Why Does Your Dodge RAM 1500 Lean To One Side?
A common issue with the Dodge Ram 1500 is that they appear to lean to one side.
Some think the “Dodge lean” is from the battery and gas tank being on the same side.
Others think it only happens when the truck has a critical issue.
Your Dodge Ram 1500 could lean for several reasons, including overinflated tires on one side or even an issue with the suspension. The most likely explanation for the “Dodge lean” is a full tank of gas caused by poor design placement in the truck.
Dodge Ram 1500 Lean: Causes and Fixes
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to pin down exactly what is causing your Dodge Ram to lean. It’s a common issue plaguing Ram trucks, making many people swear it’s a design flaw.
The most popular theory is that Dodge put the gas tank on the wrong side of the truck.
Think of it this way, if you stand or sit on one side of the truck, that side sinks a little. Now consider that a full tank of gas weighs two or three times as much as a person.
If your Ram leans more after filling your tank or if the height differential isn’t too extreme, e.g., ¼ to ⅓ of an inch (0.63-0.85 cm), this could be the culprit.
With the gas tank, battery, and driver’s seat on the same side of the truck, it can become heavy enough to lean slightly towards the driver’s side.
In most cases of a Dodge lean, it will be toward the driver’s side, lending credence to this theory. A quick way to fix the issue is to add a coil spacer to the strut on the driver’s side.
However, it’s also possible your tires are causing some lean issues.
Your tires should all be inflated to the same pressure. If one tire is going flat or one side is inflated less, you can easily develop a bit of a lean.
While not as pronounced as the typical Dodge lean, you should be able to notice your hood isn’t level from inside your truck.
Tire pressure is likely the culprit if you’ve changed the stock tires or swapped the wheels for a different set.
Don’t mix wheels or tires when you change out stock ones. You need all your tires to have the same tread, be the same size, and be inflated to the same pressure.
The more likely problem is a suspension issue.
If any part of your suspension – the truck’s shocks, springs, struts, or chassis – isn’t working properly, it can cause your vehicle to lean.
Rams are notorious for having an asymmetrical chassis. While it does account for the truck not being evenly weighted from left to right, it can still cause other problems like a lean.
If you go off-roading in your truck and notice it leaning when you get home, you’ll want to get the suspension checked out.
Uneven tire wear because of an asymmetrical suspension can lead to a slight lean in a vehicle.
It could be a simple fix if you’ve just popped a spring. Leaf springs are easy to replace and aren’t too expensive.
You could also swap the suspension parts from one side of the truck to the other. Generally, the passenger side is made higher than the driver’s side.
Generally speaking, the best way to fix a Ram lean is to work the suspension. You can flex it out to better accommodate the truck’s weight while also giving it a more balanced appearance.
If you notice your truck develop a lean, you should first have a mechanic check out your entire suspension. They can either fix the issue or give you tips to fix it yourself.
Even if you only have a slight lean, it isn’t safe to continue driving the truck. You will eventually do more damage to your suspension, leading to costly repairs.
You’ll also be constantly correcting your path while you drive. You’ll find the truck pulls in the direction of the lean, causing you to drift out of your lane. The worse the lean gets, the worse the truck will pull.
If you have a slight lean on a stock truck, don’t lose too much sleep over it. Have the suspension checked to verify it’s in good condition, but know it’s a normal issue with most vehicles (not just Dodge Rams).
Can Ride Height Affect Truck Leaning?
It’s no secret that Ram 1500s sit a bit higher than other trucks and that many drivers add lift kits to extend the suspension and raise the truck more.
It’s entirely possible that adding a lift kit will affect the way the truck leans or even cause a lean.
To avoid this problem, you’ll need to ensure the truck is lifted evenly. That’s not too hard to do, but there are a lot of places to check.
Your entire suspension needs to be reworked for a lift kit to be effective. You might develop a lean if the kit isn’t properly installed or some part of the suspension was damaged during installation.
The good news is that adding a lift kit to a Ram 1500 is the perfect time to fix asymmetrical suspension issues. You can adjust the lift kit to account for uneven parts allowing you to improve whatever lean you had previously while also bumping up the truck’s ride height.
Conclusion
While many people believe that a Ram 1500 leans because of a design flaw with gas tank placement, usually, suspension issues are the most likely cause.
The Dodge Ram is notorious for this kind of lean, but you can usually get it fixed quickly and easily.
If your Ram starts to lean, it’s best to take it to a mechanic sooner rather than later to avoid further damaging the truck’s suspension.
