measuring tomorrow, and if I don't come to any conclusions, I'll just swap them, it's only a few hours work anyways.

 

That just may fix it. If you have a spacer on the left side now and a short coil, you would have a lean. Flop those coils and that may do it. Providing the coils are different lengths.

 

Dobinson coils are the same length just like ome coils are the same length

 

Ok thanks!

 

That's why when you lift you put the lean spacer on.

 

I was thinking that once you lift and remove the stock coils, you needed to add the spacer cause aftermarket coils do not compensate like stock coils.

My 2015 has no lean.