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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: treepete on April 05, 2010, 03:22:40 pm

Title: aligning the bed
Post by: treepete on April 05, 2010, 03:22:40 pm
hi. happy spring.

I took my truck out of the storage shed and noticed that my bed is crooked.. when staring at it from the rear of the truck, i can see that the drivers side of the bed is about 1 inch higher then the passenger side. I can see it in reference to the rear window molding.
is there a way to correct this?

thanks in advance for your consideration,

Pete
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: Blazin on April 05, 2010, 06:05:40 pm
First thing I would check is the bed support rails. If they get rusty the bed will drop down until the floor hits the frame. If not that I would check the rear cab mounts, or the cab mount floor structure for rust.
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: 327power on April 05, 2010, 06:54:14 pm
My truck looks crooked too... mine is about 1" higher on the passenger side though. Maybe the weight of the gas tank is weighing down the driver's side? I have all new springs all around too. looks good when viewing from the front, but when looking at the rear, VERY CROOKED! Very annoying too.
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: treepete on April 09, 2010, 11:39:38 am
ok well, there is no rust on the truck ..

can i shim it somehow at the mounting area?
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: jaredts on April 09, 2010, 12:02:42 pm
You say that the bed is about one inch higher on the driver's side than on the passenger side in reference to the rear window.  I am guessing that the driver's side of your cab has sagged 1" (just a guess).  Did you check everything that Blazin recommended?  The underside of the cab needs inspected closely.  Do you know what to look for as far as the critical components that typically give out on the cab?
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: Blazin on April 09, 2010, 11:35:59 pm
It might be the cab mount on the frame. I have seen the cab bushing fall through the hole when it gets rusted.
Title: Re: aligning the bed
Post by: MarkS on April 20, 2010, 06:31:17 pm
Mine is the same except for it's higher on the passenger side. No rust, wrecks. After some investigation. I found my cab wasn't level. Not sure if it is sagging or poor assembly (I think mine was built on Friday.. LOL.

At any rate, I measured the difference between the cab (again asssuming your cab is rust and damage free) and the frame and found the exact difference in my bed height. This resolved another issue that I have with the passenger fender sitting too low on the radiator support.

As another, more experienced fellow board member noted, always start with the cab first then work your way back and forward for correct alignment. With a little work and a good cab and frame, you can get it perfect... for those of us that have a compulsive disorder :)