Rear Axle location - AD truck

[Hampshire]

Getting near finishing up the suspension on my 3600. It's going back into the shop in a week or so to adjust/modify for final height settings.

One area of constant debate is whether or not to move the rear axle a little bit to the rear. I've made a composite in the pics to show that the answer seems to be just a matter of taste (?) - as in all the pics I see they look to be all over the place, though "stock" trucks seem to have the axle a bit more forward.

The top two are of my green truck - on the right is a junk 26.5" high tire on a 15" shop wheel on the left is a 29" high tire on a new 16" wheel. BTW, the truck is going down 2-3" more....

Thoughts?

[mr48chev]

If you have the stock springs I think it is 1-3/4 inches that you have to move an open drive axle back to center the wheel in the wheel well. It' just wrong if you don't do it and EVERYONE notices it even the totally non car guys who are the ones who point it out as looking wrong to everyone within ear shot.

Figure out exactly how far you need to move it back. flip the axle over and drill new holes for the top of the spring bolts to go in and flip it back over and bolt it up and it will look right. With that I hope that you didn't already build a driveshaft for it.

[oldman3]

I agree it needs to move back to center wheel in opening...Jim

[Hampshire]

Interesting tally so far - my guy (with 40 + experience in "everything") says move it back...

I like the lower left pic /red truck (which is a stock truck with the wheels/size tires I am using) - leaving the larger space in back where the arc changes.

[whitedog76]

I've seen everything from 1.5-2" for centering.

I think CPP used to have a centering plate. It was just a lifting block with offset pin and hole.

Another option is a different spring perch.

[Sethmark]

I used posie rear springs with a 3" drop and the centering pin moved back to center the axle. It's dead perfect using factory riveted hangers and shackles....

[TNACUSTOM]

Originally Posted by Hampshire

Interesting tally so far - my guy (with 40 + experience in "everything") says move it back...

I like the lower left pic /red truck (which is a stock truck with the wheels/size tires I am using) - leaving the larger space in back where the arc changes.

The rear end in these trucks are not center in the wheel well and need to be centered

[Hogger54]

Oh great, now I find this out...... And I thought I was done with the rear end.
Maybe it will be easier to hack an inch or so off the front of the bed. LOL.

[Hampshire]

The rear end in these trucks are not center in the wheel well and need to be centered

Right, most of them are far off. The lower left & middle left are probably closest to getting centered. I've posted all these to show how all over the place these are on completed trucks. The top two are my truck to show a starting point to address the issue - however, I see people leave them like this (not my thing).

[Hampshire]

Oh great, now I find this out...... And I thought I was done with the rear end.
Maybe it will be easier to hack an inch or so off the front of the bed. LOL.

Yeah, it's always something....mine didn't change visually until I did the initial lowering (swapped rear axles & removed the lower leafs). It was pretty high up to begin with.

[whitedog76]

This is my 54 3600 truck. It's not as noticable do to the bigger tire and more lift in the rear, but it has the same issue, too far forward.

[Hampshire]

This is my 54 3600 truck. It's not as noticable do to the bigger tire and more lift in the rear, but it has the same issue, too far forward.

Exactly..