leaning fiat ducato Forums

swiftnick

i,ve just recently bought a swift bel-air 730. as it sit's outside my house it leans to the nearside. it's built on a fiat ducato on a '02 plate. this is my eighth van and i've not had this problem before. has anyone any ideas why this should happen?

SandJ · Specs DB Admin

I take it your kerb does not sink down on the roadside?

Do you have more weight on that side? (In the storage places)

Have you checked has the spring gone?

Does it have gas suspension?

You will have someone else along soon with more ideas.

Steve

bandaid

clearly you need to have your vehicle on an flat road, no camber. I think the easiest place would be a car park, then, you can get your tape measure out, and measure the tarmac to highest point of each wheelarch, that'll give you both side to side and fore and aft measurements.

You may have to do this twice, once as loaded now, and once empty.

It probably stating the obvious but if you've got a lean when loaded and not when empty, its likely to be the load placement, and if it's still there empty, then at least ou have a base line to start from. As Steve says, it may be a number of separate things, like soggy damper(s), springs, or if applicable, air suspension.

Its not too much help I know, but its not possible to accurately diagnose without actually seeing the vehicle.

And, if you have to take it to a porfessional, then the checking bits done and there may be a cheaper bill.

good luck with the vehicle though.

swiftnick

hi, thanks for that.the van is parked with the back end in line with the kerb, at right angle to it.the fresh water tank is underneath the seating on the offside of the van yet it still leans to the nearside.if you look at both wheel arches there is a difference of at least two inches.the van is built on the alko chassis.

gaspode · Moderator

Sounds as if you have a broken torsion bar to me.

tinkering

Hi if you are diy minded, and have a bottle or trolley jack, at least one axle stand and a grease gun, the jacks and stand must have a lifting capacity of 2 tons PM me I may be able to help

It sounds as though the torsion bar has seized in its bushs , to the rear of the beam axle close to the swinging arm there should be two grease nipples spaced about a 9/11 inches apart.

If as you say you have just bought the MH I would take it back to the dealer

My brother had the same problem with a Elldis that he had bought privately, It took us about two hours to free the torsion bar, best of luck.

Take care Les.