frame sag after C notch - how to correct the problem

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DonYukon

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The frame must be supported properly before making that first cut.
Aftermarket notch or you fabbed?
Aftermarket notches usually don't need to be made stronger.
The Co.'s making them have a rep to protect, along with some liability concerns.
Most pre-fabbed notches are over-built for the requirements.

Pix = 1000 words.

this ^^

To OP : are you sure your measurments were square when you bolted the Cnotch up? it could be that its angled inwards.

Also I dont own a GMT400 Truck variant all mine are SUVs are there any extra bushings that could have been left out of the front of the bed after reinstall??
 

Hipster

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Guys, he used a bolt in c-notch kit. That's the little bit of info he did provide. I don't know about anybody else but not the way I would have done it. Wrong size holes and you got a flexi-flyer and it's known the back half of these frames already flex.
 

someotherguy

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Not properly supporting the frame before cutting into it is usually where this goes wrong, right at the beginning.

I really doubt the bed itself is sagging; too much rigidity in too many places for that. The sagging appearance is almost surely going to be perception from comparing cab to bed body lines and the gap between them, and it'll be because the frame is sagging at the notch.

Thousands upon thousands of bolt-in C notches have been performed with no issues - when done to the letter of the instructions. A bolt-in C notch is not the problem.

As far as correcting it? Tough call as I haven't had to fix one afterwards, but here's a guess at what might work. Pull the bed, take some measurements on top of the frame to see if the rails are straight or not. A nice long straight edge across the notch should show the issue. If the holes were drilled correct size, this is where the battle comes in as you won't have slack for adjustment (and this is actually a good thing, as Hipster mentioned, holes too large that would allow you to adjust are also what would allow it to get out of place and flex.) I would imagine at this point your best bet is to loosen the bolts, remove most of them but leave one snug at each end of the notch to hold the notch brace in place, jack the frame up at different points until you can measure it nice and straight across. Support it with stands and weld the notch into place.

Definitely open to hearing other opinions on what I just suggested, I'm not saying it's "the" fix, it's just a guess at what might work.

Richard
 
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GoToGuy

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Did you lay a " straight edge" on the suspect area? The bed floor inside and or the underside? Or down the frame rails to check level? Did you happen to forget any pads, alignment washers or add , overlook an extra washer ? As we can't see the problem, we can only offer " best guess, or self induced problems". Good luck.
 

Hipster

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Not properly supporting the frame before cutting into it is usually where this goes wrong, right at the beginning.

I really doubt the bed itself is sagging; too much rigidity in too many places for that. The sagging appearance is almost surely going to be perception from comparing cab to bed body lines and the gap between them, and it'll be because the frame is sagging at the notch.

Thousands upon thousands of bolt-in C notches have been performed with no issues - when done to the letter of the instructions. A bolt-in C notch is not the problem.

As far as correcting it? Tough call as I haven't had to fix one afterwards, but here's a guess at what might work. Pull the bed, take some measurements on top of the frame to see if the rails are straight or not. A nice long straight edge across the notch should show the issue. If the holes were drilled correct size, this is where the battle comes in as you won't have slack for adjustment (and this is actually a good thing, as Hipster mentioned, holes too large that would allow you to adjust are also what would allow it to get out of place and flex.) I would imagine at this point your best bet is to loosen the bolts, remove most of them but leave one snug at each end of the notch to hold the notch brace in place, jack the frame up at different points until you can measure it nice and straight across. Support it with stands and weld the notch into place.

Definitely open to hearing other opinions on what I just suggested, I'm not saying it's "the" fix, it's just a guess at what might work.

Richard
I've only seen one set of bolt in c-notches and they weren't what I would call substantial. I don't know who they were made by.

Ditto on welding them in after making sure everything is straight.
 
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