My L200 Isn't Level, Is It The Torsion bars?

[BT]

Hello Retro Rides.

EDIT, please scroll down, problem appears to be solved, hopefully permanently.


This is my third, yes, that's right! Third attempt at this, annoyingly once I've completed the thread, hopefully this is a success.

Last Friday I bought a new crew cab pick up, a 2000 model L200 Crew Cab to be precise. I am chuffed with the truck but have a few issues that need sorting, hopefully nothing major.

A buddy at work pointed out the truck doesn't sit level and annoyingly he is right! My truck is on a mega slant and it is annoying me beyond belief. I have been in and out with my tape measure more times than I care to count, I am hoping someone can help.

Here are my measurments from the top of the wheel rim, to the bottom of the wheel arch.

N/S/F - 275mm
O/S/F - 315mm
N/S/R - 420mm
O/S/R - 415mm

Now the difference between the front and rear seems to possibly be the tyres? I could be wrong but my tyre details are as follows.

N/S/F - 225/70
O/S/F - 225/70
N/S/R - 30x9.5
O/S/R - 235/75

There is an obvious slant to the front of the truck, I think this may be due to the tyre sizes as you can see from this photo. I have located a set of 4 matching 31x10.5 tyres, would these be suitable



My concern though is this. N/S/F - 275mm O/S/F - 315mm. A 40mm slant on the front is huge! What could this be? Have a photo.



My initial thought was a sagged torsion bar, but for one to sag 40mm seems almost impossible. I wondered if it was possible that some one had played around with the suspension before and not put it back to standard correctly. After having a look at the torsion adjusters this seems not to be the case, everything was all gunked up and very firm so this doesn't seem to be the case.

Before I go at my truck adjusting things can anyone suggest anything else or possibly confirm if I am on the right tracks?

Any help or suggestions would be wonderful!

[colnerov]

Hi, Firstly you are measuring correctly by going from the rim to the arch this takes out variations from tyres pressures and wear. However the mis-match of tyres on the rear could be confusing the issue, by tipping the vehicle one way. The rear is a lot harder sprung than the front so it won't 'absorb' the difference and is transmitting it to the front, if you understand me? Either measure the height of the rear rims to the ground and see if there is a difference. Or axle stand the rear axle the same height both sides on level ground. Another way to tell if the problem is front or rear is to jack one end in the middle and see if it still leans, if it does then that indicates that the problem is at the end that is still on the ground.

Colin

[Darkspeed]

Best advice I can give is to join the L200 owners club forum

www.l200.org.uk/community/index.php

Wife has 2003 L200 - the club is a great resource and well worth the admission fee.

ETA - Just wind up the low side on the adjuster - And they always have a bit of front rear rake.

[BT]

Thank you both very much for your help.

I have located a new set of wheels and tyres for the truck, I am surprised at how expensive mud tyres are for these things!! They're more expensive than my road legal semi slicks for my track car.

To level the front out with the rear I am going to have to adjust the drivers side by 55mm and the passengers side by 95mm which seems a lot but I may just adjust the incorrect side by 40mm, fit some marching size wheels and see how it looks.

I will register over on the L200 forum at some stage as o do have a few questions.

I am a little unsure on how to adjust the torsion bar correctly, but I'll give it a go and see what happens. Que a lot of torsion bar questions tonight.

[Iain]

I don't know much about 4x4s, but I would only be interested in leveling out across each axle and not front to back.

[usedabused]

Stop complicating the situation by comparing front to back,

In my experience when a car is listing its had a huge clout bottoming out that corner, Try swapping front springs and when its apart compare control arms etc for damage, it is an off road vehicle after all....

[BT]

Thanks for the replies once again chaps.

Re-reading my posts it does seem like I am quite consumed by the front to back difference, honestly I'm not that fussed, I am more concerned by the lean.

As long as visually the truck looks like it's not had one too many I will be happy. I have freed up the torsion bars and I will get under there tomorrow to attempt to level the front up and go from there. Torsion bars aren't exactly expensive from what I've seen, so may just wack a new set in anyway.

Thanks for the help.

[gettingold]

my first thought would have been accident damage making it lean as well also its all black apart from the front bumper which makes me think its a replacement.

[BT]

Thanks for the reply.

Whole front corner is straight and it is the original front bumper, the previous owner painted the lot with garage paint for some odd reason. All brackets beneath are straight, had that wing off and everything in there seems to be exactly as it should with no signs of accident damage or even a hard life.

The truck drives straight, drives very well in fact. Everything under the truck seems as it should be as well.

I will adjust the torsion bar for now and replace at the first opportunity.

[chinno204]

It looks very high on the rear? Maybe it's had an O/S/R spring replaced that hasn't settled yet or maybe a heavier duty on one side & not on the other? Rear springs are quite a common fault.

[BT]

Hello chaps.

I had a bit of a go with the spanner have have adjusted the torsion bars, well torsion bar on just the passengers side.

For now all appears to be sitting a lot better than before and far more level. I read on the delcia forum that they can settle around -10mm. So I wound the bar up an extra 10mm.

What could have caused the torsion bar to sag in such a way? Could repeatedly bumping up curbs cause a sag over years? A little too quick into a speed bump or pot hole?

I really am hoping that my fix is a permanent fix and not just a temporary job.

[customsinc]

Rear springs are common to replace. If only ones been done that'll mess it up. Also, some front suspension work neccesitates front torsion bars to be backed off, which then means readjusted upon reassembly. Has it had any recent suspension work?

[BT]

Yes, the rear offside had a new damper fitted, I am under the impression there was some trouble with the fitting. Could this be responsible for the lean?

Unfortunately this was all done in the previous owners possession so I am unsure if any further work was carried out. A knocking has developed in the N/S/F somewhere, I think this could also be a contributing factor that requires further attention.

[vanpeebles]

Snapped spring?