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| | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 | I walked out of the shop this morning and noticed that the right rear wheel was further forward in the fender than the left rear.
When I measured, center of hubcap to center of hubcap, a rough measurement at best, I get nearly 5" difference!
When I got underneath the truck I could clearly see that the right side of the axle was indeed forward in compared to the bump stop attached to the frame.
How does that happen?!!!
I'm going to drop the axle this afternoon and take a look.
WOW!
Jeremy | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Either the spring center bolt head is sheared off, u-bolts loose and or axle just installed wrong/not in the right place on the spring.
Or a simple mix-up that may not have been noticed at assembly is the springs are not the same end for end. The "center bolt" in the springs is not actually in the center, it's more to one end. With that understood one spring could be installed in the hangers the wrong way, doubling that offset and making the axle really crooked as you describe.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | If it has leaf springs the U-bolts were loose & it sheared the center bolts & the whole thing shifted.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 | Its the damndest thing, I usually park the truck so the passenger side is up against the building in the shade. But I had to just run in this morning and when I came out I saw the difference.
I'll measure it and see if the springs are in the same direction. I'd believe that, considering the rest of the work done on this thing in the past.
is the center bolt a special beast?
I'm off to drop the axle and poke around...
back soon.
thanks for the help!
Jeremy
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 | Turns out the center bolt sheared.
once I align the leaves up I should be able to get a new bolt in place.
Thanks for the help.
Jeremy | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | Yes. Line up the leaves & drive out any old pieces of the old bolt. Center bolts are readily available. They come in several diameters but 3/8 is the most common & is probably what you have. They come in long lengths & you cut it down to size to fit yours. Clean out the hole in the axle so the head of the bolt will go in far enough.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | If I recall NAPA can get them form the Dorman catalog, and I'm sure any spring shop has them in stock.
When you put it in don't expect the center bolt alone to draw all the leaves tight, use a couple C clamps in addition as you snug it up, then trim to length.
Grigg | | |
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