Axle not centered in car

[stssilverado]

My 68 convertible camaro's axle isn't centered. It's a mono leaf car and I noticed the axle is about 1" off center. Therefore my new wheels/tires rub the lip on the passenger side only. If it were centered, there wiould be no rubbing.

How does this happen and how do I fix it? I already put new poly bushings in the leafs/shackles. Is there an adjustment point/area?

[WILWAXU]

VERY common. My Nova is .5" off to the passengers side.

[stssilverado]

ok, so.....how do you fix it??

[Swain]

ok, so.....how do you fix it??

Easy way is to run different back space on each wheel. Pull the wheel that rubs in. We do it all the time.

[stssilverado]

easy way? that involves buying another custom wheel. i was hoping for an answer like, there's an adjusting point on one of the leaf spring mounts. can it not be fixed?

[dhutton]

I think the "easy" way is to move the spring perches on the rearend. Not sure that is the "right way".

Don

[chicane]

I would say that you need to measure both the body and frame... and see where the discrepancy is first.

Was the differential centered before you did the bushings ?? Do you know if the car has ever been in an accident ??

Looking for the "easy way" doesn't necessarily mean the "correct way" to solve your issue. I would not recommend moving the spring perches... nor would I ever recommend using a different offset for a single wheel... those are just band-aid fixes that do not solve your issue.

[Fluid Power]

moving the spring perches is a perfect way to solve the issue, assuming they were welded in the wrong place, It, huh, happened to this guy, huh, I knew once, yeah something like that.....

Darren

[BBC69Camaro]

I think like Chicane said you gotta figure out what is off about the car first, before you take any corrective action, otherwise the "fix" might cause other problems.

It doesn't take that long to run a couple plum lines and measure a few suspension points to get a pretty clear picture of what is off. I had a similar problem with the rear end in my car being offset to one side about 1/2". I was able to figure out it is more of a body issue than a suspension frame issue by running a few lines and measuring.

[stssilverado]

thank you for the logical responses. i still haven't found the time to check it yet but i will this weekend.

[HWYSTR455]

Actually, the 'correct' way to fix this is to have a new housing done, with unequal length axles. The rears are off center slightly to the pass side so that the shaft has a straight-shot on the pinion yoke, the pinion being to one side of the ring gear. This is more 'defined' when using a 9", fyi. The reason this is done by GM is so that the axles are the same length, less parts to manufacture.

Some correct this by making the rear overall shorter, and using a spacer on the drivers side. Others just live with it the way it is.


.

[Jmartorana]

Actually, the 'correct' way to fix this is to have a new housing done, with unequal length axles. The rears are off center slightly to the pass side so that the shaft has a straight-shot on the pinion yoke, the pinion being to one side of the ring gear. This is more 'defined' when using a 9", fyi. The reason this is done by GM is so that the axles are the same length, less parts to manufacture.

Some correct this by making the rear overall shorter, and using a spacer on the drivers side. Others just live with it the way it is.


.

:thmbsdwn: I have never heard of anyone doing this. Especially without finding out why it's off although it is common to find 1/2" difference. It is usually fixed by making a few minor adjustments but nothing as extreme as have a new axle housing made.

[HWYSTR455]

Ah, but you've never heard of anyone doing this because most just live with it! Or don't notice it! It's 'off', because that's the way GM made them, period. It's not because it was hit, not because the housing is damaged or some kind of defect, it's because that's the way it was designed.

Ask people who are squeezing the most tire under their' cars, what their' measurements are coming out as, and you'll see, EVERYONE has this issue with less room on the pass side. Or for that matter, look at factory collision repair specs, and it will show you it's off to one side.

Why do you think, as you stated, it's 'common' to find it 1/2" different? Because they are all like that. What kinds of minor adjustments have you heard of?


.

[Jmartorana]

I've lossened things up and moved them around to get it closer. Front leaf brackets and leaf spring perches by trimming the spring isolators. I can usually get everything within an 1/8" on something out as far as 1/2"

I stuffed 275/40r18's on 9" rims into a stock Nova wheelwell and have 3/8" on each side inner and outer without rolling the inner lip.

It can be done. I just think it would be a little extreme to start cutting axle tubes and axels for a 1/4-1/2 inch on an otherwise daily driver.

[HWYSTR455]

I see what you're saying, yeah, sure, you can shuffle it a little, but you start messin' with driveline alignment, and in your case, I bet you get some vibration. Yes, it's extreme to cut a rear to get it centered, but I'll stick to it, it's the 'correct' way to do it (to ensure proper driveline alignment). Like I said, to avoid the extreme, use less tire and live with it.

[Fluid Power]

Ah, but you've never heard of anyone doing this because most just live with it! Or don't notice it! It's 'off', because that's the way GM made them, period. It's not because it was hit, not because the housing is damaged or some kind of defect, it's because that's the way it was designed.

Ask people who are squeezing the most tire under their' cars, what their' measurements are coming out as, and you'll see, EVERYONE has this issue with less room on the pass side. Or for that matter, look at factory collision repair specs, and it will show you it's off to one side.

Why do you think, as you stated, it's 'common' to find it 1/2" different? Because they are all like that. What kinds of minor adjustments have you heard of?


.

I agree 100%, I took a ton of measurements after the perches were welded (I did do sloppy work the first time around) and realized the tubes are not equal. I just did the best I could to split the difference and lived with it. No one has ever noticed it and I have plenty of critics as friends that would have hammered me for it.

Darren