Rear end not centered
- Thread starter topfuel
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toofastforyou
2FAST4U
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
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- 5,785
axle centering...
''topfuel'', I've never seen a car with the rear axle perfectly centered. They all have a difference from one side to the other, sometimes by large amounts, sometimes not, depending on the car. When the car has its original wheels on, it is not really noticeable because of the large ''gap'' between the tire and the body, but it becomes more apparent when you stuff bigger tires under the car. The ''gap'' is not as large, making it easier to notice when looking at the clearance between the tire and the body. It can be corrected with the help of adjustable upper control arms which can be used to push the rear axle on one side of the other. You do this by lenghtening one arm and shortening the other...I know, I've done that before...
Hope this helps!...'bye!
Claude
''topfuel'', I've never seen a car with the rear axle perfectly centered. They all have a difference from one side to the other, sometimes by large amounts, sometimes not, depending on the car. When the car has its original wheels on, it is not really noticeable because of the large ''gap'' between the tire and the body, but it becomes more apparent when you stuff bigger tires under the car. The ''gap'' is not as large, making it easier to notice when looking at the clearance between the tire and the body. It can be corrected with the help of adjustable upper control arms which can be used to push the rear axle on one side of the other. You do this by lenghtening one arm and shortening the other...I know, I've done that before...
Hope this helps!...'bye!Claude
The FIRST thing to do, before you start to spend big bucks on adjustable control arms which you may not need, is to identify the problem. Is the rear end off center in the FRAME, or in the BODY. If the axle is not centered in the frame, then the suspension is the issue. But, if the axle is centered in the frame, but the body is not on the frame squarely, then you will be using "two wrongs" to fix the problem, if you change the suspension. You will end up with the axle centered in the body (cosmetic) but off center in the frame (functional issue) and the body off center on the frame.
Measure the position of the axle relative to the frame rails, and/or measure from the fender lips to the frame rails. It may be that you have to remove the body mount bolts, and try to shift the body slightly on the frame. Also, check the control arm attachement brackets. Sometimes when control arms get stiffened, the brackets will bend or crack. In that case, just going to adjustable control arms would not be the right solution, either. You would be better off fixing the brackets, first.
Measure the position of the axle relative to the frame rails, and/or measure from the fender lips to the frame rails. It may be that you have to remove the body mount bolts, and try to shift the body slightly on the frame. Also, check the control arm attachement brackets. Sometimes when control arms get stiffened, the brackets will bend or crack. In that case, just going to adjustable control arms would not be the right solution, either. You would be better off fixing the brackets, first.
