Rear wheels not in center

[mgb]

I've lowered the rear of my 68 stepside 7" and my wheels are to the rear of center. Not a whole lot but definitely noticeable. How do I fix that/

[Mudflat]

Adjustable panhard bar. Center wheels.

[mgb]

I'm good left to right, it's front to back. Looks like my rear end moved back

[RustyPile]

That occurred because the angle of the trailing arms was changed due to the shorter springs..

[mgb]

What's the cure?

[RustyPile]

Several methods will work including shorter trailing arms.. Another method involves using only slightly shorter springs and the remainder of the lowering accomplished with the use of lowering blocks. When drastic lowering is the goal, a combination of all three components might be required.. As with all lowering projects, pay attention to maintaining the correct pinion angle..

[mgb]

Do you buy shorter trailing arms, or shorten the ones you have?

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by mgb

Do you buy shorter trailing arms, or shorten the ones you have?

My '71 isn't lowered drastically.. Two inch dropped spindles, 3 1/2" blocks in the rear and smaller diameter tires on 15" Weld Rodlites.. I wouldn't recommend shortening stock trailing arms.. Custom length arms are available from several vendors..

[hewittca]

How did you lower the rear? On most trucks, when you drop them that much the rear end actually moves noticeably forward in the arch, not back. I don't recall ever seeing shortened aftermarket trailing arms. I've only seen longer arms to compensate for the typical shift forward.

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by hewittca

How did you lower the rear? On most trucks, when you drop them that much the rear end actually moves noticeably forward in the arch, not back. I don't recall ever seeing shortened aftermarket trailing arms. I've only seen longer arms to compensate for the typical shift forward.

The fore/aft movement (relocation) is more noticeable on step sides because of the uniformity of the wheel arch opening. Wide beds not so much. If you lower by using ONLY lowering blocks, the rear will move forward.. Because the trailing arms run "down hill" from the cross member to the rear (stock ride height) the rear will move back when lowering ONLY using shorter springs. Using a combination of blocks and shorter springs results in only slight fore/aft rear movement... Chassis Works will make any length trailing arm you need..

[mgb]

Thanks for the info. It makes sense. I used the CCP 7" drop kit - 5" drop spring, 2" lowering block. I'm thinking I'm going to raise the rear up an inch, just for clearance issues

[mgb]

So, I used a 5" lowering spring and a 2" block and my rearend moved back of center in wheel well. If I use a 2" lowering spring and a 5" block, is it going to move forward of center?