You can easily see that the van sits higher on the driver side rear than the passenger side rear. Measuring from top outer most edge of the wheel well on both sides shows:

2.5" of clearance on passenger side rear
3.5" of clearance on passenger side rear

Conversely:
2.5" of clearance on passenger side front
2.5" of clearance on passenger side front

I think the back has always sat higher than the front to take load better when its loaded up in the back...... but.... the question is which of the rear sides is wrong... the lower or the higher one.

These are new shocks on old springs..... but could it be something else? What else would cause such a big difference in height back there?

Anyone willing to measure their clearances as I have too .... would be great. Also, I have the 215/70R15 tires with aluminum cast wheels. People with the 205's are going to have a different measurement and different wheels.

Coincidentally I noticed this after loading the van with 7 people and a full load of luggage on 2 trips to/from New Orleans where the streets/roads are just horrible. I feathered it through most bad spots as I could, but some of the dips and bumps did get me.

I would think that new coils would help you out. They will start to sag over time. Just look at any older rear wheel drive vehicle with coils. The bumpers are scraping the road unless they have been replaced.

So, the front of the truck is perfectly level, but the back sags on one side.

This combination would simply not happen it it were just weak/broken springs. A spring problem, even on just one rear wheel would affect the front height as well.

The only explanation I can think of is that either the frame/chassis is bent or, (more likely) the rear axle is bent.

7 people plus luggage could easily be 2000 lbs of cargo, which may be over the max weight that the van was designed for.
I can see that the van could bend something under sudden impacts with that amount of weight.

You could take the van to an alignment shop, where they could take some more accurate measurements (wheels and frame) and confirm the situation.

Well, there have been no accidents/wrecks. I find it hard to believe that people/cargo in the van would bend the frame or axle. IF the axle were bent the van would ride awful (vibrating like mad I'd expect) whereas the ride is smooth except for some moderate pull to the right. This is making me suspect the passenger rear hub, or bearing or whatever... I just was wondering what ya'll all thought.

Front is level. I think the driver rear is correct to sit 1" higher than the front. It makes sense to me that if somewhere were wrong with the suspension that it'd be sitting lower instead of higher especially since there has been no work done on it at all since new shocks over 2 years ago. This "slanting" to the right is new.

I'm gonna go check tire pressures. I don't think this is it cause this has been done in the past 3 months, but maybe I caught a nail in New Orleans. We'll see.

Any other suggestions?

As far as new coils. I think I want something more beefy, but same ride height of course. Are there coil upgrades for the Windstar for towing? Only entertaining this though if I have to replace a coil.

I just can't believe I'm even having to discuss this with all else that I'm going through with this van.

Funny.

Today, without the van having moved at all, the Driver Rear clearance measures 3.25" approximately..... and the Passenger Rear measures 2.75" now.

Overnight apparently the Passenger Rear rebounded up about .25", which I think account for the Driver Rear going down about the same amount.

So I guess this sounds like coils huh?

I have the standard springs and Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks on the rear.
I don't have anything to offer on the difference in ride height, other than to have it checked out at a alignment shop.

I just replaced the rear shocks again this spring.
To beef the rear up......you could get Monroe Sensa-Track Load Adjusting shock absorbers.
A set of 2 for the 1995 windstar is $93.79 plus shipping through RockAuto.

On of our forum members pulls a pop-up camper and has installed these (don't know what brand he used)
http://www.jegs.com/i/Air-Lift/022/60799/10002/-1#

This part is listed for the 1995-2003 Windstar
$79.99
Take note that none of this increases the rated load capacity of the vehicle.....but help it to handle better under the increased load WITHIN THE RATED LOAD SPECIFICATIONS
They sell fancy controller units....but they are not needed at all.
The member posted links to some great pictures.......did not use any controller.....a bicycle pump is all that is needed to inflate the bags.....and not much pressure is needed at all.

Installation of the bag.......While un-inflated....it slips between the coils of the rear coil springs......and sits inside the coil spring.......
They have complete installation instructions on the website.

I do not have any personal experience with these.....but the member reported that he was very happy with them.

Hello-

I agree that the bent frame / bent axle theories seem pretty far fetched. I suspect you are correct in thinking the coils are the problem. Try this test.

Place the vehicle on the flatest garage floor or parking lot area you have available. Make sure the tire pressures are correct. Using a floor jack under the frame - raise the lower side until both sides are of equal height. Then pick some reference points (before and behind the axle) and measure the distance from the unibody to the floor at preceisely the same place on each side of the vehicle. Do the same test on the axle as well. If each reference point measures say within +/- .100" on both sides then I think it's most likely the coils are your culprit. If you had a bent frame/axle - these numbers would be significantly different given the difference in ride height your seeing.

Good Luck-
Glenn

Good idea Glen. I'll keep it in mind for later, when the engine actually starts running right. I'm hoping once thats resolved I can have the van painted and take care of lil things like these too.

I'm just happy its not a wheel bearing or something. I guess if it were, like in the case of the frame or axle, I'd be experiencing some abnormal road handling/suspension performance issues.