73 Cj5 Leaning To One Side?

My CJ has a lean - driver’s side - seems to be pretty significant. Not super knowledgeable about jeeps but as a new owner happy to learn. Any ideas???

 

They all do this and we don't know why. Some are worse than others. Its a a great jeep mystery!

 

Wait, what??? Are you serious?? Haha that’s awesome if that’s a thing. Gonna read up on it.

Is there a way to fix it for us OCD Jeep peeps?

Would “fixing” it cause other things to be problematic? Like when your spine gets out of alignment?

 

This has been a factor on the early CJ’s since the beginning. It’s just one of their endearing qualities.
When you factor in the engine being located more to the drivers side, the gas tank located under the drivers seat, and the driver’s weight all on the same side with only 1.75” wide springs it’s easy to understand.
The factory tried to address it once upon a time by putting a spacer between the spring and axle to drop the right side to be more level with the left but apparently it didn’t catch on. Even the Intermediates with their centered rear fuel tanks still had the lean.
Once they changed to wider springs in 76 the droop was pretty much alleviated.
For me, I developed the habit of pushing the roll bar toward the passenger side everyime I get out to level the springs back up so I don’t have to notice the lean.

FWIW,
Mike

 

Search for "Jeep lean" - you will find lots of discussion. site:earlycj5.com Jeep lean - Bing

Yes, they lean. Seems to be a characteristic of leaf-sprung live axle vehicles.

 

Cruiser lean is also a thing, it's not just us!

 

I guess, changing it to a right hand drive, to level out, would be a cool build...be sure to take lots of pictures!

 

Sway bar...only sollutions....

 

would a sway bar correct some of the lean?

 

I always thought that the factory
missed the boat when they named the sway bar; they should’ve named them
“flex inhibitors”

FWIW,
Mike

 

it will certainly help keeping it strait.

 

Could also be a twisted frame. My frame was three inches lower on drivers side, much like your picture. Previous owner wheeled it hard and somehow still twisted a fully boxed frame. I can't recall what year jeep started boxing the frames but I'm pretty sure your 73 is open.

 

Any way to fix a twisted frame???

 

It was fun seeing my bare frame sitting on concrete, it was like a chair with one leg too short. I got it straightened out for the rebuild, and here it is leaning again...

I think it just wants to be parked in the dirt

 

Mine was twisted too, so I made a new one. Still has begun a slight jeep lean.

 

As long as it doesn't 'hurt' the jeep - I'm fine with the character of it.

 

Anything more than 3/4” of an inch lean, I would also check the body mounts, springs, and the shackles. I had a frozen shackle on the passenger side that was causing a lean on the drivers side.

 

Would you believe that right hand drive models in Australia also lean.
But to the opposite side that you guys do.

I have a theory that it is partially the drivers weight being a constant factor and road camber might come into it as well.

 

just call it Ilene