Rear axle pad width

[PrerunnerRob]

Anyone know what the rear axle pad width is from center to center for trailing arm rear ends? Got to weld some replacements on my rear end to replace the ghetto 4-link that was on there.

[lakeroadster]

Kind of tough to get a good straight measurement. I measured my '65 across the top, from c/l of u-bolts, looks to be about 40-1/4", +/-.

[PrerunnerRob]

I thought about that after posting this. Any chance you have a measurement from the axle tube or backing plate to the edge or centerline of the mount?

[lakeroadster]

I recall seeing another post related to this topic. After searching for about an hour and I found this thread for ya: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=217421

Remember though that the above thread is for a 67-72 rear axle, which is wider than our 60-66's. I believe the trailing arm perches width from one side to the other are the same for 63-72, but from the perch to the axle flange they are different.

So... if you calculate the C/L to C/l distance it turns out to be about 40.094" based on his data, which is pretty close to my measurement of 40-1/4".

Strange that the dimensions gathered by smbrouss70 vary from side to side? You'd think this would all have been factory "jig and fixtured" for dimensional repeatability? Truth is the trailing arm set-up is somewhat forgiving to slight variations.

Another thread here too: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=trailing

If it were me I would:

1. bolt the pads to the arms,
2. roll the rear axle into place,
3. center the rear axle to the frame,
4. center and adjust the trailing arms at the 40-1/4" width,
5. tack weld the pads to the axle,
6. roll out the axle/perch sub-assembly,
7. finish weld the perch's.

Hope this helps.

[fleetsidelarry]

PrerunnerRob, I don't know what year axle you have, but If I'm not mistaken, the CL of the perches IS different on '60-'62 axles by quite a bit, like 4" per side, due to the X-frame style. and even though the '71-'72 axle housings are indeed wider than the '63-'70 (by 1½"), the perch CLs are the same.

[PrerunnerRob]

Right on guys!!!!! I really appreciate this, I'll be updating my build thread with the install of the Porterbuilt rear dropmember pictures over the weekend.

[kieth]

do you still have a Prerunner bob ? I started to build one for us taking bike trips to baja but things got so dicey I decided not to build it, and not to go back for awhile. Kieth

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by kieth

do you still have a Prerunner bob ? I started to build one for us taking bike trips to baja but things got so dicey I decided not to build it, and not to go back for awhile. Kieth

I sort of do, I snapped off the driver side lower control arm on my Silverado, so it ended up getting a solid axle swap. Still has the fiberglass bedsides and fenders, and the long travel leaf springs.