spun an axle tube?

[bp71k5]

Here's a weird one that has been bugging me the entire time I've owned the k5.

The rear driver side always sits about 1" lower than the passenger side. I've replaced the springs, swapped the springs, swapped the shackle brackets, everything I can think of. Then I found one of the spring perches damaged and replaced both and triple checked they were aligned when I welded them on.

After all this, nothing changed the ride height. And I haven't measured exactly, but it looks like my spring perches are not aligned anymore. (They seem to be at slightly different angles)

So my theory is that whatever damaged the spring perch originally may have caused one of the axle tube welds to break and the tube is turning inside the pumpkin once I tighten the u-bolts. Anyone have a good way to check this? I see two plug welds on each side of the pumpkin and the plugs on one side do look a little wet from oil.

How easy is this to fix? Is it better to just weld around the tube to keep it from rotating more or do I need to drill out the plugs and have those re-done?

 

[Burt4x4]

Hmmm that is strange. For a tube to turn it's spot welds would need to brake or let loose of the tube?
Sence you are in Morgan Hill you can allways swing by my buddies shop off Tennant Ave. He is near the RR tracks it is called Pacific Fabracation and the owner is Kevin. They build rockcrawlers, hotrods, custom trucks and cars..anway if you want a trained eye to look at it I'm sure they would be more than happy to give you an opinion.
www.pacificfab.net

Good Luck
Burt

 

[bp71k5]

Hmmm that is strange. For a tube to turn it's spot welds would need to brake or let loose of the tube?

Yea, I know it sounds weird but the bent spring perch it had on it looked like the truck fell off a building it was bent so much. I had a torch on it for a hour and still couldn't bend it back with a sledge hammer. Something hit it pretty hard! This is what got me thinking the tube welds broke loose. If they did break, I'm worried about the tube coming out during a drive.

Yea, PacificFab is just down the road. Once the tranny is running, I'll try taking it over there and see if they have any opinion. It'd be worth some money to have it fixed right. Thanks!

 

[Burt4x4]

I bent a perch once:
I use to have thoes degree shims under my rear springpacks to adjust my pinion angle, well one of them cracked and spit out on the trail wich inturn made my Ubolts loose on one side wich then alowed my perch to bend REAL BAD, kinda folded the end down flat. I had to cut them both off and install aftermarket perches. But that alowed me to adjust the pinon angle so no more shims needed...
Find out what is wrong so it doesn't leave you stranded someday
Good Luck!
Burt

 

[pauly383]

I broke mine ( 12 bolt ) last Moab trip , didn't know until the ride home in the mountains . In my case you couldn't mistake it was broken . Drum rubbing backing plate , gear oil seeping out the welds .

It happens sometimes , I have even been privvy to a full floating 14 bolt doing it too

 

[bp71k5]

Thanks. Once it's running, I'll have to pull the axle and check everything. I'm thinking I'll have it welded up even if the plug welds aren't broke. I have to get new perches anyway since my driveshaft is so much shorter now.

 

[Blazin'4x4]

Easy way to check is measuring the shock perches. If they differ, I would agree, you damaged something significant to the axle.