Track width front vs rear - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CG · 02-17-2018, 12:53 PM

So I saw this advertisement in the new Chevyland thread ...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=757290

Im curious why the front and rear tracks were different. This may be something on every vehicle and Ive just never noticed it. Why wouldn't they build a truck with the same front and rear, is there an advantage to having a wider front track?

lowrollin70gmc · 02-17-2018, 01:15 PM

There must be some reason as the track width difference was used by multiple manufacturers for decades.

I’ve read that having a narrower rear track helps reduce turning radius. I’m not sure of the physics and exact reasoning, but it somewhat makes sense.

CST10 · 02-17-2018, 10:13 PM

I always heard from older folks like my grandfather, that the spacing difference was to keep the back wheels from running in the same ruts as the front when off road and the turn radius was a little tighter.

SeventyOne · 02-18-2018, 12:31 AM

Pretty sure most cars/trucks have a somewhat wider front track. Not sure when it started thought. I know a 2000 Nissan Frontier I had had a 2" wider front than rear.

mike16 · 02-18-2018, 12:17 PM

pontiac was doin the wide track back in the late 50's

**chevy71super** · 02-18-2018, 02:04 PM

My understanding is by keeping the rear wheels inside of the front wheels it reduced the likelihood of the back wheels trying to go around the front wheels. As the rear pushes the vehicle forward the force would transfer straight up the truck. Not sure if it is true but it makes sense to me . . .

harpo231 · 02-18-2018, 02:07 PM

The front tires have a greater track width to provide a better stability to the vehicle at high speeds and while cornering. It also helps in reducing the turning radius, increases the comfort of the passengers and creates more space between tires to accommodate more components.

crakarjax · 02-18-2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harpo231

The front tires have a greater track width to provide a better stability to the vehicle at high speeds and while cornering. It also helps in reducing the turning radius, increases the comfort of the passengers and creates more space between tires to accommodate more components.

That doesn't explain why they didn't just make the rear wider also though.

02-17-2018, 12:53 PM	#1
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,035	Track width front vs rear So I saw this advertisement in the new Chevyland thread ... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=757290 Im curious why the front and rear tracks were different. This may be something on every vehicle and Ive just never noticed it. Why wouldn't they build a truck with the same front and rear, is there an advantage to having a wider front track? Attached Images __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

02-17-2018, 01:15 PM	#2
lowrollin70gmc Too many projects Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fargo, ND land of the flat hills Posts: 1,147	Re: Track width front vs rear There must be some reason as the track width difference was used by multiple manufacturers for decades. I’ve read that having a narrower rear track helps reduce turning radius. I’m not sure of the physics and exact reasoning, but it somewhat makes sense. __________________ Andrew 84 GMC C1500 SWB 6.2 Diesel/700R4/3.42 "Grandpa's odd duck" 70 GMC C1500 LWB My first truck: shaved, bagged, and more: the lowrollin70gmc 68 K20 Suburban 12V Cummins/NV5600/NP205/D60/11.5AAM 3.73s "Dakota Cadillac" 63 Chevy II Nova Coupe 250 I6/T56/4.56s "Economy car" 53 Willys Wagon 350/NV4500/BW4401/HP D44/9inch “Winter Wagon” 30 Model A 16 Focus ST

02-17-2018, 10:13 PM	#3
CST10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Gonzales, La Posts: 1,441	Re: Track width front vs rear I always heard from older folks like my grandfather, that the spacing difference was to keep the back wheels from running in the same ruts as the front when off road and the turn radius was a little tighter. __________________ MyToys: Goldilocks the "Ol School Survivor" 1968 C10, SWB Stepside, 08/15 TOTM, 250 CI 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree, 3.73 rear, 3/5 static drop, 23,500 original miles. Samson the 1970 CST10, LWB, 462Ci, Turbo 350 tranny, 3.08 rear gear, PB, PS, A/C, AM/FM, 2/4 Drop. Brutus the 1998 Camaro Z28, 33,500 original miles, LS1, 519 RWHP/497 RWTQ. Member of the Louisiana Classic Truck Club, LCTC Member of the Louisiana C10 Club Member of the Baton Rouge Drifters Car Club

02-18-2018, 12:31 AM	#4
SeventyOne Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oakland, Ca Posts: 1,382	Re: Track width front vs rear Pretty sure most cars/trucks have a somewhat wider front track. Not sure when it started thought. I know a 2000 Nissan Frontier I had had a 2" wider front than rear.

02-18-2018, 12:17 PM	#5
mike16 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: bisbee, arizona Posts: 1,529	Re: Track width front vs rear pontiac was doin the wide track back in the late 50's

02-18-2018, 02:04 PM	#6
chevy71super Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 658	Re: Track width front vs rear My understanding is by keeping the rear wheels inside of the front wheels it reduced the likelihood of the back wheels trying to go around the front wheels. As the rear pushes the vehicle forward the force would transfer straight up the truck. Not sure if it is true but it makes sense to me . . . __________________ 71 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne 4X4 SB

02-18-2018, 02:07 PM	#7
harpo231 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Lincoln City DE Posts: 1,292	Re: Track width front vs rear The front tires have a greater track width to provide a better stability to the vehicle at high speeds and while cornering. It also helps in reducing the turning radius, increases the comfort of the passengers and creates more space between tires to accommodate more components. __________________ Stan 67 swb BLU MULE posted via flip-fone



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