Leaning Truck Survey

[Doug]

I am curious how many of us with D250s have the same leaning truck problem that Big Don described in his post from 10-20-1999?
Thanks.
Doug

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91. 5 D250 5 speed, 16cm2 housing, gauges (EGT, boost, tach), BD exhaust brake (w/ 60lb springs)

 

[DJP]

Count me in. I replaced the front coil springs and shocks two years ago and that helped a little, but now the nose is sagging again and I'm back to the Leaning Truck of Dodge. On an earlier post, I read Big Don managed to get 'Ol Blue to sit up straight by taking her to a frame straightener at a body shop.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, Banks Intercooler, 'Ol Blue Specials, K&N, Full Boar Muffler, 3" exhaust, Diesel Dynamics Stage 1 kit, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K miles.

 

[andyr]

mine too

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'93 D250 CC Tweaked pump and nozzles; nv4500 5spd straight exhaust grover air horm

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'leaning'. My front end does sag and the springs are now pretty well flat. I don't have coils and didn't think the 1st Gens did. In any case mine is a bit nose down which I attributed to the pipe bumper/winch weight added to engine weight.

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93. 5 D250 4X4,HD Spring Pkg, Rancho 7000's, Rear Swaybar,Dual Shock Front Stabilizer,BD Injectors,31/2" Mandrel bent exhaust,16cm 'Hot End',Modest Pump Tweaks/Timed,K&N Air,Isspro Pyro,Tach,transmission Temp,Auto Meter Oil Filled Boost Ga. , 3:54's, 4 Speed Auto, Clubcab, Aftermarket Reclining Buckets w/ctr Drop Down seat/console, Black over Silver, 21psi,285-65R-16's,American Racing Clear Coat Mags, Amsoil 15W-40HD Marine,12,000 lb. Warn Winch,KC Spots. 101,300 Kms (63,000 mi's).

 

[DJP]

BushWakr,
The D-series are 2 wheel drive and have coil springs up front. If your truck is a 4X4, then you have a W-series which has leaf springs on all four corners. I don't believe the W-series Dodges have a problem with the trucks leaning, at least not as bad as the D-series do.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, Banks Intercooler, 'Ol Blue Specials, K&N, Full Boar Muffler, 3" exhaust, Diesel Dynamics Stage 1 kit, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K miles.

 

[Lil' Dog]

Yup, it leans, but I haven't taken the time to go and see if a frame adjustment is warranted.

J-eh

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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 LSD Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs.
237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs. Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

Lil' Mack Pics/March 2001

 

[Doug]

Took the truck into a body shop yesterday for a "look see". Fellow told me probably a couple of hours on the rig to determine if and how much out of kilter it is-he suggested finding a level concrete pad and measuring to certain points of reference on the frame. I did that and there is about a half inch of difference. The odd thing is: the body panels all line up pretty much even, which led the bodyman to wonder if it was suspension related #ad

Doug

 

[unclebilly]

I'm pretty sure there is a TSB for this... get your dealerto check it out for you.

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91. 5 CTD 4X4, 5" Stacks, Tweaked Pump, 33" Boots (in the summer), Unlimited Slip,
Big, Bad Dodge

 

[Big Don]

There was a TSB or something on this where you buy a 1 - 1 1/2 inch thick rubber pad and put ontop of the coil spring. This is supposed to level it up some. I tried this and it only collapsed my spring more. Like I said before, I took it to two body shops. The first one I went to, the guy was a real jerk and told me "Yeah, we'll do something to it... " When I quizzed him he started talking about trade secrets and how I couldn't watch and all that buncha crap. I told him I would not pay for magic and that musta really ****** him off, so to avoid a fist fight i left. The next shop, the guy was very helpful and educated me on all the working of the frame straightener and told me there are no trade secrets. He even offered to let me watch. The just chained her down and gently "tweaked the frame a little to get her to set level (across the front). My truck has always had a "rake" to it since the day we bought it. I think someone miscalculated the front end weight when specing the springs for the Cummins equipped trucks. Best I can recall the tweaking cost about $150. 00

later
Don


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Ol' Blue "First of the first gens: 1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 155,000, Banks stage III powerpack, 3. 5" straight exhaust, pump adjustments, "'Ol Blue Special" injectors.
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let, 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, VA plug'n power and Practical Solutions boost module. Jacobs E brake. Getting ready to install Banks Power Pack TLC!!
May buy another one in 2009!!
Check us out at:
http://donstractorrepair. homestead.com

 

[walmor]

I have a 91. 5 D350 which was leaning down on the drivers side about 1 inch. I also followed the TSB route through the dealer with the 1 inch rubber spacer and it has been 4 years now and still level. I think that I would try this first before I would let anybody tweak my frame. It only takes about an hour to put it in.
Walt

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91 D350,New style BD Brake,Gear Vendors O/U Drive,Gauges-Pyro,boost,tach,trans,rearend,brake,
Airbag rear,Transfer flow tool/tank, Exh. sys,Rino lined bed, Alcoa Mags,SS runningboards.
16cm.