Pick-Up Box - Leans To One Side
83ford10Article No. 83-16-17
PICK-UP BOX LEAN - F SERIES STYLESIDE
LIGHT TRUCKS 1980 AND LATER F SERIES
The following procedure may be used to eliminate pickup box lean.
1. Place the vehicle on a flat, smooth surface. Vehicle should be inspected for any heavy add-ons that may cause excessive weight on any corner of the vehicle. Vehicle should be empty, fuel tanks should be full, no cargo in the pick-up box, such as tools, equipment or debris. Vehicle must be setting on the wheels and tires and not on a hoist, jack, or jack stands.
2. Check all wheels and tires:
^ Wheels must be same size and design, right and left side on each axle.
^ Tires must be same brand, tire size, tread design, and equal tread wear side-to-side on each axle.
^ Wheel size, and design; tire size, and tire design should be as indicated on the Vehicle Certification Label. Usage of larger size, off-road, wide tread wheels and/or tires are not approved.
^ Check tire pressures of all tires; inflate to specifications indicated on the Vehicle Certification Label.
FIGURE 20:
3. Lay a straight edge (at least 6-1/2" long) across the rear edge of the pickup box and have an assistant hold the straight edge (Figure 20).
4. Standing 6-8 ft. behind the truck, with your eye level at the top of the pickup box, have your assistant lift whichever side of the straight edge (S/E) is necessary to make it parallel to the back window of the cab.
5. Measure the distance between the bottom of the S/E and the top of the outer panel of the pickup box and shim the low side of the vehicle as follows:
6. If the distance is between 0 and .25" do nothing.
7. If the distance is between .26" and .70" shim the axle according to the following instructions.
8. If the distance is greater than .70" but less than 1.20", shim the pickup box according to the following instructions.
9. If the distance is greater than 1.20", shim both the axle and pickup box according to the following instructions.
10. If, after shimming, the rear bumper is not aligned with the rear of the pickup box, re-align the bumper as follows:
a. Remove the four bolts that attach the bumper to the chassis frame.
b. Ream (to 17 mm) the four holes (2 each side) on the bumper arms through which the chassis frame attaching bolts are installed. This will allow the bumper to be adjusted.
c. Reinstall the bumper to chassis frame attaching bolts and align the bumper to the pickup box.
d. Torque the bumper attaching bolts to 95-140 N-m (70-103 ft.lbs.).
Axle Shimming
1. Raise the vehicle frame until the weight is off the rear springs but with the tires still touching the floor.
2. Loosen the spring U-bolts to allow the axle to separate from the spring.
3. On the low side of the vehicle, position one shim (D7TZ-5742-A) between the spring and the spring tie bolt head through the hole in the shim. On 4x4 vehicles, position the shim between the rear spring and axle spacer. Tape may be used to hold the shim in position.
4. Assure that the spring leaves are properly aligned and the spring U-bolts contact the edges of the spring assembly or axle seat.
5. Tighten the spring U-bolt sufficiently to assure that the spring tie bolt head that extends through the shim enters the hole in the axle seat.
6. Torque U-bolt nuts to F100-F15O, 75-100 ft.lbs., F250-F350, 150-210 ft.lbs.
FIGURE 21:
Pickup Box Shimming
1. Loosen all box attaching bolts and remove the 4 bolts on the low side of the box (Figure 21).
FIGURE 22:
2. Raise the low side of the box and insert the shims (Figure 22) between the top of the frame and bottom of the box cross sills per the following chart.
FIGURE 25:
FIGURE 24:
3. Install the bolts listed below on the side of the box that was shimmed and torque all box bolt nuts to 54-95 N-m (40-70 ft.lbs.).
Locations Shim
#4 Box Bolt (Rearmost) 8 shims
(2.5 O.D. x .75 I.D. x .060)
#5 Sill (next sill forward - it does 1 "L" shim (See Figure 24 for
not have body bolt) dimensions and materials)
Screwed to #5 sill (Figure 25)
#3 Box Bolt (next body bolt forward 5 shims
of the #4 bolt) (2.5 O.D. x .75 I.D. x .060)
#2 Box Bolt (next body bolt forward) 4 shims (same as #4) 8' Box
2 shims (same as #4) 6-1/2' Box
FIGURE 23:
FIGURE 25:
#2 Sill (8' Box only) 1 flat shim (See Figure 23 for
dimensions and materials)
Screwed to #2 sill (Figure 25)
#1 Box Bolt (bolt at front of pickup No shims
box)
4. If pickup box shims are installed, the following box attaching bolts must be used on the side of the box that was shimmed:
#1 Bolt Location - No change use existing bolt (4.25" long, oval shoulder)
#2 Bolt Location - Procure new bolt (4.00" long, square shoulder)
#3 Bolt Location - Use current #2 bolt (3.50" long, square shoulder)
#4 Bolt Location - Same as current # 1 bolt (4.2 5" long, oval shoulder)
NOTE: Bolts should be held down from top of box to prevent the shoulder from popping out of the floor while starting the nut. Torque all bolts to 54-95 N-m (40-70 ft.lbs.).
PART NUMBER PART NAME CLASS
D7TZ-5742-A Axle Shim R
2.5 O.D. x .75 I.D. x .060 Shim - Procure Locally #2 Sill Shim - Fabricate Locally #5 Sill Shim - Fabricate Locally
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: Reimbursable within the provisions of the Warranty and Policy Manual.
OPERATION: M
TIME: "Actual Time" as defined in the Warranty and Policy Manual. DLR. CODING: Basic Part No. BED Code: 36