91 K5 Front vs. Rear Width ???

[Daddy Rabbit]

Hello Gentlemen,

I have a quick question if I may. Do any of you know why Chevy made the CK5 rear axle more narrow than the front ??

Also, will I damage my CK5 or create an unsafe condition if I install wheel spacers on the rear so that the front and rear widths will be equal ??

Many sincere thanks,
Denny

 

[lectric80]

If the hype is to be believed the idea was that the narrower rear would have clean mud/snow to grab onto by being narrower. I don't know if it actually works, but it does look a bit odd.

As to spacers, I don't personally like them but there shouldn't be an issue having the front and rear track width nearly identical.

 

[gotblazers]

Hello Gentlemen,

I have a quick question if I may. Do any of you know why Chevy made the CK5 rear axle more narrow than the front ??

Also, will I damage my CK5 or create an unsafe condition if I install wheel spacers on the rear so that the front and rear widths will be equal ??

Many sincere thanks,
Denny

If it is, i honestly have never really measured. I would guess its because the rear wheels dont turn left or right and the front steer the vehicle and have steering components to make them a little longer such as the steering knuckles. I think i heard someone say making wheels stick farther out eats up wheel bearings but besides that i dont know what damage you would do with a spacer. Why do you want to do this anyways? it would look weird and be a waste of money/time imo.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Almost every car out on the road has a wider front wheel track than the rear. If you use wheel spacers on the rear to make it close to the same track width as the front you will lose steering radius. By the way, the front is about 3" wider than the rear.

 

[88jimmy4x4]

If you want the rear width wider, install a truck diff underneath, but dont use spacers because as stated you would need 1.5" spacers on each side.

 

[tRustyK5]

Stock WMS is 67.5" front, 65" rear.

3/4 ton and one ton are 69.5" front, 67" rear.

DRW and Van are different too.

Rene

 

[owenst7]

It has to do with steering geometry. Almost all vehicles are wider in the front, even cars. It's very apparent on the IFS trucks.

 

[dhcomp]

Good article regarding this from back in the day....

http://coloradok5.com/wheelspacers.shtml

 

[scrappy88]

I have run 1.5" wheel spacers on the rear for years now and haven't had any issues. This is on a 8 lug 14 bolt. You have to check the torque on them often to be safe though.

I did have to remove them once because the truck was a little too wide to fit on the dyno for emissions testing and they refused to even try it.

 

[79bonanza]

just find a 1 ton van axle, they are 70 inches from wms to wms, makes you track width almost identical.