Wheel Centering

[62 Bowtie]

Can someone tell me why my wheel appears to be off center and how to correct it. I have 5" lowered coils and another 1&1/2 blocks. Is it my trac bar cuz thats still stock and I see adjustable ones for sale not sure hope you guys can help I hope you can tell by the pic its more towards the rear

[tapeworm]

Measure the distance between the wheel well lip and the tire. If your track bar is too long (which it most likely is with that much drop) it will be pushing the rear end towards one side of the truck.

Maybe not the problem, but def someting to check

[Slow Build]

As Tapeworm mentioned. The trac bar deals with side to side movement not forward and back.

[tapeworm]

Sorry, I have not put blocks in my truck (well, not yet anyways)

This may be tough to tell without taking the truck apart, but is the rearend sitting on the right spot of the control arms? Not sure if the blocks have some sort of locating pin, but maybe the blocks and rearend are sitting too far foward or back on the control arms

Also, not sure if its possible, but if there is enough pressure on the rearend from the panhard bar, could it maybe be "twisting" the rear end?

My truck is dropped much less, about 3-4" (the 6" springs in my sig are not in yet) and already the rearend is pushed about 1-2" to the right side

I plan on buying a Super Track bar kit from Early Classic (65-up.) It will have to be modified where it mounts to the frame, to make it work on my 64.

We'll thats whats planned anyways

[lakeroadster]

Everyone with a lowered truck has experienced this unless they have modified the stock swing arm configuration. It's just the nature of the beast due to the swing arm design.

On a swing arm truck the more you lower the truck the farther back the tire will be. Think about it. The rear end swings on a radius based on the length of the swing arms.

If it really bugs ya you could:
A) shorten the track arms,
B) relocate the upper shock mounts,
C) relocate the upper spring mounts,
D) shorten the driveshaft.

Or, if you are a body working guru, relocate the wheel opening on the fender.

Or you can adopt the philosophy of:

"What therefore General Motors has joined together, let no one put asunder."

[SCOTI]

Actually, the wheel/tire combo moves forward within the wheel well on extreme drops. Thats why some guys reposition the rear axle C/L to keep the wheel/tire centered.

[vin63]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Actually, the wheel/tire combo moves forward within the wheel well on extreme drops. Thats why some guys reposition the rear axle C/L to keep the wheel/tire centered.

X2...this is why I stretched my rear wheel openings 3.5" forward.


In 62 Bowtie's case, it appears to me that it could be a bed mounting issue, since it's not that far off.

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Everyone with a lowered truck has experienced this unless they have modified the stock swing arm configuration. It's just the nature of the beast due to the swing arm design.

On a swing arm truck the more you lower the truck the farther back the tire will be. Think about it. The rear end swings on a radius based on the length of the swing arms.

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Actually, the wheel/tire combo moves forward within the wheel well on extreme drops. Thats why some guys reposition the rear axle C/L to keep the wheel/tire centered.

Actually, IMO, I think both of you are right, just depends on the amount of drop. If, with stock, the trailing arms are angled down, as you lower the truck, the arc will tend to move the CL back, once the trailing arms are past parallel to the ground (SCOTI did say "extreme" drops) the arc would tend to move the wheels forward.

[62 Bowtie]

Tapeworm wrote Also, not sure if its possible, but if there is enough pressure on the rearend from the panhard bar, could it maybe be "twisting" the rear end


This is kinda what I was thinking too. What I have noticed is my panhard bar is horizontal with no angle like it used to be. (a side note) I just installed the blocks and this became more noticeable. Heres another pic

[SCOTI]

The Panhard bar should be parallel to the ground @ ride height for best performance (least amount of side to side movement throughout suspension travel).

To make 100% sure, is the concern the wheels aren't centered fore/aft or L/R?

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The Panhard bar should be parallel to the ground @ ride height for best performance (least amount of side to side movement throughout suspension travel).

To make 100% sure, is the concern the wheels aren't centered fore/aft or L/R?

also, for clarification, if it's fore/aft, is it just one wheel or are they both off-center?

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by fleetsidelarry

Actually, IMO, I think both of you are right, just depends on the amount of drop. If, with stock, the trailing arms are angled down, as you lower the truck, the arc will tend to move the CL back, once the trailing arms are past parallel to the ground (SCOTI did say "extreme" drops) the arc would tend to move the wheels forward.

I agree with Fleetside Larry. However, since the trailing arms mount to the crossmember, which is at frame level, the only way the wheel moves forward, on a truck dropped lower than stock, is if the trailing arms swings above the frame. That is indeed extreme, much more extreme than the drop shown in the photo by 62 Bowtie.

[62 Bowtie]

Well after reading the replys its aft more so on the passenger side

[Slow Build]

So it doesn't go down the road straight.

[SCOTI]

Also, what is the gap dimension between the front bed wall & the back of the cab?

[lakeroadster]

For a quick check to see if the rear axle is straight measure from the rear tire to the front tire on both sides. Should be the same.

If you think it is off because you measured the rear tire to sheet metal, such as the fender opening lip, it may be a sheet metal problem.

The above measurement technique should help identify what is actually out of square, if anything.

And IMHO, the tire placement on your truck looks good, doesn't look that "untypical" too me. Actually the front and rear tire placement in the fender openings seem similar and correct.

Here are a couple other stepsides from my archive that have the wheels biased toward the back.

[StuckinAz]

62 Bow Tie-
What a beautiful truck! I am very intrested in your wheel and tire setup. Can you give me info on who made them, what the call them, sizes, off sets, where to find them, etc. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[62 Bowtie]

Lakeroadster thats it! Thoes pics made me feel a lot better, I kept looking at my truck thinking was it alwas like that? I think its more noticeable when its lowered. These kinda things drive me crazy. Thanks for setteling that, I did order a new adj. trac bar. And no it doesn't drive crooked! My comment about more so on one side was incorrect. All measurements I took are square maybe a 1/4 in. here and there nothin major. StuckinAz pm sent, thanks I guess my wifes right Im too picky

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by 62 Bowtie

Lakeroadster thats it! Those pics made me feel a lot better, I kept looking at my truck thinking was it always like that? I think its more noticeable when its lowered. These kinda things drive me crazy. Thanks for setteling that,

I am glad I could help.... and I too am a card carrying member of the "these kinda things drive me crazy" club.