After replacing control arms, shocks, and springs in the rear of a Dana 35 (along with about a million other non-suspension things), I put the tires on and noticed the left tire is rubbing pretty well against the upper spring mount. When I drop the car all the way down, it doesn’t actively rub, but it’s still about 1/2-3/4 inch closer to the mount than the right side. There’s no lift, tires are 31” inch. Did I put something together incorrectly or do things just need to settle and retightened?
Rear axle not centered
- Thread starter Camhabib
- Start date
No lift, track bar is stock (as far as I know, didn’t replace).
That said, the old springs and shocks were completely done, so I’ve essentially gained an inch “lift” over what I had, bringing it back to stock height.
Any thoughts on this? Is it possible for a stock track bar to cause an off-center axel on stock height?
If you're using a stock track bar and stock height suspension (meaning no lift), there is no reason at all your axle should be that far to one side.
You're saying this didn't happen until after the suspension install though?
You're saying this didn't happen until after the suspension install though?
I didn’t notice it before, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there, especially considering I didn’t spend much time driving it after purchase before I started work on it.
My main question is how do I fix this? Is it something that might settle out, can I loosen things up and retighten, or should I start looking into an adjustable track bar?
Are you certain the track bar on there isn't adjustable? That's all I can think of, as that is what controls the lateral axle position.
It can indeed be fixed with an adjustable track bar, but I'm thinking either it already has one, or it has other components on there (such as a track bar relocation bracket) that we aren't seeing in those photos.
I'd like to see photos of the track bar if possible, as well as the frame and axle side track bar mounts.
I’ll grab some in the morning for you.
That said, if it was set up for a lift, wouldn’t the bar be lengthened, meaning the axel would be pushed toward the left side, not the right side as in my case? I purchased OE height springs, so there’s no way the it could have been any lower before, save for some compression of the springs which maybe brought it down some.
Armytruck6x6
TJ Enthusiast
As your suspension compresses it will left/ drivers side... if it was centered you would then have an issue with the right side hitting. Bigger tires usually means more width, so it will be closer than stock tires. If you are worried as i was, a small wheel spacer should solve it.
Armytruck6x6
TJ Enthusiast
Yes, if it was lifted and the track bar was extended, that would be pushing the axle to the left.
However, something is going on with your rear end. Like I said, the only thing that keeps the axle laterally centered under the vehicle is the track bar. Because of that, I believe there is something going on that you may be missing, hence the need for more photos.
What you're seeing isn't caused by springs or shocks, unless they are lift springs and the track bar is stock. That would cause the axle to pull to the right.
Thanks all for the help so far.
The springs are Moog 3224 / 3229, shocks are Rancho RS55128 / RS55240. I didn't notice any spacers on the mounts, so everything should be at OE height. I tried to swing by this morning to grab a few more pictures but I wasn't able to (borrowing a friends lift); I'll get them for sure tomorrow though.
The only thing I can think of is that in order to get the springs and control arms on there without too much forcing, I had to take off the sway bar in the back. I didn't really pay attention to what order I tightened everything back up in, but I do remember tightening the sway bar last and it being a huge pain to get reconnected as things didn't line up for it at all.
The springs are Moog 3224 / 3229, shocks are Rancho RS55128 / RS55240. I didn't notice any spacers on the mounts, so everything should be at OE height. I tried to swing by this morning to grab a few more pictures but I wasn't able to (borrowing a friends lift); I'll get them for sure tomorrow though.
The only thing I can think of is that in order to get the springs and control arms on there without too much forcing, I had to take off the sway bar in the back. I didn't really pay attention to what order I tightened everything back up in, but I do remember tightening the sway bar last and it being a huge pain to get reconnected as things didn't line up for it at all.
That is one problem to be addressed and it might solve the one being discussed here.