Can rotten body cause "Jimny Lean"?

Hi Folks,

My "Jimny lean" is getting on my nerves... I've fitted Trailmaster 2" lift kit last Summer. With the new lift kit there was approximately 1" lean at the front off side (without any spacer). Then I fitted a 38mm spacer at front off side and a 15mm one at the rear off side to cure the lean. With both spacers installed it still had 10mm lean. Then a couple of weeks ago I swapped the front springs (they were the same lenght anyway) but no joy...so I'm nearly at a point to give up....
I was thinking how to eliminate the residual lean.
a.) upgrade the current 15mm spacer to 38mm one
b.) check the body panel condition around body mounts and see if it's deformed.

Do you think rusty body panel (behind plastic wheel arches) can contribute leaning? (hidden deformation?)

Bingo! I just found this post which has good photos for the rotten area.
www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum/11-for-...t-provisionally-sold
Possibly my Jimny is in the same condition behind arches hence I think it can contribute. Opinions?

If you think that one is bad have a look at my current 'project'!

www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum/18-build-thread/63372-ulysses

The one linked is pretty good and salvageable, despite my negative comment (sorry!).

forgot to say, no its unlikley to be the cause, but may contribute to level problems. rotten chassis body arms would also be a problem. check the one under drivers door. the one on ulysses is rotten!

I would have thought the trail master kit is labelled for a reason, even though they are the same length I would think the front compensate for the weight of the engine, so I would swap them back first before carrying on with you quest to sort out the lean.

And I'm sure I have read some where that you should only need one spacer to cure lean hope you get it sorted

My Trailmaster springs were not labelled and I think they are equally strong in pairs (two long at the front and two short at the rear). Are you saying I should remove the 15mm spacer from rear offside spring to see if it helps? If so it does not sound right for me. As I know 38mm spacer should be enough at the front offside but not in my case unfortunately... hence I was thinking to lift at the rear also. I'm getting confused now...

I have had a look and can't find the thread now might be within a thread if you know what I mean but I'm sure it's just one spacer hopefully the clever people will help more

The lean is due to the weight of the steering box over the front right corner, so is diagonal. As standard, the rear left spring is softer than the rear right, and the fronts are a matched pair. With most lift kits they do the opposite- longer spring on front right. I don't think your spacer on the rear right will be helping.

Hi Busta,

Thank you for this information! I was not aware of this factory spring strenght concept.

So with spacers intalled (38mm OS Front & 15mm OS Rear) the current wheel arch measurements are:
OS Front 80cm, OS Rear 80cm, NS Front 81cm and NS Rear 82cm!

Looks like my next step will be removing the 15mm spacer...
Well, at least I cannot complain about the weather!
Thank you again!

BTW more opinions are still welcome!