Track width? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tony_SS · 08-14-2009, 07:45 AM

Is it me or is the track width on the rear more narrow than the front? I have the same wheels/tires all around and I swear the rear tires sit in about an inch more than the front.

Turbo85GMC · 08-14-2009, 07:53 AM

It's you.

Just kidding!

It's not you. The track with is different between the front & back on our trucks.

Not sure of the reason why, maybe someone else will know why they made it that way.

**N2TRUX** · 08-14-2009, 08:31 AM

I have always been told it was for better traction in inclimate weather. Maybe Keith Seymore can give an accurate answer.

Tony_SS · 08-14-2009, 08:36 AM

lol.. ok thought I was going crazy there.

I'll take this into account when it comes to a wheel/tire setup next time. I seems like the rear is set in about an inch on each side.. something to consider when choosing backspacing for the rear wheels.

bigblock73 · 08-14-2009, 08:50 AM

Total track with in back is 3" narrower than front. Get some 1.5" spacers and you will be fine.

b454rat · 08-14-2009, 08:57 AM

I've heard better traction in winter, better turning radius, only the brainiacs at GM can answer that.

Get some wheel spacers or get a rear from a van, touch wider than trucks, evens on the width.

Tony_SS · 08-14-2009, 08:59 AM

Thanks Jeff!

LONGHAIR · 08-14-2009, 09:42 AM

I have always heard that it had something to do with traction. Something about the rear tires seeing "new" ground or biting on the edges of the tracks from the front tires, whether it is snow or mud, but this only applies if you drive is a perfectly straight line.....something only an engineer could overlook.

Driveway Dreams · 08-14-2009, 10:45 AM

Ya, it is a silly idea for sure. The worst part of it is the asthetics, like when you look at the truck from dead center behind it and you can see all the tires. Just a little goofy in my opinion.

Keith Seymore · 08-19-2009, 07:08 AM

I did not know the answer to this one, so when I saw one of the "old" chassis guys in the coffee room this morning I asked him....

He wasn't familiar with the rationale behind the old C/K/R/V truck but said with the GMT400 version it was simply a matter of packaging. Trying to cram all of the driveline components into the front end (ie, front axle) caused the track to increase outboard. We could have simply spaced the rear wheels out (or increased the track width on the rear) to match but chose not to, probably in order to use an existing rear axle or to avoid any additional loose parts.

The tradeoff is that we would get complaints of "dogtracking", where it appeared the vehicle was going down the road sideways, when it actually was tracking straight.

It has nothing to do with traction in mud/snow/sand; in fact, some enthusiasts have told us it is actually better for traction in mud/snow if the front and rear wheels have the same track (so that the rear is not cutting it's own rut).

K

chemsearch · 08-19-2009, 10:38 AM

well i guess that explains why the front axle i picked up had to be squeezed between the fenders of my trailer and the rear rolled on just fine. thought i was nuts!

Driveway Dreams · 08-19-2009, 01:16 PM

I had heard about that on the Duramax trucks in the early 2000s. Which is why they put those fender flares on them. It was not for looks, but simply to accommodate the size of that drivetrain. On the new trucks the bodies are wider, but I have not noticed if the rear end is changed on them or not.

Was our body style the first to be offset like this?

08-14-2009, 07:45 AM	#1
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Track width? Is it me or is the track width on the rear more narrow than the front? I have the same wheels/tires all around and I swear the rear tires sit in about an inch more than the front.

08-14-2009, 07:53 AM	#2
Turbo85GMC Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Medford, MA Posts: 307	Re: Track width? It's you. Just kidding! It's not you. The track with is different between the front & back on our trucks. Not sure of the reason why, maybe someone else will know why they made it that way. __________________ '85 GMC 1500 "Friends don't let friends drive stock!"

08-14-2009, 08:31 AM	#3
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Track width? I have always been told it was for better traction in inclimate weather. Maybe Keith Seymore can give an accurate answer. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

08-14-2009, 08:36 AM	#4
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Re: Track width? lol.. ok thought I was going crazy there. I'll take this into account when it comes to a wheel/tire setup next time. I seems like the rear is set in about an inch on each side.. something to consider when choosing backspacing for the rear wheels.

08-14-2009, 08:50 AM	#5
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Track width? Total track with in back is 3" narrower than front. Get some 1.5" spacers and you will be fine. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

08-14-2009, 08:57 AM	#6
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Track width? I've heard better traction in winter, better turning radius, only the brainiacs at GM can answer that. Get some wheel spacers or get a rear from a van, touch wider than trucks, evens on the width. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

08-14-2009, 08:59 AM	#7
Tony_SS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 643	Re: Track width? Thanks Jeff!

08-14-2009, 10:45 AM	#9
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: Track width? Ya, it is a silly idea for sure. The worst part of it is the asthetics, like when you look at the truck from dead center behind it and you can see all the tires. Just a little goofy in my opinion. __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here.

08-19-2009, 07:08 AM	#10
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,226	Re: Track width? I did not know the answer to this one, so when I saw one of the "old" chassis guys in the coffee room this morning I asked him.... He wasn't familiar with the rationale behind the old C/K/R/V truck but said with the GMT400 version it was simply a matter of packaging. Trying to cram all of the driveline components into the front end (ie, front axle) caused the track to increase outboard. We could have simply spaced the rear wheels out (or increased the track width on the rear) to match but chose not to, probably in order to use an existing rear axle or to avoid any additional loose parts. The tradeoff is that we would get complaints of "dogtracking", where it appeared the vehicle was going down the road sideways, when it actually was tracking straight. It has nothing to do with traction in mud/snow/sand; in fact, some enthusiasts have told us it is actually better for traction in mud/snow if the front and rear wheels have the same track (so that the rear is not cutting it's own rut). K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

08-19-2009, 10:38 AM	#11
chemsearch Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Verona, NJ Posts: 45	Re: Track width? well i guess that explains why the front axle i picked up had to be squeezed between the fenders of my trailer and the rear rolled on just fine. thought i was nuts! __________________ 1986 Chevy K10 4x4 305 Auto

08-19-2009, 01:16 PM	#12
Driveway Dreams I have car A.D.D. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greeley, Northern Colorado Posts: 4,147	Re: Track width? I had heard about that on the Duramax trucks in the early 2000s. Which is why they put those fender flares on them. It was not for looks, but simply to accommodate the size of that drivetrain. On the new trucks the bodies are wider, but I have not noticed if the rear end is changed on them or not. Was our body style the first to be offset like this? __________________ -Gerald Building vehicles in memory of the first "car guy" I ever knew, my Grandpa. Bob Dunham 1935-2009. Rest in peace. 61 GMC Suburban SOLD The 86 build thread SOLD Are you a Colorado member?Click here. Last edited by Driveway Dreams; 08-19-2009 at 01:17 PM.



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