Truck leaning

tyler2136 · February 13, 2017

Hi, I just recently had a bds 4 inch supsension lift with fox rear shocks put on my 15 GMC Sierra . I noticed it leaning towards the drivers side from the rear and front. I measured it out from ground to fender and it's about an inch of lean. I've heard of the chevy lean, but my truck didn't lean as much before the lift and it still shouldn't lean an inch even if it was the stock lean. Does anybody know what might cause this or what I can look for to check to make sure the off-road company did everything right?

Sierra706 · February 13, 2017

Did you get the fox coilovers with the lift?

Also take a look at your leaf springs. I noticed one of mine isn't perfectly in line the other day

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15_silverado · February 13, 2017

Try unbolting the sway bar, on the driver's side, where it is clamped to the frame of the truck. (Not the end links, but where the bar itself is bolted to the frame) See if the front comes up as/after you unbolt the sway bar. Take measurements before and after.

Trust me, this is at least worth a try, this was a problem I had on my 2015. When the sway bar was unbolted the driver's side came up one inch.

Now, if this does help fix it, you'll have to either shim that bracket somehow or even reposition it. But one step at a time, fist see if unbolting the sway bar changes anything.

tyler2136 · February 14, 2017

No I just got the standard 4 inch. I will try to measure everythjng under the frame to get a better idea. The off road company said they would go back over everything after 500 miles for a re torque but it seems the y have no idea if they want me to wait until then. So after you unbolted the sway bar it leveled itself out?

tyler2136 · February 14, 2017

And was yours stock when you did this?

15_silverado · February 14, 2017

And was yours stock when you did this?

Yes, my truck was stock,no lift, no level, bone stock.

Yes, when unbolting the sway bar from the frame bracket, the the front of the truck came up almost exactly 1 inch. The frame bracket, where the sway bar connects was either bent or misaligned from the factory, so with the sway bar connected it was sucking down the front of the truck. With the truck on the ground (must have tires on the ground / can't be on jack stands) if you unbolted the sway bar quickly with an impact gun, you could watch the front of the truck jump up.

15_silverado · February 14, 2017

I'm not saying yours is definitely the sway bar, but it's definitely worth a try to a least eliminate that from being the cause. It very simple and only takes a few minutes to unbolt the sway bar to find out. And yes my truck went back to being level with the sway bar unbolted.

Donstar · February 14, 2017

Hi, I just recently had a bds 4 inch supsension lift with fox rear shocks put on my 15 GMC Sierra . I noticed it leaning towards the drivers side from the rear and front. I measured it out from ground to fender and it's about an inch of lean. I've heard of the chevy lean, but my truck didn't lean as much before the lift and it still shouldn't lean an inch even if it was the stock lean. Does anybody know what might cause this or what I can look for to check to make sure the off-road company did everything right?

I remember reading about the "Chevy lean" and out of curiosity I measured my truck. I was surprised to see it leaned 1" to the driver's side. I moved the truck and measured again and it still leaned. I took it to the dealer and measured it several times on the flat shop floor and it was dead level! I discovered my driveway has issues - not my truck! In other words, rule out the simple stuff before you start tearing things apart!

Nasty · February 15, 2017

Chevy lean. My regular cab does this. Luckily I have Mcg adjustable struts. So I can compensate for it

tanner709 · February 15, 2017

What causes this? Weight distribution or is it totally suspension related?

fuel/fuel tank is the first item that comes to mind...

15_silverado · February 15, 2017

Just my opinion, I don't believe the fuel tank theory, my 2015 leaned from day one; it had an empty tank the whole time it sat on the dealer's lot, waiting to be sold; I only had it for six months then got rid of it, with it still leaning.

Now my current 2017 I've had now for 5 months, still doesn't lean, it's almost perfect measured from side to side.

Donstar · February 15, 2017

I don't believe the "Chevy lean" is an incurable ailment and I would get it fixed like any other malfunction. Similar models don't all have this issue which indicates that this is not necessarily a design attribute of these trucks! There is something that needs repair or adjustment if your truck has a permanent lean!