83 C30 rear axle alignment - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CKluttz · 08-02-2021, 06:26 PM

1983 C30. In the process of lowering the truck, front was lowerd with drop A arms, and rear with new hangers, shackles, and removing the helper leaf spring. Ran into a problem with the rear axle alignment after everything was installed. The driver rear tire is pushed forward 1/4 inch compared to the right rear tire. We have measured it from several different refrence points... The leaf springs were removed 1 at a time, new bushings installed, and the helper spring was removed. Then reinstalled. I have checked to be sure the spring bolt is in the spring pad locating hole... I also used new U bolts. The U bolts are the correct square type that came off the truck. Only diffrence, is the orginal U bolts were flat where they sat in the top plate unlike the new which is round.. Any ideas of why the left would be shifted forward.. or is there any reason to be worried?

Ziegelsteinfaust · 08-02-2021, 07:41 PM

If everything was fine before. My guess would be your hangers are off.

Did you do a flip on the axle, or is it still under the springs?

A off hand possibility is the locating pin is not seated

CKluttz · 08-02-2021, 09:09 PM

everything bolted up fine. I didnt measure ( like I should have ) anything when i started, just started taking it apart. No on the axle flip. Yes the locating pins are seated.. i've checked that over and over

**mongocanfly** · 08-02-2021, 09:16 PM

Where are you getting your measure from?
Did you measure before you dropped?

CKluttz · 08-02-2021, 09:24 PM

no, i didnt measure,, i should have , just didnt. measured from center hub of frt axle to center of rear,,, from frt of rear tire to the edge of the dually fender, measured from the trans crossmember to the rear axle

**mongocanfly** · 08-03-2021, 12:12 AM

Well,,,that's not a good way to measure it...the front end alignment, or lack of, could make that much difference ...you need to find a central point to measure from, if your really concerned with it..and do triangulation measuring..
Transmission crossmember could also be off some
Unless its causing a issue , i wouldnt sweat it..

CKluttz · 08-03-2021, 02:58 AM

i wont get a chance to work on it again till thursday and that may be what i do.. not worry about it unless its causes a problem

sweetk30 · 08-03-2021, 06:57 AM

Once on a alignment machine they can check axle alignments and let you know if out and if it will effect the driving . But as said if no alignment yet then measuring off front hubs it can be off .

ky-donzi · 08-09-2021, 11:11 PM

Some axles have spring perches that are cast and some are stamped steel. The cast ones I’ve seen have hollow voids in them that could allow you to get the axle off a little if the tie bolt that ties the springs together were to not be in the hole and in the void....maybe??

ky-donzi · 08-09-2021, 11:17 PM

See pic

sweetk30 · 08-10-2021, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ky-donzi

Some axles have spring perches that are cast and some are stamped steel. The cast ones I’ve seen have hollow voids in them that could allow you to get the axle off a little if the tie bolt that ties the springs together were to not be in the hole and in the void....maybe??

x2 on this . . . and even egg out and cause miss alignment .

v30crewcab · 08-10-2021, 01:08 PM

are the alignment pins going thru the springs straight up and down? I've seen those shift and have the bottom pin back or forward on one side.

08-02-2021, 06:26 PM	#1
CKluttz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Salisbury NC Posts: 4	83 C30 rear axle alignment 1983 C30. In the process of lowering the truck, front was lowerd with drop A arms, and rear with new hangers, shackles, and removing the helper leaf spring. Ran into a problem with the rear axle alignment after everything was installed. The driver rear tire is pushed forward 1/4 inch compared to the right rear tire. We have measured it from several different refrence points... The leaf springs were removed 1 at a time, new bushings installed, and the helper spring was removed. Then reinstalled. I have checked to be sure the spring bolt is in the spring pad locating hole... I also used new U bolts. The U bolts are the correct square type that came off the truck. Only diffrence, is the orginal U bolts were flat where they sat in the top plate unlike the new which is round.. Any ideas of why the left would be shifted forward.. or is there any reason to be worried?

08-02-2021, 07:41 PM	#2
Ziegelsteinfaust Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Temple City Posts: 3,628	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment If everything was fine before. My guess would be your hangers are off. Did you do a flip on the axle, or is it still under the springs? A off hand possibility is the locating pin is not seated

08-02-2021, 09:09 PM	#3
CKluttz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Salisbury NC Posts: 4	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment everything bolted up fine. I didnt measure ( like I should have ) anything when i started, just started taking it apart. No on the axle flip. Yes the locating pins are seated.. i've checked that over and over

08-02-2021, 09:16 PM	#4
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment Where are you getting your measure from? Did you measure before you dropped? __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

08-02-2021, 09:24 PM	#5
CKluttz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Salisbury NC Posts: 4	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment no, i didnt measure,, i should have , just didnt. measured from center hub of frt axle to center of rear,,, from frt of rear tire to the edge of the dually fender, measured from the trans crossmember to the rear axle

08-03-2021, 12:12 AM	#6
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment Well,,,that's not a good way to measure it...the front end alignment, or lack of, could make that much difference ...you need to find a central point to measure from, if your really concerned with it..and do triangulation measuring.. Transmission crossmember could also be off some Unless its causing a issue , i wouldnt sweat it.. __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

08-03-2021, 02:58 AM	#7
CKluttz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Salisbury NC Posts: 4	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment i wont get a chance to work on it again till thursday and that may be what i do.. not worry about it unless its causes a problem

08-03-2021, 06:57 AM	#8
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment Once on a alignment machine they can check axle alignments and let you know if out and if it will effect the driving . But as said if no alignment yet then measuring off front hubs it can be off . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

08-09-2021, 11:11 PM	#9
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment Some axles have spring perches that are cast and some are stamped steel. The cast ones I’ve seen have hollow voids in them that could allow you to get the axle off a little if the tie bolt that ties the springs together were to not be in the hole and in the void....maybe?? __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi

08-09-2021, 11:17 PM	#10
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment See pic Attached Images __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi

08-10-2021, 01:08 PM	#12
v30crewcab Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chatt Tn Posts: 980	Re: 83 C30 rear axle alignment are the alignment pins going thru the springs straight up and down? I've seen those shift and have the bottom pin back or forward on one side. __________________ 88 military v30 crewcab shortbed 5.9 cummins, nv4500, 205 86 k30, 89 diesel burb, 76 gmc pathfinder 71 longbed 5.3 4l80 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522535



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.